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Brown Sugar Overnight Oats with Cinnamon Swirl

Brown sugar overnight oats with cinnamon swirl are creamy, no-cook oats soaked overnight in milk and vanilla Greek yogurt. A thick, glossy brown sugar-cinnamon paste melts into the jar while it chills for a cinnamon-roll vibe without baking.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
chill 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Calories: 545
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the oat base
  • 2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 2 cup whole milk or almond, oat, or dairy-free milk
  • 1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp salt
For the brown sugar swirl
  • 0.33 cup dark brown sugar packed
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter melted
  • 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 salt pinch
For topping
  • 0.33 cup chopped toasted pecans
  • 1 banana sliced (optional)
  • 1 brown sugar extra for sprinkling

Equipment

  • 1 large mixing bowl

Method
 

Make the oat base
  1. Whisk the milk, yogurt, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt together until completely smooth with no yogurt lumps.
  2. Stir in the oats and chia seeds until every oat is coated, then let the mixture sit 5 minutes for the chia to swell.
Make the cinnamon-brown sugar swirl
  1. Stir the brown sugar, melted butter, cinnamon, and salt together until it forms a thick, glossy paste.
Assemble the jars
  1. Divide half the oat mixture between four jars, then spoon a layer of brown sugar swirl over each.
  2. Top with the remaining oats so each jar is filled and the oats reach near the top.
  3. Drag a knife or thin spoon handle once through each jar in a figure-eight motion, keeping it to one pass so the swirl doesn’t disappear into the base.
Chill and serve
  1. Seal the jars and refrigerate at least 6 hours, ideally overnight, until the oats are soft and the mixture has thickened.
  2. Before serving, stir for a more uniform texture or leave layered, then loosen with a splash of milk if it set thicker than you like.
  3. Top with toasted pecans, banana slices if using, and an extra pinch of brown sugar.

Notes

For best texture, use whole milk or a full-fat dairy-free milk and make sure the swirl paste is thick enough to sit on top before chilling. Store sealed jars in the refrigerator up to 4 days; freeze is not recommended because the oats/chia texture can turn grainy when thawed. For a higher-protein swap, use plain Greek yogurt and increase vanilla extract to taste while keeping the rest the same.