Breakfast fit for a princess? This simple yet nutritious overnight oats recipe was beloved by Princess Diana. Shared by her former chef, this unlikely combination of ingredients now having a well-deserved viral moment. After trying it myself, I can understand why she ate it daily!
Full disclosure: I have never been a big fan of overnight oats until I tried these. The recipe is unusual because instead of soaking the oats in milk or thickening them with chia seeds, the base uses orange juice. It sounds a little odd, but I promise it's so good! When combined with the creamy tanginess of Greek yogurt and lemon juice and the natural sweetness of the grated honeycrisp apple and juicy blueberries, everything comes together for an unbelievable protein-packed breakfast that is full of color, texture and flavor.
The story goes that Diana actually discovered this recipe at a wellness retreat and loved it so much that she asked her chef to prepare it for her every morning. He even doubled the recipe so he could enjoy a bowl alongside her. I'd do the same! It's hearty, balanced and endlessly satisfying.
This vegan version stays true to form with just two vegan swaps: I use dairy-free Greek yogurt and maple syrup instead of honey. Otherwise, the method and flavor profile remain exactly the same. A sprinkle of cinnamon ties it all together, and if you want to boost the protein ever more, add a dash of hemp seeds!
Ingredients
How to Make It
What I love most about this recipe is how simple it is. I actually double (and sometimes triple) the recipe for easy meal prep!
The night before, all you have to do is combine oats, orange juice and a pinch of salt in a lidded container (I like to make them in single-serving containers rather than batch-making). The oats will soften overnight.
In the morning, stir in the yogurt, lemon juice, grated apple , walnuts, maple syrup and cinnamon.
Top with juicy blueberries, extra grated apple and more walnuts for crunch. Done!
The result is a thick, creamy bowl of oats that is so much more satisfying than your typical cold-soaked oats. You get fiber from the oats and fruit, plant-based protein from the walnuts and Greek yogurt, and a medly of textures that makes each bite exciting. My three kids LOVE it. My 10-year-old actually now requests the "princess breakfast" every morning. That is a huge win in our house since it can be prepped overnight!
Recipe Tips
- Keep the apple skin on. Just like Princess Diana did, leave the skin on for added nutrients, texture and color. See my article covering the benefits of leaving the apple skin on in the Washington Post!
- Toast the walnuts if you have time. Toasting the walnuts intensifies their flavor, but chopping raw walnuts works just fine if you are in a rush.
- Give the original a shot before you tweak it. This is definitely a flexible recipe that can handle swaps, but for the authentic Princess Diana experience I highly recommend trying the full combination of ingredients at least once! Each ingredient was carefully selected for the perfect balance.
If you are inspired by royal eats, you might also love the Kate Middleton Watermelon Avocado Salad and Meghan Markle's One-Pot Pasta. But for now, let's get to this iconic breakfast!
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Princess Diana's Protein Overnight Oats
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Breakfast fit for a princess? This simple yet nutritious overnight oats recipe was beloved by Princess Diana. Shared by her former chef, this unlikely combination of ingredients now having a well-deserved viral moment. After trying it myself, I can understand why she ate it daily!
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup orange juice (fresh squeezed from 3 Valencia oranges)
- 2 tablespoons vegan Greek Yogurt (plus a little extra for garnish/topping)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice from ½ small lemon
- ½ Honeycrisp apple, grated with the skin on (¼ cup goes into the oats and a little more for topping)
- ¼ cup raw or toasted walnuts, roughly chopped (plus more for topping/garnish)
- ¼ cup fresh blueberries (for garnish/topping only)
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- The night before: add rolled oats to covered glass container with orange juice and a pinch of fine salt. Refrigerate overnight.
- In the morning: Stir in the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, grated apple, walnuts, maple syrup and cinnamon. Garnish with blueberries and more chopped walnuts, grated apples.
- Prep Time: 5
- Category: Breakfast
Sonja says
Hi
This sounds delicious. When I put the 1/2 cup orange juice with the oats, there's no liquid covering the oats it just kind of coats them. Is that right? I'm used to making overnight oats where the liquid eg milk, covers the oats.
Elaine Gordon says
Hi Sonja, Very good question. Most recipes online show a 1 to 1 ratio of liquid to oats. I found better results with this ratio since we are adding other liquid ingredients after it soaks. I just coats all the oats to the top with this amount and works well without making it soupy. I would love to know what you think of the final result! Best, Elaine
Sonja says
It was a nice flavour but I ended up adding a bit of soy milk to make it a bit more moist. Thank you 🙂
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much for the feedback, Sonja! I greatly appreciate you taking the time to let me know you added a little more liquid. I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the flavor. Best, Elaine