Lavender. For some, that word equals hate. For some that word equals love. And whether it's about smelling it or eating it, a TON of controversy surrounds it. But I love it!! For my fellow lavender lovers out there, this offering is a unique recipe: overnight oats but lavender flavored. These delectable oats are sweet, floral, and pack a nutrition and protein punch. Plus, they're super simple and you can wake up to them, no cooking required! Do yourself a favor and make these overnight oats!
Overnight oats recipes have DEFINITELY been trending here on The Dimpled Date. As of right now, I'm trying to get into a habit of posting overnight oats, granola, and energy ball recipes regularly.
As of right now, I have three other overnight oats recipes Dimpled Date-bound, and have been experimenting with other granolas (including rawnolas, buckwheat, and quinoa granolas!). These oats are 100% vegan, gluten-free, fruit-sweetened, naturally colored & flavored and have a maple-sweetened option and nut-free option (but will still contain coconut).
These overnight oats are satisfying, satiating, and scrumptious. The main flavor is lavender with notes of vanilla and coconut. You can adjust the lavender flavor to your liking, depending on how strong of a floral flavor you want.
Wanna hear my top 3 favorite flavors of overnight oats posted on The Dimpled Date so far? Read on!
My top three fav overnight oats recipes on The Dimpled Date are (in order):
But these Lavender Overnight Oats are a close #4! Have an overnight oats recipe you want to see on The Dimpled Date? Like this post and drop your suggestion in the comments!
Substitutions
The oats cannot be substituted. I HIGHLY recommend gluten-free rolled (AKA old-fashioned) oats, but you can try using GF quick oats or GF plain unsweetened instant oats with mixed results. I DO NOT recommend using steel-cut oats, as steel-cut overnight oats require a whole different recipe (which I've experimented with and am trying to perfect). You may use any kind of unsweetened plant milk, homemade or store-bought. Use nut-free/coconut-free plant milk for nut-free and soy-free plant milk if need be. The chia seeds can't exactly be omitted, as they're a key ingredient in overnight oats to help them congeal/solidify. But instead you could try whole flaxseeds OR hemp hearts (shelled hempseed) with mixed results. You can use either date paste OR 1 very ripe banana, mashed per jar of oats, but it will be a little less sweet than with the date paste. OR you can use 1 Tbsp 100% pure maple syrup, agave, coconut nectar, honey (if not strictly vegan), OR yacón syrup per jar of oats in place of the date paste. For 100% sugar-free, use a sweetener like 100% pure monk fruit extract, to taste (JUST monk fruit in its concentrated form, NO erythritol).
The softened coconut butter can't really be replaced because other nut/seed butters would have too robust of a flavor for these oats and change the color. But if you must, you may omit the coconut butter (but note: the overnight oats will have less protein and less coconut flavor). You *might* be able to get away with substituting the coconut butter with an extremely mild nut/seed butter such as raw unsalted almond butter OR raw unsalted pumpkin seed (pepita) butter. But even these may be too robust of a flavor to use in these lavender overnight oats.
The vanilla extract can be replaced with an equivalent amount of scraped vanilla bean, pure ground vanilla beans, OR sugar-free vanilla powder/paste/syrup. Alternately, you can replace it with 1/8 tsp natural coconut extract per jar of oats. If you must, you may omit the vanilla. The natural lavender extract can be replaced with ground dried culinary lavender (English lavender) buds. However, you'll have to adjust the amount you use, as the lavender buds are more potent than the extract. Start with a little and add additional lavender in small increments at a time. For the natural lavender extract option, you can use 1/4 tsp for a less intense flavor if you don't like your lavender too potent or you can use 1/2 tsp for a very lavender-forward flavor if you're a lavender junkie like me.
The natural purple color for the overnight oats is perfectly optional. Omit natural purple colorants for a more natural beige lavender hue. For coloring the overnight oats purple, you may use purple sweet potato powder, blue spirulina + red dragon fruit powder, blue spirulina + beet powder, OR your vegan/natural/GF/sugar-free purple food coloring of choice. And you may color the overnight oats as pastel pale or as vibrantly as you want.
