Few things say a South African Christmas like Amarula — that smooth, caramel-and-cream flavour poured over ice on a hot December afternoon. This overnight oats jar borrows its taste, not its buzz: creamy caramel oats with a hint of coffee and cocoa, an optional splash of the real thing for the grown-ups, and none of it for the kids.
It is an indulgent, dessert-like way to start a festive morning, made the night before so all you do is stir and drizzle. Leave the liqueur out and it is a family-friendly caramel-cream jar; add a spoon and it becomes a very grown-up Christmas breakfast.
380Calories
13gProtein
55gCarbs
6gFibre
Ingredients
1/2 cupJungle Oats rolled oats
1/2 cupMilk of choice
1/4 cupPlain Greek yoghurt
1 tbspChia seeds
1 tbspCaramel treat or dulce de leche
1/2 tspInstant coffee (in 1 tsp warm water)
1/2 tspCocoa powder
1/2 tspVanilla essence
1 tbspAmarula (optional, adults only)
ToppingCaramel drizzle & a dusting of cocoa
Method, tonight
1
Dissolve the instant coffee in a teaspoon of warm water. Add it to your jar with the cocoa, caramel treat and vanilla and stir to a smooth base.
2
Stir in the oats, milk, yoghurt and chia until fully combined. For the adult version, add the tablespoon of Amarula now.
3
Seal and refrigerate overnight, or for at least six hours.
4
In the morning, stir, loosen with a splash of milk if needed, and finish with a caramel drizzle and a dusting of cocoa.
SA kitchen tip
A spoon of Nestlé Caramel Treat (the tinned caramel in every SA baking aisle) is the shortcut to that Amarula-like caramel-cream flavour with no alcohol at all. The coffee and cocoa deepen it into something properly grown-up. Keep the jar alcohol-free for the whole family, or split the batch and add the Amarula only to the adults’ jars.
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Why it works
The taste of a SA Christmas, in a breakfast jar.
Amarula’s magic is that caramel-cream-coffee combination, and you can build most of it from a spoon of caramel treat, a little coffee and a touch of cocoa — no bottle required. On a base of oats, chia and yoghurt, the result tastes like a festive dessert but carries the fibre and protein of a real breakfast, so it holds you through a long, lazy holiday morning.
Making it the night before lets the coffee and caramel soak right through the oats. By morning it is deep, creamy and properly indulgent — the sort of thing you would happily serve as a Christmas-morning treat.
Common questions
Amarula overnight oats, answered.
Can I make it without alcohol?
Yes — the Amarula is completely optional. The caramel treat, coffee and cocoa give you the signature caramel-cream flavour with no alcohol, so it is safe for children and the whole family. Only add the liqueur to the adults’ jars if you want to.
Does the alcohol cook off?
No — overnight oats are not cooked, so any Amarula you add stays in the jar. Keep the alcohol version for adults only, and make a separate alcohol-free batch for kids.
What can I use instead of caramel treat?
A tablespoon of dulce de leche, or a mix of a teaspoon of brown sugar and a little extra yoghurt for creaminess. Caramel treat is the easiest SA shortcut and gives the truest flavour.
Can I prep these for Christmas morning?
Definitely. Make the jars the night before — even a batch for the family, alcohol-free for the kids. See our
meal prep guide for scaling up.
Keep exploring
More festive-season flavours.
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