Start your mornings on the right foot with a healthy, balanced breakfast. Overnight oats are trending like crazy right now, and for good reason, because they are delicious! At Cultures for Health, we decided to take it one step further by making overnight oats with yogurt. Not just any yogurt either—homemade yogurt! In this recipe, we used Matsoni yogurt, but this is just a preference; any type of yogurt can be used to make it. We even carry vegan yogurt starters so dairy-free folks don’t have to miss out on this amazing overnight oats with yogurt recipe.
15 minutes
45 minutes
4
INGREDIENTS AND EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE AT CULTURES FOR HEALTH
Heirloom Yogurt Starter Culture
Heirloom Yogurt Starter Culture
$17.99
Our Heirloom Yogurt Starter Variety Pack is perfect for beginners! It doesn't require the use of a yogurt maker and can culture right on your countertop - just add milk.
For this variety pack, we’ve carefully collected three of our favorite Scandinavian yogurt strains - simple, rich, drinkable Piima; mild, creamy Viili; and honey-scented Matsoni.
Try them all and find what you like best!
So, what’s the difference between all these yogurt starters you see on Cultures for Health’s website? The difference between most types of yogurts is the bacteria that make them up. However, they all have long, confusing names, so we’ll skip over those. Instead, we will just describe the different types based on their origin, texture, and taste.
The Matsoni we mentioned above is a traditional yogurt from Armenia and Caucasus. It is a very creamy yogurt with a little bit of tartness to the taste.
Bulgarian Yogurt got its name from a student in Bulgaria who researched the specific bacteria in it. The most common milk to use for Bulgarian yogurt is goat’s milk. Bulgarian yogurt is quite thin and has a bit of a sour taste.
Next up, Viili yogurt! Viili originates from Finland. This is a very mild yogurt that is a bit sour and has a pretty thick texture which uses yogurt supplies. It is also commonly made with cream instead of milk and then used as sour cream.
Piima is a Scandinavian yogurt that is extremely thin and light and has a pretty sweet flavor. This is more of a drinkable yogurt! This would allow your overnight oats to have a more liquid consistency. Similar to Viili, you can make it with cream instead of milk to get more of a sour cream consistency.
Filmjolk Yogurtoriginated in Sweden. It has a tangy flavor similar to cheese. Unlike most cheese, however, Filmjolk has a custard-like consistency.
Did you know Greek yogurtis an heirloom culture? This means that when you buy one starter culture, you are set for life! This rich, tangy yogurt will be perfect for the overnight oats with yogurt.
Another one of our favorite homemade yogurts to use in overnight oats is Icelandic Skyr yogurt. It is usually made with skim cow's milk, but it can be made with any type of milk. Traditionally, this yogurt goes great with fruits—that’s why it’s perfect for our oats! Check also our heirloom skyr cultures.
If you have some questions about using different types of milk with Cultures For Health’s yogurt starter cultures, check out our yogurt frequently asked page to get more information!
Now, it’s time for you to pick out the type of yogurt you want to make for your own overnight oats with yogurt. Again, we used Matsoni, but you are free to use any yogurt you’d like!
Equipment You Will Need
- 1 jar and lid
- 1 spatula
- measuring cups (varying sizes)
- measuring spoons (varying sizes)
Ingredients to Make Overnight Oats With Yogurt
- 1 cup of homemade yogurt
- ⅔ cup of any kind of oats you like (old-fashioned works best)
- 2-3 tsp honey
- ¼ tsp cinnamon (optional)
- Pinch of salt(optional)
- Fruit for additional flavoring (optional—we used blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries for this recipe)
Overnight Oats with Yogurt Instructions
- Make your homemade yogurt. If you have never made yogurt before and are ready to learn, check out our recipe about how to make traditional yogurt at home. If you are using one of the yogurts mentioned above, check out the recipe about how to make Viili, Filmjölk, Matsoni, and Piimä yogurt.
- Combine your yogurt, oats, honey, cinnamon, and salt in the jar.
- Stir your mixture and cover with a lid.
- Put it in the fridge overnight.
- When you're ready to eat, add fresh fruit and enjoy!
Tips & Tricks for Making Overnight Oats with Yogurt
- You can use dried fruit in this recipe. If you do, add to your mixture as part of step one. This allows for the flavors of the fruit to seep in overnight. Freeze-dried fruit has some added sugar that will make your oats sweeter, so if you don’t like sweeter things, you should just use regular fruit.
- If you want to leave your oats out overnight to ferment, we recommend using ½ cup yogurt and ½ cup milk. This will help you achieve that classic oatmeal consistency.
What are the benefits of making your own yogurt instead of just using store-bought? As we discussed above, some yogurt cultures are heirloom cultures. This means you will have free yogurt for life (minus the cost of milk). Oats are typically cheap as well, which means you will have a budget-friendly and delicious meal every morning!
If you struggle with poor gut health, the probiotics from your homemade yogurt can help your digestion and prevent the usual aches and pains. Probiotics also keep bad bacteria from taking over and making you sick. “So what you’re saying is that overnight oats with yogurt taste good AND will help with gut health and boost your immune system?” Yes, exactly! What more could you ask for? Lastly, homemade yogurt is fresh! When you buy yogurt from the store, it has been shipped across the country in a truck and touched so many people’s hands before yours. Making your own yogurt means you will always have the freshest yogurt on hand!
This recipe is great for busy people who always find themselves skipping breakfast because they don’t have time. Simply throw it in your fridge the night before and grab it on your way out the next morning. Start your mornings off right with this amazing, healthy breakfast recipe.