For toppings for these overnight oats, I like to add fresh blueberries or blackberries and/or a tiny pinch of culinary lavender buds to the top (although, if you don't like too much lavender flavor, don't do this because the lavender buds straight up are potent!). Serve it how you like!
Future Recipes Sneak Peek!
It's "Future Recipes Sneak Peek" time! Here, I will reveal 3 new recipes that are perfected or that I'm experimenting with and are on their way to The Dimpled Date soon:
Quinoa and Buckwheat Rawnola (Fruit-Sweetened!)
Fig Caramel Fudge Bars
Raw Key Lime Pie
2 bonus recipes:
4. Zucchini Bread Energy Balls
5. Healthy Delizia Al Limone (Vegan/GF/Refined Sugar Free Lemon Delights)
...ANNNNND MORE!!! Keep in the loop for what's just in on The Dimpled Date! :)
In the meantime,
Enjoy! <3
-K.
Lavender Overnight Oats (Vegan, GF, Fruit-Sweetened, Naturally Colored, Nut-Free Option)
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Chill/Soak Time: overnight (or at least 8 hours)
Total Time: 5 minutes (active time)
Servings: 1 jar of oats
Ingredients:
-1/2 cup gluten-free rolled oats (AKA gluten-free old-fashioned oats)
-3/4 cup unsweetened plant milk of choice (use nut-free as needed)
-1 1/2 Tbsp date paste* OR 1 Tbsp 100% pure maple syrup
-1 Tbsp chia seeds
-1 Tbsp coconut butter ("coconut manna"), softened
-1/4 tsp vanilla extract
-1/4 tsp to 1/2 tsp natural lavender extract (1/4 tsp for a less intense lavender flavor, 1/2 tsp for a very lavender-forward flavor)**
-(for coloring // optional): 1/8 tsp blue spirulina + 1/8 tsp to 1/4 tsp beet powder (1/8 tsp for a paler purple, 1/4 tsp for a more vibrant purple) OR 1/8 tsp blue spirulina + 1 tsp red dragon fruit powder OR 1 tsp purple sweet potato powder OR enough natural/vegan purple food coloring of choice to color
Toppings (optional):
-fresh blueberries
-fresh blackberries
-lemon zest
-unsweetened shredded coconut
-hempseed
-a pinch dried culinary lavender buds
Directions:
1. Make sure the date paste is made ahead of time (if using). Ensure the coconut butter is softened. Grab one mason jar with a lid or a bowl.
2. Add all ingredients to the mason jar/bowl and stir to combine (stir less for swirls of date paste and coconut butter).
3. Taste and check the color of the oats. If you want a more vibrant purple hue, add more color. If you want a stronger lavender flavor, add more lavender extract (using up to 1/2 tsp total).
4. After stirring, lightly press down the oats with the backside of a spoon to fully submerge them so they can soak. Make sure all oats are submerged in the plant milk before putting on the lid and placing in the fridge overnight. If using a bowl, cover with plastic wrap before putting in the fridge.
5. Allow the oats to soak/chill overnight. Soaking the oats in the plant milk overnight softens them to an oatmeal-like consistency, which is why you don't need to cook these oats.
6. The next morning, remove the overnight oats from the fridge, add toppings, if desired, and enjoy!***
Overnight oats are best enjoyed within the first 12-24 hours. Keep refrigerated until enjoying.
NOTES:
*Detoxinista has a great recipe for date paste!
**see "Substitutions" section, above for how to flavor these overnight oats if you don't have natural lavender extract
***Note if you want your overnight oats to be warm instead of cold, place your jar of oats in the microwave and heat for several seconds until warm. Also, if your mason jar has a screwable metal lid please remove the lid before putting the jar in the microwave, and/or if the jar has metal hinges, spoon the oats into a microwave-safe bowl before heating it in the microwave.
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