This easy birthday cake overnight oats recipe feels like dessert for breakfast, with a vanilla cake batter flavor that is simply irresistible! It's vegan, made with wholesome ingredients, and packed with about 20 grams of protein. Prep these oats in just 5 minutes for a creamy and delicious morning treat!
These festive birthday cake overnight oats are a fun and easy way to start your day! They’re thick, creamy, sweet, and feel decadent while actually being a healthy breakfast.
All you need to do is stir everything together, let it soak in the fridge overnight, and your breakfast will be ready to grab and go the next morning. You can also make a big batch for the whole week!
This recipe is balanced with complex carbs, protein, and healthy fats — but not a ton of sugar. Plus, it’s vegan and gluten-free. It doesn’t have to be your birthday to enjoy them! A few special ingredients — vanilla and almond extract, cashew butter, and of course sprinkles — make these oats taste quite similar to birthday cake. I can’t wait for you to try it!
If you love dessert-inspired overnight oats like I do, you’ll also enjoy my tiramisu overnight oats and Biscoff overnight oats!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Tastes like cake: Vanilla and almond extracts, cashew butter, and sprinkles give these oats a flavor surprisingly close to birthday cake. Perfect for birthdays… or any day you want to celebrate!
- No cooking required: Just mix, refrigerate, and wake up to a ready-to-eat breakfast.
- High-protein: With oats, cashew butter, and protein powder, these overnight oats pack about 20 grams of protein, keeping you full and satisfied.
- Perfect for meal prep: Double or triple the recipe to have breakfast ready to go for days.
Ingredients
This is one of my favorite overnight oats recipes for good reason: the ingredients are whole and healthy, and the flavors are just mouth-watering. Here’s everything you’ll need:
- Old-fashioned rolled oats: Soak up the liquid to create a creamy, slightly chewy texture. These give the best results compared to other types of oats.
- Almond milk: Softens the oats and helps everything come together. Any dairy-free milk works — oat milk pairs well with the oats, while soy milk adds more protein. Use unsweetened milk to avoid extra sugar. I don’t recommend water, as the oats won’t be as creamy.
- Dairy-free yogurt: Adds creaminess and a touch of tang to balance the sweetness. Almond, soy, or coconut-based yogurts all work well. Look for low-sugar options, ideally with some protein — I like Silk Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk Yogurt. Or, skip the yogurt and just use extra milk instead.
- Vegan vanilla protein powder (optional): Makes the oats more filling and really amplifies that sweet, cake-like flavor. My favorite is Ora Organic. The recipe uses half a serving, but for extra protein, use a full serving and add an extra splash of almond milk, as protein powder thickens the mixture.
- Cashew butter: Cashew butter adds buttery richness that contributes to the birthday cake flavor, and it provides healthy fats and some protein. Almond butter works too, or you can leave it out.
- Sprinkles: Because everything is better with sprinkles! I used naturally colored sprinkles that are vegan and free of artificial dyes.
- Maple syrup: Adds natural sweetness. Adjust to taste, or swap with agave nectar, coconut sugar, date syrup, or stevia drops for a lower-sugar option.
- Chia seeds: Provide extra fiber and help thicken the overnight oats. Ground flaxseed works as a substitute.
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the flavors and gives a dessert-like taste.
- Almond extract: The secret to that cake batter flavor — very potent, so use just a tiny dash.
- Salt: A pinch balances the sweetness.
- Toppings (optional): For extra texture and decadence, top with dairy-free whipped cream and more sprinkles (it makes the oats look like a cupcake!). You could also add granola for crunch or fresh berries for a juicy pop.
Find the full ingredient list with measurements in the recipe card below.
How to Make Birthday Cake Overnight Oats
Here’s how to create these fun, festive birthday cake overnight oats in just 5 minutes of prep!
Step 1: Add all the ingredients to a bowl, container, or mason jar.
Step 2: Stir until well combined. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 4 hours, to thicken. The next morning (or when ready to serve), give the oats a stir. If the mixture seems too thick, stir in a splash of almond milk to loosen it. Add toppings if you’d like, and enjoy!
How to Store & Meal Prep
These overnight oats keep well in the fridge for up to 5 days, making them perfect for meal prep. I like storing mine in wide-mouth 16-ounce mason jars, but an airtight container works too. If you make the oats in a bowl, just cover it tightly with plastic wrap — though they may only stay fresh for a couple of days if not fully sealed.
I usually double, triple, or quadruple the recipe so I have an easy, healthy breakfast ready to go throughout the week.
More Dessert-Insired Breakfasts
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Thank you!
–Chloe
Birthday Cake Overnight Oats
By Chloe MartinIngredients
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup almond milk (or other dairy-free milk)
- ¼ cup dairy-free yogurt (like almond, soy, or coconut-based yogurt)
- 2 tablespoons (about 15g or ½ serving) vegan vanilla protein powder (optional)
- 1 tablespoon cashew butter
- 1 tablespoon naturally colored sprinkles
- 2-3 teaspoons maple syrup (or sweetener of choice, to taste)
- ½ tablespoon chia seeds
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- pinch of salt
- Optional toppings: dairy-free whipped cream, sprinkles
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a container or mason jar. Stir until well combined.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least 4 hours.
- The next morning (or when ready to eat), give the oats a stir. If the mixture is too thick, add a splash of almond milk and stir again. Add toppings like dairy-free whipped cream and sprinkles, if desired, and enjoy!
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