Can I use desiccated coconut instead of flakes?

Yes. Desiccated coconut is finer and blends into the oats more, so you lose a little crunch but keep the flavour.

Is banana coconut overnight oats vegan?

It can be. Use the oat milk jar or plant milk and swap honey for maple syrup.

Overnight OatsContinental

Banana Coconut

The simplest tropical combination. Just three ingredients create something greater than the sum of its parts. Perfect for beginners, when you're out of most ingredients, or when you want something naturally sweet and simple. The coconut flakes add texture and transport you somewhere sunny.

Time: 365 min
Method: Layer
Serves: 1
Energy: 515 kcal
Protein: 15 g

Go to the method

Bowl of banana coconut overnight oats topped with banana slices, coconut flakes and honey

Method

Step 1: Layer banana slices over your DIY Oats base.
Step 2: Sprinkle coconut flakes generously on top.
Step 3: Drizzle honey over everything.
Step 4: The banana provides natural sweetness and creaminess, while coconut adds texture and healthy fats.
Step 5: This is proof that simple works.
Step 6: Use ripe bananas for maximum sweetness.
Step 7: Toast the coconut flakes for extra flavor if you have time.

Notes from the Department

Simple and sweet

Nutrition

1 serving

515 cal | 15g protein | 12g fiber

2 servings

1030 cal | 30g protein | 24g fiber

Estimates. Not medical advice.

Why it works

Three toppings, no decisions. Banana brings sweetness and a soft, creamy bite. Coconut flakes add chew and a toasted, sunny flavour. Honey pulls them together. It is the kind of recipe you can make half asleep, which is when most overnight oats get made.

Toast the coconut

If you have two spare minutes, toast the coconut flakes in a dry pan until golden at the edges. They smell wonderful and taste nuttier, and they stay crisper on top of the oats. Watch them closely; coconut goes from toasted to burnt faster than a file goes missing.

Make it yours

Use a ripe banana for maximum sweetness. Swap honey for maple syrup or jaggery syrup. Add a few cashews for crunch, or a little pineapple if you want to lean further into the tropics. If you don't have a DIY Oats jar, soak rolled oats in milk with chia and a few almonds overnight. Coconut milk in place of some of the milk makes it extra coconutty.

Storage

Keeps covered in the fridge for a day. Add the banana and toasted coconut in the morning if you want the best colour and crunch.

Questions people ask

Can I use desiccated coconut instead of flakes?: Yes. Desiccated coconut is finer and blends into the oats more, so you lose a little crunch but keep the flavour.
Is banana coconut overnight oats vegan?: It can be. Use the oat milk jar or plant milk and swap honey for maple syrup.

Department of Recipes