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Chocolate Orange Overnight Oats - A Bright, Chocolatey Make-Ahead Breakfast

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 2 servings

Ingredients
  

  • Old-fashioned rolled oats
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder (or cacao powder)
  • Chia seeds (optional, for thickness and extra fiber)
  • Milk of choice (dairy, almond, oat, soy, or coconut)
  • Plain or vanilla yogurt (dairy or dairy-free)
  • Orange zest (freshly grated)
  • Fresh orange juice (from the same orange, ideally)
  • Maple syrup or honey (or another sweetener)
  • Vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • Dark chocolate chips or shaved dark chocolate (optional garnish)
  • Orange segments or extra zest for topping (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Zest and juice the orange: Use a microplane to grate the outer peel for zest, avoiding the bitter white pith. Squeeze about 2–3 tablespoons of juice.
  • Mix the dry ingredients: In a bowl or jar, combine 1/2 cup rolled oats, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, and 1 teaspoon chia seeds. Add a tiny pinch of salt to round out the flavors.
  • Whisk the wet ingredients: In a separate cup, stir together 1/2 cup milk, 1/4 cup yogurt, 1–2 teaspoons maple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 1–2 teaspoons orange zest, and the orange juice.
  • Combine and stir well: Pour the wet mixture over the oats. Stir thoroughly so the cocoa dissolves and no dry pockets remain.
  • Adjust thickness: If it looks very thick, add a splash more milk. It should be pourable but not watery; the oats and chia will thicken overnight.
  • Chill: Cover the jar or bowl and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
  • Serve: In the morning, stir and taste. Add a drizzle of milk if needed. Top with dark chocolate shavings, extra orange zest, or orange segments for a bright finish.