Creamy maple overnight chia oats layered with caramelized bananas and homemade candied pecans: these Banana Maple Pecan Overnight Oat Chia Parfaits are the ultimate breakfast.
Jump to RecipeI’m not gonna lie, it took me a while to get on board with the overnight oat trend. At first, I was honestly just a little confused on how people eat their oatmeal cold. I mean… oatmeal’s meant to be warm… right?? After protesting the idea for what seemed like years, I finally gave in and tried chilled oats. And, let me tell you, they’re freaking amazing. That being said, not all overnight oats are good. Given that they’re cold, I find that you have to pack a lot more flavor into the mix. With a creamy, sweetened oat and chia base, a sweet and salty caramelized banana topping, and crunchy candied pecans: these Banana Maple Pecan Overnight Oat Parfaits truly have it all. You have to try this one!!
The breakdown…
These Banana Maple Pecan Overnight Oat Parfaits can be broken down into three parts: the oat base, the banana topping, and the candied pecans. I always start by prepping that base, mostly because you have to let the oats soak for 6-24 hours before eating. These oats are honestly not your average bland porridge-type situation. For some flavor, you’ve got to go in with vanilla Greek yogurt and some cinnamon. Oh, and of course the pure maple syrup for some sweetness. You could also throw in some peanut butter or protein powder, or even peanut butter flavored protein powder. With oats, the possibilities are truly endless, so go with what you love!
Now, let’s talk about that texture. Texture is something that I always find so difficult to master with oats. Some people like their oats creamy, while others like theirs thick. Really, there’s no wrong answer, so I wrote this recipe so you could adjust to your liking. Start out with 1 cup of unsweetened milk, such as skim, almond, coconut, or hemp milk, and a little over 1 cup of oats. While some recipes call for a 1:1 ratio, or even more liquid, I like to go with a little more oats than liquid. Personally, I feel like you can always add more milk the next day and stir things in, but you can’t make the oats thicker easily.
Plus, with the addition of some chia seeds, you get an extra boost of that thick, creamy texture. I like to think of it as chia pudding meets overnight oats… the ultimate combo. And, not to mention, chia seeds have a ton of health benefits. They are an excellent source of healthy omega-3 fats, and are packed with iron, fiber, and calcium. Definitely don’t skip them!!
those candied pecans…
Once your oats are sent to the fridge, it’s time to get working on the other components. First up, I like to make those candied maple pecans. Candying nuts can really go one of two ways: a labor intensive, multiple hour stovetop and oven method, or a simple 3 minute saucepan option. For obvious reasons, this recipe calls for the latter. Simply heat up your pecans, maple syrup, and cinnamon on a stove and allow it to cook for just about 3 minutes. Oh, and don’t forget to keep stirring… this is essential!! I like to use a lightly greased rubber spatula to prevent my nuts from sticking as I stir. But, really, as long as you’re keeping things moving, your pecans will be perfect.
After a few minutes on the stove, lay your candied pecans out on some parchment paper to cool. Spread them out as best you can to prevent giant clusters, if you would like. You can also sprinkle a little more flaky sea salt, sugar, brown sugar, or cinnamon on at this point. Really, this is up to your taste buds. Go as sweet or savory as you would like! And don’t forget to leave them at room temperature to cool, as they get too hard and sticky when placed in the fridge.
the banana topping…
The final component of these Banana Maple Pecan Overnight Oat Parfaits is the banana topping!! If you’ve read my Banana Bread recipe (game-changing, btw), you know that I absolutely love caramelized bananas. Truly, I don’t think there’s anything better in the world. So, naturally, I had to add a caramelized banana component to these oats. With a little bit of a neutral oil or butter, some honey or maple syrup, and a generous pinch of sea salt (Maldon Flaky Sea Salt is the best!), this layer is honestly super simple, too. Definitely don’t skimp on the banana layer… it’s too good!!
Once all of your layers are ready to go… it’s time to assemble! With a layer of the oats, some more creamy vanilla greek yogurt (greek is best for a thicker, more sturdy product — but the fat content isn’t all that important), some of that banana topping, and some of those pecans for crunch, you’ve got yourself a killer breakfast.
how to serve these up…
Really, these Banana Maple Pecan Overnight Oat Parfaits are perfect for just about any occasion. I love to make them ahead of time and eat them throughout the week for breakfast, kind of like meal prep. They’re also delicious for a lunch on the go, or maybe even just a busy day. It’s always nice to have a good sweet treat in the fridge for after dinner, too;) Plus, if you have cute little mason jars or glasses, these make for a super impressive addition to a brunch or breakfast spread for entertaining. You honestly can’t go wrong with this one!!
Whenever you serve these Banana Maple Pecan Overnight Oat Parfaits, I hope you love them as much as I do! Let me know what you think in the comments below:)
Banana Maple Pecan Overnight Oat Parfaits
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Main CourseCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy2
servings10
minutes5
minutes6-24
hoursCreamy maple overnight chia oats layered with caramelized bananas and homemade candied pecans: these Banana Maple Pecan Overnight Oat Chia Parfaits are the ultimate breakfast.
Ingredients
- overnight oats:
1 cup unsweetened milk of choice
1.5 tbsp chia seeds
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
1/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt*
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
Optional: 2 tbsp peanut butter or protein powder
- maple pecans:
1 cup raw pecans
3 tbsp pure maple syrup
1 tsp cinnamon
Pinch of sea salt
- caramelized bananas:
2 tbsp avocado oil (or another neutral oil, butter, or ghee)
2 bananas, sliced into coins
2 tsp honey or maple syrup
Pinch of sea salt
- assembly:
1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
Cinnamon, to taste
Instructions
- To make the overnight oats: In a medium bowl, whisk the milk, chia seeds, maple syrup, Greek yogurt, cinnamon, and peanut butter/ protein powder, if using. Stir in the oats, making sure they are completely submerged. Cover with tin foil or place in an airtight container and transfer to the fridge. Allow to soak for at least 6 hours, or up to overnight in the fridge. If your oats are too thick, feel free to mix in more milk.
- To make the maple pecans: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Toss in the pecans, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt, and mix with a rubber spatula (greasing the spatula helps prevent sticking). Continue stirring for about 3 minutes, then spread the nuts out on parchment paper and allow to cool at room temperature.
- To make the banana layer: In a large skillet, heat the avocado oil over medium heat. Once hot, toss in the banana slices and caramelize for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until both sides of the banana coins are golden brown. Drizzle the honey or maple syrup over top the slices and add a generous pinch of sea salt. Remove from heat. It’s okay if the slices lose their shape a bit.
Notes
- You could use any unsweetened plant or dairy based milk for this recipe.
- If you want to use regular Greek yogurt, add 1-2 tsp of vanilla extract into the oats.