High-Protein Peanut Butter Jelly Oats (Printer View)

Creamy vanilla protein oats layered with peanut butter and homemade strawberry jam. Perfect make-ahead breakfast.

# Components:

→ Oats Base

01 - 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1.5 cups unsweetened almond milk
03 - 0.5 cup plain Greek yogurt
04 - 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (approximately 1 oz)
05 - 2 tablespoons chia seeds
06 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
07 - 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
08 - Pinch of salt

→ Peanut Butter Layer

09 - 3 tablespoons natural peanut butter

→ Strawberry Jam Swirl

10 - 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, diced
11 - 1 tablespoon chia seeds
12 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
13 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice

# Method:

01 - In a medium bowl, combine rolled oats, almond milk, Greek yogurt, vanilla protein powder, chia seeds, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are fully incorporated.
02 - In a small saucepan over medium heat, add diced strawberries and maple syrup. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until berries soften and release their juices. Lightly mash with a fork. Remove from heat, stir in chia seeds and lemon juice, then allow to cool and thicken.
03 - Spoon half of the oat mixture into two jars or containers with lids. Add a layer of peanut butter (approximately 1.5 tablespoons per jar), then top with the remaining oat mixture.
04 - Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of the cooled strawberry compote on top of each jar and swirl gently with a spoon to create a marbled effect.
05 - Cover containers with lids and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight to allow oats to absorb moisture and flavors to meld.
06 - In the morning, stir lightly if desired to combine layers. Top with additional fresh strawberries or chopped peanuts before serving. Consume chilled or briefly microwave if warm oats are preferred.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Twenty-three grams of protein keeps you full until lunch without the sluggish feeling of a carb-heavy breakfast.
  • It's assembled the night before, so your future self gets to sleep an extra fifteen minutes.
  • The peanut butter layer doesn't dissolve into the oats like you'd expect, it stays rich and creamy and becomes a delightful surprise with each spoonful.
02 -
  • Don't skip the cooling step for the strawberry jam, because warm jam will partially melt into the oat layer and you'll lose that distinct peanut butter surprise.
  • The peanut butter sits between two oat layers like a flavor anchor, keeping it creamy and separated instead of blending into everything if you stirred it in from the start.
03 -
  • Layer the peanut butter in the exact middle of your oat layers so every spoonful has a chance of hitting it, instead of spreading it thin across the top where it disappears into the first bites.
  • Cook your strawberry jam a few minutes longer than you think necessary, because you want it thick enough to stay distinct in the jar rather than thin enough to seep into the oats overnight.
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