How long will cannoli overnight oats keep in the fridge?

Overnight oats should last a few days in the refrigerator. For a satisfyingly crunchy topping, be sure to add it right before serving.

Do I really have to wait overnight to eat overnight oats?

If you can’t wait until breakfast, that’s no problem. You can dig in after just two hours. However, the texture becomes more luscious and creamy when you let them chill overnight.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free and nut-free?

Certainly! While oats are naturally gluten-free, they sometimes get contaminated with wheat during processing. If you're following a gluten-free diet, be sure to purchase certified gluten-free oats. If you’d like to add a crunchy topping, you can opt for gluten-free pizzelle cookies, ice cream cones or cannoli shells. If you need to avoid nuts, carefully check ingredient labels to ensure that the products are manufactured in nut-free facilities. If you prefer an alternative to pistachios, we recommend using sunflower seeds for an extra crunch and a nut-like flavor.

Cannoli-Inspired Overnight Oats

Active Time:

20 mins

Chill Time:

8 hrs

Total Time:

8 hrs 40 mins

Servings:

4

Nutrition Profile:

Sesame-Free High-Fiber Vegetarian High-Protein Egg-Free

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Your taste buds will be fooled into thinking you’re eating the real thing with these Cannoli-Inspired Overnight Oats. Protein-rich Greek yogurt and milk create creamy, tender oats that are layered with a mildly sweet ricotta cheese filling that has hints of orange flavor. Toasty pistachios add crunch and a subtle saltiness that complements the chocolaty topping. Read on for expert tips, including how to shop for ricotta.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!

Use a good ricotta for this recipe; it shouldn’t be watery or grainy. Look for one that is made with milk, salt and an acid or culture, rather than one that contains stabilizers and gums.
The ricotta filling (Steps 2 and 3) can be made a few days in advance and stored in the fridge. Strain it for a better consistency, and to ensure it won’t add extra moisture to the oat mixture.
Crush up some pizzelle cookies or ice cream cones to emulate the cannoli shell. You can also find empty cannoli shells at specialty markets.
Use vanilla Greek yogurt for a more intense vanilla flavor.

Nutrition Notes

Filled with gut-friendly fiber, oats are perhaps best known for their ability to help reduce cholesterol levels. Besides fiber, oats also provide energy-boosting complex carbohydrates and plant-based protein. This complex carb, fiber and protein combo helps slow down the oats’ digestion and stabilizes blood sugar. It also helps keep you full longer.
Like many other types of cheese, ricotta cheese is a good source of protein and calcium. It’s also one of the lower-sodium cheeses, making it a good choice for those watching their sodium intake. According to the USDA, ricotta is rich in vitamin B12, which is necessary for a healthy nervous system, preventing cognitive decline and energy metabolism.
The Greek yogurt in this recipe adds to the muscle-building protein and bone-strengthening calcium in these overnight oats. It’s also rich in selenium, a mineral that can act as an antioxidant and may help protect against cancer, heart disease and cognitive decline, and support your immune system. Selenium is also important for optimal thyroid function. Greek yogurt also contains probiotics, adding beneficial gut bacteria to your microbiome.

Pistachios add yet another protein punch to these overnight oats, as well as more fiber. Pistachios also bring healthy fats, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Altogether, the nutrients in pistachios may help improve gut and eye health, and reduce blood pressure and blood sugar.

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

2¾ cups reduced-fat milk
2¼ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
½ cup whole-milk plain strained (Greek-style) yogurt
¼ cup chopped salted roasted pistachios plus 1 tablespoon, divided
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar, divided
1 tablespoon white or black chia seeds
1 tablespoon vanilla extract plus ½ teaspoon, divided
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
3 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon unrefined coconut oil

Directions

Combine 2¾ cups milk, 2¼ cups oats, ½ cup yogurt, ¼ cup pistachios, 1 tablespoon each confectioners’ sugar, chia seeds and vanilla and ¼ teaspoon salt in a medium bowl; stir to mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours.

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
Spread ¾ cup ricotta on a paper-towel-lined plate; top with more paper towels. Gently press down to remove excess moisture; let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes. Transfer the ricotta to a small bowl. (Alternatively, place ricotta in a double layer of cheesecloth. Gather the cheesecloth up around the ricotta; gently squeeze out any excess liquid.)

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
Whisk 1 teaspoon orange zest and the remaining 1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar and ½ teaspoon vanilla into the ricotta until fully combined.

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
Spoon ½ cup oat mixture into each of 4 (8-ounce) jars. Top each with 3 tablespoons ricotta mixture, then top each with ½ cup oat mixture.
Stir 3 tablespoons chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon coconut oil together in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on High until the chocolate chips are melted, 45 to 60 seconds. Stir until the chocolate chips are completely melted and incorporated into the oil. Spoon about 2 teaspoons of the melted chocolate over each jar, spreading to cover the entire surface. Refrigerate, uncovered, until the chocolate layer is almost fully set, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle the chocolate with the remaining 1 tablespoon pistachios. Refrigerate the jars, uncovered, until the chocolate is fully set, about 5 minutes.

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel

To make ahead

Refrigerate oat mixture (Step 1) for at least 8 hours; refrigerate finished jars for up to 4 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will cannoli overnight oats keep in the fridge?

Overnight oats should last a few days in the refrigerator. For a satisfyingly crunchy topping, be sure to add it right before serving.
Do I really have to wait overnight to eat overnight oats?

If you can’t wait until breakfast, that’s no problem. You can dig in after just two hours. However, the texture becomes more luscious and creamy when you let them chill overnight.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free and nut-free?

Certainly! While oats are naturally gluten-free, they sometimes get contaminated with wheat during processing. If you're following a gluten-free diet, be sure to purchase certified gluten-free oats. If you’d like to add a crunchy topping, you can opt for gluten-free pizzelle cookies, ice cream cones or cannoli shells. If you need to avoid nuts, carefully check ingredient labels to ensure that the products are manufactured in nut-free facilities. If you prefer an alternative to pistachios, we recommend using sunflower seeds for an extra crunch and a nut-like flavor.

EatingWell.com, September 2024

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

492	Calories
20g	Fat
56g	Carbs
22g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size about 1 cup
Calories 492
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 56g	20%
Dietary Fiber 7g	26%
Total Sugars 19g
Protein 22g	44%
Total Fat 20g	26%
Saturated Fat 9g	43%
Cholesterol 31mg	10%
Vitamin A 144Âµg
Vitamin C 1mg	2%
Vitamin D 2Âµg
Vitamin E 1mg	3%
Folate 38Âµg
Vitamin K 3Âµg
Sodium 312mg	14%
Calcium 413mg	32%
Iron 3mg	17%
Magnesium 122mg	29%
Potassium 644mg	14%
Zinc 4mg	34%
Vitamin B12 1Âµg
Omega 3 1g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by

Carrie Myers, M.S.

and

Linda Frahm

Sources

EatingWell is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy.