Palm Springs Date Overnight Oats

Palm Springs-Inspired Date Overnight Oats

Cody and I went to Palm Springs a few years ago on vacation, and while I was there I completely fell in love with the infamous Palm Springs Date Shake. So much so that I came home and immediately created my own higher-protein date shake recipe!

Turns out, you guys have loved it as much as I do, rating it five stars with countless reviews. It’s gotten so popular that I decided to make an overnight oats version, too! This recipe has all the same deliciousness as the original shake but is refined sugar-free, made with 8 grams of fiber, and has 11 grams of protein, thanks to the cottage cheese and chia seeds. Plus you can add protein powder for even more protein! These oats are actually so popular in my house that even my littles want them for dessert. 

Looking for more ways to use cottage cheese? Here are 35+ cottage cheese recipes! 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Simple Ingredients – All you need are 8 ingredients, most of which are pantry staples you likely have on hand! 
• Easy to Make – Just combine the ingredients, and chill them in the fridge. 
• Great for Meal Prep – The oats store well for a couple of days. So, I like to prep a few portions at the beginning of the week for easy grab-and-go options in the morning. 
• Kid-Approved – I always make extra servings, because my kids devour this recipe! 

RELATED: Tiramisu Overnight Oats

Ingredients

• Dates – The star of the show! I like Deglet Noor or Medjool dates, but any variety will work. Just make sure they’re pitted. 
• Cottage Cheese – You can also use Greek yogurt or a dairy-free alternative. I recommend full-fat versions for the best taste and texture, but low-fat is also fine.
• Maple Syrup – With the dates and bananas, these oats are already pretty sweet. So, adjust the maple syrup to taste. 
• Ripe Bananas – Use ripe, spotty bananas as you would for cinnamon swirl banana bread. 
• Cinnamon 
• Milk – Use any dairy or non-dairy milk you have on hand. 
• Rolled Oats – Avoid quick oats or steel-cut oats. They won’t soften the same way as rolled oats or old-fashioned oats! Make sure to use certified gluten-free oats, if needed. 
• Chia Seeds – These add protein and fiber and contribute to the thick consistency. 

How to Make Creamy Date Overnight Oats

Thick, creamy, and sweet, these overnight oats with dates are the breakfast of my dreams. Plus, they’re foolproof to make! All you need is a large bowl, a blender, and overnight oats jars. Here’s how to make Palm Springs Date Overnight Oats: 

1. Soak the dates – Submerge the dates in water, and set them aside to soak while you prep the remaining ingredients. 
2. Blend – Combine half of the pitted dates with the cottage cheese, syrup, banana, cinnamon, and milk in a blender, and pulse until smooth. 
3. Chop – Use a sharp knife to chop the remaining dates. 
4. Layer – Divide the rolled oats and chia seeds into jars, and mix in the chopped dates. Then, pour the cottage cheese mixture on top, and mix to combine. 
5. Store – Seal the jars, and store the oats in the fridge overnight. Enjoy cold straight from the fridge! 

Tips

• Don’t skip soaking the dates. This helps soften the fruit, making it easier to blend and creating an almost caramel sauce-like taste and texture. 
• Blend until smooth. Stop and scrape down the sides of the blender as needed to ensure all the ingredients are well combined. This not only helps create a smooth texture so you don’t taste the cottage cheese but also contributes to the thick, creamy, shake-like consistency. 
• Adjust the sweetness. Dates and bananas add plenty of natural sweetness. So, you may not even need the maple syrup. Give your oats a quick taste test before adding the syrup, and slowly adjust the amount included to taste. 
• Customize the texture. Add a splash more milk for thinner oats, or reduce the liquid slightly if you prefer your oats thick and spoonable.
• Stir before serving. The oats thicken overnight. So, I always give them a quick stir in the morning and add a splash of milk if needed.

RELATED: Oatmeal Cookie Overnight Oats

Variations

• Add more protein. Include a scoop of vanilla or unflavored protein powder for even more protein. Stir in an extra splash of milk as needed to make sure all the ingredients incorporate evenly. 
• Include nut butter. Stir in almond butter or peanut butter for a subtle nutty taste and a boost of healthy fats. 
• Make chocolate date oats. Stir in 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder, or top your oats with dark chocolate chips for a dessert-inspired breakfast. 
• Omit the banana. Skip the banana, and add an extra 1/4-1/2 cup of cottage cheese or yogurt, if preferred. Just note that the oats will be less sweet. So, add more maple syrup to taste. 
• Include toppings. Serve your date overnight oats topped with chopped pecans, walnuts, healthy homemade granola, coconut flakes, or fresh fruit. 
• Warm overnight oats. Pop your oats in the microwave for 30-60 seconds before serving if you prefer your oats to be warm instead of cold. 

How to Store

Store your overnight oats in airtight jars or containers in the refrigerator for 1-2 days if you included the bananas or for up to 4-5 days if you kept them banana-free. If the oats thicken too much, stir in a splash of milk to loosen them up before enjoying!

Healthy Overnight Oats Recipes You’ll Love

• Berry Overnight Oats
• Pumpkin Overnight Oats
• Blended Overnight Oats
• Snickers Overnight Oats
• Mocha Latte Overnight Oats
• Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

More Ways to Use Dates

• Date Snickers
• Date Cake Recipe
• Almond Joy Chocolate Covered Dates
• Homemade Date Twix Bars
• Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date Bars
• Pumpkin Butter Date Bark