As a registered dietitian whose all-time favorite dessert is tiramisu, I've spent over a year perfecting these tiramisu overnight oats! No other recipe comes close to the rich coffee soaked oats and decacadent cream layers in this high protein, high fiber breakfast.
Not that eating tiramisu for breakfast is a bad idea, but it probably won’t leave you feeling your best. And tiramisu is my all-time favorite dessert, so I say that with firsthand experience.
When my partner and I first started dating, we got it in our heads that we would find the BEST Tiramisu in the greater Lansing area. We ate a lot of very mediocre desserts over the course of a month.
Then I thought, "I can do better" and whipped up a batch of Broma Bakery's Classic Tiramisu. I proved myself very, very right.
So what's a tiramisu-loving registered dietitian to do but turn it into a nourishing, high-protein, high-fiber breakfast? I originally made this recipe in May of 2025 and have lost count of the times I've made it since. If you love turning dessert flavors into a legit breakfast, my cookie dough overnight oats are another one you'll want in your rotation.
Traditional tiramisu uses mascarpone and sugar, but we’re blending cottage cheese, cream cheese, vanilla, and maple syrup for a thick, creamy layer that’s just as dreamy, but with a fraction of the sugar and fat. Each jar has 9 grams of fiber, 22 grams of protein, and under 500 calories, so you’ll stay full and satisfied all morning long.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Takes just 10 minutes to make and is perfect for meal prepping, so when you only have a few minutes to eat breakfast, you can spend the entire time enjoying it.
- Each serving has 22 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber to help you feel full and energized. If you have trouble hitting your daily fiber goals, that's 32% of the recommended daily value of 28 grams per day! I have a whole collection of overnight oats recipes if you're looking for more ways to sneak extra fiber into your mornings.
- Lower in sugar and fat than traditional tiramisu-inspired desserts
- Made with cottage cheese instead of yogurt for a super-rich and high-protein creamy layer
Ingredients
- Rolled oats: A healthy dose of whole grains, fiber, and protein! Oats add soluble fiber to this recipe, which slows the absorption 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.
- Coffee or espresso: If you have an espresso maker, espresso has a richer flavor, but since I don’t, I make these with strong brewed coffee, and it’s just as delicious. You can use instant espresso or decaf if you prefer.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: Infuses the oats with the best decadent cocoa flavor that pairs perfectly with the coffee in these overnight oats.
- Chia seeds: Thickens the oat mixture and adds a boost of fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids. If you love what chia seeds do for texture and nutrition, my blueberry chia seed pudding is another great way to put them to work.
- Cottage cheese: Most overnight oats use yogurt, but cottage cheese gives the cream layer an extra boost of richness (while still adding tons of protein and calcium!).
- Cream cheese: Just a little cream cheese, combined with the cottage cheese, gives the blended layers a mascarpone-like taste and texture while still keeping it light and healthy.
- Maple syrup: A natural sweetener that adds the perfect touch of sweetness.
- Vanilla extract: Adds just a hint of vanilla and extra sweetness.
Instructions
Tiramisu overnight oats are super simple, but the cream layer adds an extra step (that's so so so so worth it!).
- Step 1: Combine oats, coffee, milk, half of the maple syrup, chia seeds, and cocoa powder in a bowl.
- Step 2: In a small blender, blend the cottage cheese, softened cream cheese, vanilla extract, and one tablespoon of maple syrup, adding a splash of milk if it’s too thick to blend.
- Step 3: Layer the oat mixture and creamy cottage cheese mixture in a jar, repeating until gone.
You can make these overnight oats in a mason jar or any container you have on hand, but I love layering them in 10-ounce glass jars with lids. One serving of this recipe fits perfectly inside one jar, and they come with a dry-erase marker so you can easily write the flavor and date on each one!
Whipped up the tiramisu overnight oats last night (soo easy) taste tested just now. SO good!🤤 Thank you!"
--K.N. (Instagram Tester)
Substitutions
- You can swap the old-fashioned rolled oats for instant oats if that’s what you have or if you want a smoother texture. If you do, reduce the milk and coffee by 1 to 2 tablespoons each, as they won’t absorb as much liquid.
