The Overnight Protein Oats I Dream About When I Travel

I just arrived home from my most recent adventure—ten beautiful days in the Philippines with my mom visiting my uncle, followed by time in Vancouver with family. It was full of sunshine, laughter, rice, scrambled eggs… and more rice.

And while I loved every minute of being away, there was one very specific thing I could not stop thinking about:

My overnight oats.

When you eat gluten-free and travel somewhere that doesn’t quite “get” gluten-free (and soy sauce seems to live in everything), your options get limited quickly—especially at breakfast. After ten days of rice and eggs, I was dreaming—not of beaches—but of my bowl of oats waiting patiently in the fridge at home.

Truly.

Since starting my fitness journey last May (down 60 lbs so far and feeling stronger than ever), overnight oats have been my go-to breakfast. I tweaked and tested and adjusted the recipe for months until it became something that checks all the boxes:

  • Tastes amazing
  • Takes almost no effort
  • Keeps me full
  • Helps me hit my nutrition goals

At this point, the base recipe is locked in. I don’t change it. What I do change is how I top it—depending on my mood or what fruit is in the house.

But my all-time favourite topping? Cottage cheese, Honeycrisp apple, and natural peanut butter.

Creamy. Crunchy. Sweet. Salty. Perfection.

I talked about these oats so much while I was away that I actually influenced a friend to try them—she’s now fully converted. And my mom texted me when I got home, asking for the recipe for herself and my cousin. So I figured it was time to share it here—even though it has absolutely nothing to do with what we sell at Marmalade.

Or maybe it does.

Because food, ritual, nourishment, and creating little daily moments of comfort? That feels very on-brand for me (and Marmalade). I plan to start sharing more recipes with our Marmalade community whenever I feel inspired—because it’s such a big part of who I am.

So here it is.

Big-Batch Overnight Oats with Kefir

Makes 10 servings (125 g each)

This is a fridge staple in our house. I make one big batch, and my husband and I eat it throughout the week.

Ingredients

  • 175 g rolled oats
  • 60 g chia seeds
  • 70 g ground flaxseed
  • 75 g vanilla protein powder (for protein and sugar-free sweetness)
  • 2½ tsp cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt (optional)
  • 870 g plain kefir (about 3⅔ cups)

Method

  1. In a large bowl, mix all dry ingredients until evenly combined.
  2. Add the kefir and stir thoroughly until everything is fully incorporated.
  3. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate overnight (or at least 4 hours).
  4. Portion into 125 g servings throughout the week.
  5. Top as desired.

My Go-To Topping (Per Serving)

  • 50–75 g cottage cheese
  • 50 g diced Honeycrisp apple
  • 15 g natural peanut butter

It might sound unexpected—but trust me. It’s the perfect balance of creamy, crunchy, and just sweet enough.

There’s something really grounding about coming home and returning to a ritual that feels nourishing and familiar. Travel stretches us. Home restores us.

And for me, right now, restoration tastes like overnight oats.

If you try this recipe, let me know. And if you’d like to see more food inspiration here on the blog, I’d love to share more of the things that fuel and comfort me.

Because sometimes the coziest moments aren’t candles or blankets.

Sometimes it’s just breakfast. 💛

PS: This overnight oats mixture makes the most delicious, nourishing pancakes. Simply mix 1 cup of the prepared oats with 1 egg and ¼ tsp baking powder, then cook as you would regular pancakes. So good.

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