Over the summer, I became pretty attached to my morning acai bowl. When I began working again, I realized I had forgotten how to make the breakfast I’d made every morning for about four years prior to the acai bowl: oatmeal. Making oatmeal felt strangely foreign to me and I had to struggle to remember how to do what used to be second nature. In the morning, I have about three minutes to make breakfast and pour coffee in my to-go cup. Since the time it was taking me to figure out how much almond milk I was supposed to add to the oats was taking up most of that three minutes, I needed to come up with a better solution.
I decided that I should check out this whole “overnight oats” that everyone was raving about. I love the thickness the oatmeal gets from soaking in milk overnight, so I decided to play around with different flavors. It all began to come back to me. Soon, I was preparing 5 jars of oats and spices every Sunday. All I would have to do is add milk and fruit each night so I would have breakfast in the morning.
I started adding pumpkin to the mix and though it was fantastic, it was still missing something. Then my CSA sent persimmons. Persimmons are by far, my favorite fall fruit and that Sunday night, when I was adding pumpkin and milk to my jar of oats, the persimmon went in too.
The next morning, after my three minute whirlwind of microwaving and coffee pouring, I grabbed my pumpkin persimmon oatmeal and headed out the door. The bright, sweet, juicy bits of persimmon mixed with the rich, cinnamon-scented pumpkin was just what I was looking for. It felt like an indulgence, a Thanksgiving-type dessert almost, disguised as a healthy breakfast. The fact that it’s almost effortless to prepare makes it even better. It’s like autumn in a jar. Warm, delicious, pumpkiny autumn in a jar.
pumpkin persimmon overnight oats
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup rolled oats (certified gluten-free if necessary)
- 1 tablespoon buckwheat groats
- 1/2 tablespoon hemp seeds
- 1 packet of powdered stevia
- 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon cloves
- couple dashes of nutmeg
- pinch of salt
- 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 cup of almond milk, or other vegan milk
- 1 persimmon, diced
- 1 teaspoon blackstrap molasses
Instructions
- Add all dry ingredients to a jar or container with an airtight lid. Put the lid on and shake to combine.
- Add the wet ingredients, reapply the lid and shake to combine again. Refrigerate overnight, or at least an hour. You can eat it cold, or heat it in the microwave (I do 1 minute and 30 seconds, stir, then heat for 1 more minute). Top with chopped nuts (I like pecans), cacao nibs, coconut, or whatever topping you’re into. Serve hot and enjoy!
Photography by Chris Miller
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It’s funny, I have never been a fan of persimmons, but I bet they go so well in this oatmeal! I was on a green smoothie kick this summer, but have switched back to oatmeal too
Just so comforting!
By the way, your new picture is lovely
You’re so beautiful!
Oatmeal just seems to be a must this time of year.
And thank you so much- you are so sweet!
I love overnight oats! The persimmon and pumpkin would make this so decadent Kristy. I like the 5 day prep idea too!
Thank you- my brain just doesn’t work that well that early in the morning, so the 5-day prep is perfect.
I have yet to try this overnight oats thing, but you make it sound so easy! I just may have to test it out.
Yours looks delicious!
It’s so easy and delicious- you totally need to try it!
I have actually never tried a persimmon before. I think I better get on that and buy some and make this asap
Fuyu persimmons are fantastic. The Hachiya persimmons are good too, but you have to let them get really soft before eating them or they’re super sour. I hope you like them!
This sounds so delicious and easy to make. And will give me my first taste of persimmon as I have never had it before. Can’t wait to try.
Thank you- I sooo hope you like it!
What a great idea! Persimmons are overflowing right now in Chinatown, but I don’t ever buy them because I don’t know what to do with them—however, I now need to go get a few so I can try this out! Thanks for a great recipe/method.
Thanks Erin- persimmons are so yummy this time of year!
i love persimmons. cant say the same about oatmeal:) but i love this idea of having breakfast ready for the week!.even when i went to work(seems like a loong loong time ago) we always made time for breakfast between the 2 of us. those jars look so cute!
If I worked closer, I would definitely sit down and have breakfast, but I usually have to be out the door by 7:45am at the latest, so I need something super fast. It does make me cherish the weekends even more when we can sit down and enjoy breakfast together.
this is the epitome of power breakfast to go! it’s to healthy and hearty, and not to mention looks delicious.
Thank you, Caitlin!
Please don’t take away my vegan blogger badge, but I still haven’t made overnight oats or oats in a jar (using the leftover peanut butter jar). I like it that you set yourself up for the whole week and just have to add the wet ingredients the night before. I’m sure it makes the mornings go so much more smoothly! As a fellow persimmon lover, this sounds fabulous!
This does make the mornings go much more smoothly (I’m not good at thinking or being coordinated first thing in the morning). And trust me, there are many things I could have my blogger badge taken away for. For example, I’ve yet to try kohlrabi! Shhh, don’t tell. It’s on my list of things to do.
What a great idea, I have yet to try this method for oatmeal, I love anything that i can make ahea of time and grab n go in the morning – today was teh first time I have ever tasted a persimmon – OH MY WORD it was amazing, nothing at all what I expected – so sweet and juicy, i am totally addicted!
The grab n go aspect of this recipe is just the most convenient thing ever. Adding persimmons is just icing on the cake. I was given a persimmon sample at the farmer’s market several years ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
can you use normal milk?
I think dairy-based milk would work here as well, if that is what you choose to use.