High-protein chocolate chip cookie dough overnight oats taste like a thick, sweet cookie dough batter but with all the nutrients you need for a balanced breakfast that will stick with you all morning long!
If you’ve been searching for an overnight oats recipe without yogurt, this is THE ONE. Using cottage cheese instead of Greek yogurt and cashew butter in this cookie dough overnight oat recipe adds tons of protein, a rich buttery flavor, and gives it a thick, doughy texture that’s just like real cookie dough.
Aside from the 26 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber in these overnight oats (which I love!), they’re also way lower in added sugars than real cookie dough. The only added sugars you’ll find are those from a tablespoon of maple syrup and the chocolate chips.
As a registered dietitian with a sweet tooth, I love creating recipes that transform my favorite dessert flavors into a nutrient-rich meal or snack. If you love sweet treats that leave you feeling energized, you’ll want to make tiramisu overnight oats and cookies and cream overnight oats next!
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What are overnight oats?
Overnight oats are one of the easiest breakfasts to prepare ahead of time. Combining rolled oats with chia seeds, milk, and Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, along with any variety of mix-ins, creates a nutrient-dense, fiber-rich, and high-protein grab-and-go breakfast.
Aside from how healthy overnight oats are, you can create the most incredible dessert-like flavors that leave you feeling full and energized – perfect for a breakfast or post-workout snack. Some of my favorites are birthday cake, carrot cake, and apple pie overnight oats!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It tastes exactly like cookie dough. I’m not kidding! Blending cottage cheese instead of Greek yogurt gives it a thick, extra-doughy texture, while the flavor is sweet and slightly buttery from the cashew butter.
- This healthy breakfast dessert contains 26 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber to help you feel full and satisfied throughout the morning.
- It’s such an easy high-protein breakfast meal prep recipe. You can easily double or triple this recipe and portion it out for an easy breakfast on the go all week long.
- While oats are a traditional breakfast, I like these cookie dough protein overnight oats as an afternoon snack or even a bedtime sweet treat to satisfy my sweet tooth!
Key ingredients
- Rolled oats: A healthy dose of whole grains, fiber, and protein! Oats add soluble fiber to this recipe, which helps slow down the digestion of sugar and helps you feel full. You can use quick oats if you’d like, but the texture won’t be as chewy.
- Milk: I like using Ultra-filtered skim milk to add extra protein and creaminess, but any type of milk will work!
- Cottage cheese: Most overnight oats use yogurt, but cottage cheese is what gives this a thick, doughy texture while adding tons of protein. It’s blended, so you won’t even know it’s cottage cheese.
- Cashew butter: If you want these overnight oats to truly taste like cookie dough, use cashew butter. The rich and buttery flavor makes this taste like cookie dough. Peanut butter or almond butter will work, but it won’t taste nearly as good as a cookie.
- Chia seeds: Thicken the oat mixture and add a boost of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Maple syrup: A natural sweetener that adds the perfect touch of sweetness and really subtle maple flavor.
- Vanilla extract: Ties everything together with a subtle hint of sweet vanilla flavor.
- Mini chocolate chips: For a little extra burst of chocolate in every bite.
See recipe card for quantities.
Watch how to make cookie dough overnight oats
Equipment for overnight oats
You can make these overnight oats with any jars or bowls you already have, but if you’re looking to make overnight oats a regular thing, I suggest investing in these 16-ounce glass jars with lids, which are super easy to write on with dry-erase marker (included!), noting what flavor you have in each jar and the day they were made!
How to make this recipe
Blend the cottage cheese, milk, maple syrup, cashew butter, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Stir in the oats, chia seeds, and chocolate chips.
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Top tips for the BEST healthy cookie dough overnight oats
- For the most authentic cookie dough flavor, use cashew butter. Other nut butters will add creaminess, but cashew butter has a buttery flavor and smooth texture that really makes it taste like you’re licking dough off the spoon!
- Let this one chill overnight if you have the time. While the oats will be soft after 4 hours, they get perfectly doughy when allowed to sit for 12 hours or more.
- Adjust the sweetness to your taste. A tablespoon of maple syrup is the perfect amount of sweetness for me, but if you like your oats extra sweet, add a little more. A little less sweet? Use just a teaspoon or two.
Variations and substitutions
Make any of these swaps to use what you have on hand or fit your dietary needs:
- While I highly recommend cashew butter for the most cookie-dough-like flavor, you can swap it with almond butter, peanut butter, or sunflower butter if needed.
- Instead of mini chocolate chips, use white chocolate chips, mini M&M’s (for a monster cookie), shredded coconut, nuts, or seeds instead.
- You can swap the rolled oats for instant oats if that’s what you have or if you want a smoother texture.
- To make this a low sugar overnight oats breakfast, replace the maple syrup with a few drops of vanilla monk fruit sweetener and replace the chocolate chips with cacao nibs!
- For more protein, use a half a scoop of vanilla protein powder.
- To make this recipe dairy free or vegan, use plant-based milk and soy or coconut yogurt instead of cottage cheese and use a dairy free chocolate chip or cacao nibs.
- For gluten free chocolate chip cookie dough overnight oats, make sure your oats are certified gluten-free.
- If you don’t have or don’t like the texture of chia seeds, you can swap them for an equal amount of ground flaxseed. Found flax adds similar nutrition and also help absorb some of the liquid to create a doughy texture.
Make ahead and storage instructions
These cookie dough overnight oats are ideal for meal prepping ahead of busy weeks. You can double or triple the recipe and store it in individual containers to enjoy all week long. To store them, keep refrigerated for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Overnight Oat FAQS
Do I have to use cottage cheese?
Can I make overnight oats dairy free?
Can I make this ahead of time?
Can I heat up cookie dough overnight oats?
You can if you want, but they’re meant to be eaten cold (like cookie dough!). If you do heat them, microwave in 30-second intervals and stir well between each one until warmed through. (The chocolate chips will get nice and melty!)
Are these oats actually healthy?
Did you make these chocolate chip cookie dough overnight oats?
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More of my favorite overnight oats recipes:
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ⅓ cup milk
- ½ cup cottage cheese.
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon cashew butter
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Blend the cottage cheese, milk, maple syrup, cashew butter, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Stir in the oats, chia seeds, and chocolate chips.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Notes
Nutrition
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