- I like using ultra-filtered skim milk for its creaminess and protein boost, but you can use any type of milk you prefer, including plant-based options like unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk. Just keep in mind the nutrition will change.
- Instead of strong-brewed coffee, use espresso, instant espresso, cold-brew concentrate, or instant coffee.
- For overnight oats without chia seeds, substitute the chia with ground flaxseed, which also adds protein, fiber, and healthy fats, and helps absorb some of the liquid. You'll get a similar nutritional effect without the texture of the chia seeds.
Variations
- Decaffeinated: Just use decaf coffee! But don’t skip the coffee altogether– it adds the best flavor.
- Lightened Up Version: For a lighter version, you can skip the cream cheese or use a low or no-sugar vanilla or plain Greek yogurt for the cream layer and skip the maple syrup. You’ll lose some of the richness, but it will be lower in sugar and calories and still taste good.
- Low Sugar: To avoid added sugars, swap the maple syrup with a few drops of vanilla monk fruit.
- High Protein Overnight Oats: For high-protein tiramisu overnight oats, use chocolate protein powder in place of cocoa powder. It's the same swap I use in my chocolate protein overnight oats, and it makes a noticeable difference in how full you feel.
- Vegan or Dairy-Free: To make these tiramisu overnight oats vegan or dairy-free, use plant-based milk, plant-based cream cheese, and soy or coconut yogurt instead of cottage cheese.
- Gluten-Free: Make gluten-free tiramisu overnight oats by using certified gluten-free oats.
Storage
You can double or triple this recipe and layer it into individual containers for an easy meal-prepped breakfast to enjoy all week long. Once made, store the jars in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Top Tips
- If you have an espresso maker, use espresso! But if you don’t (like me!), strong brewed coffee, or a pre-made espresso-style or cold-brew coffee concentrate works too!
- Let the cream cheese sit out and soften for 15-30 minutes before blending for a velvety-smooth texture.
- You could eat these overnight oats in as little as four hours, but I highly recommend letting them sit overnight. This gives plenty of time for the oats to soften and absorb all the flavors, and for the creamy layer to set and thicken.
- Unlike most other overnight oat recipes, do not shake or stir this one. You want layers.
FAQ
No, overnight oats don’t need a full night in the refrigerator, but they should be left to set in the fridge for at least 4 hours so the oats have a chance to soften.
Yes! This version is high in protein and fiber, and uses real, nutrient-dense ingredients like oats, cottage cheese, chia seeds, and maple syrup to keep you full and satisfied. It is a little higher in added sugars and fat than some of my other overnight oat recipes, but still less than 500 calories and nutritious.
More Overnight Oat Recipes You'll Love
Looking for your next fun overnight oats recipe to try? These are some of my favorite dessert inspired recipes:
Did you try this recipe?
Once you've made it, let me know! You can:
- Leave a 5-star rating and review! (If you made any substitutions, let us know in the comments!)
- Share a picture of the recipe on Instagram and tag me @graciouslynourished - I'd love to see how it turns out!
Until Next Time...
All my best,
Kelsey
📖 Recipe
Tiramisu Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ½ cup Rolled Oats
- ⅓ cup strong brewed coffee
- ¼ cup Milk
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- 2 teaspoons cream cheese softened
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon Chia Seeds
- 2 tablespoons Maple Syrup separated
Instructions
- Combine oats, coffee, milk, one tablespoon maple syrup, chia seeds, and cocoa powder.
- Blend the cottage cheese, softened cream cheese, vanilla extract, and one tablespoon of maple syrup until smooth and creamy. Add a small amount of milk if needed.
- Layer the oat mixture and creamy cottage cheese mixture in a jar.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Sprinkle with extra cocoa powder before serving, if desired.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Notes
- Use espresso, strong brewed coffee, pre-made espresso style, or cold-brew coffee concentrate .
- Let the cream cheese sit out and soften for 15-30 minutes before blending.
- You could eat these overnight oats in as little as four hours, but I highly recommend letting them sit overnight.
- Do not shake or stir this one. You want it to stay in layers.
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