Apple Spi-Chai Overnight Oats

Love oats? Love apples? Love chai? Hate applesauce but have an abundance of it sitting around from the 1/4 cup you needed for that one recipe? Well you're in luck! Behold, these apple spiced chai (spi-chai) overnight oats are here for you.

I'll spare you my meandering of how I've always hated applesauce and my deep beliefs that it was hand-crafted by Satan himself. That being said, it is a great secret weapon for gluten-free baking, so I despise it a few ounces less these days.

Ingredients:

Oats:

• 1 cup gluten-free oatmeal (steel cut or rolled, either work)
• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 scoop vanilla protein
• 3/4 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)
• 1/2 cup apple sauce
• 1 spiced chai tea bag
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Toppings:

• caramelized apples (instructions below)
• pecans
• bee pollen
• coconut flakes
• cinnamon
• sunflower seed butter
• almond slivers

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix all dry ingredients (oats, chia seeds, protein, cinnamon) and set aside.
2. Set the stove top to low-medium heat. Add milk and tea bag and let simmer for approximately ten minutes. The milk color should turn darker from the chai. Once steeped, remove the bag, remove from heat, and set aside to cool.
3. Once the milk tea is cool, add this and the apple sauce to the dry ingredients and mix well. This ratio of ingredients makes extremely thick oats. If you prefer your oats 'thinner' add milk until you reach desired thickness. Keep in mind the oats will thicken up overnight. 
4. Once all ingredients are mixed thoroughly, transfer the oats to a jar*, seal, and refrigerate.
5. After your oats have set** it's time for the best part: the toppings. Listed above are my preferred toppings for this flavor profile.
6. For caramelized apples: In a pan, add 1 tbsp coconut oil, 1 1 tbsp coconut sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon and set to medium heat. Add thinly sliced apples and sauté for about ten minutes, while stirring/flipping frequently. Cook until softened and slightly browned. Add more cinnamon mid-way if desired.

Notes:

* I usually prepare overnight oats in mason jars because of the airtight seal and mobility. It's perfect for on-the-go breakfast and lets me get seven extra minutes of sleep in the morning. Oats should stay fresh for about 2-3 days while refrigerated.

** You can either add your toppings (if you're doing it jar-style) a few hours after the oats have set and absorbed the liquid ingredients, or right before consuming if you prefer your toppings not to be refrigerated overnight.

*** Parts of above recipe and notes were plagiarized from my last overnight oats recipe, and will probably peep their way into future recipes. 

Hopes to y'all finding this recipe a-peel-ing,