Few things are as satisfying as a quick grab-and-go breakfast on a busy morning, and our blended cherry overnight oats are no exception.
What are Overnight Oats?
Oatmeal soaks in liquid overnight (or at least 2 hours) to make a perfectly thick and creamy oatmeal to enjoy the next day. For more breakfast ideas, check out these overnight oat recipes!
What You Need to Make this Recipe
- Oatmeal: Old-fashioned oats produce the best results, whereas steel-cut oats wind up chewy since they don’t absorb the liquid properly, and quick oats turn out mushy.
- Chia Seeds: Besides texture, chia seeds provide protein, fiber, and healthy fat.
- Almond Milk: You can use almond milk, water, or another milk, like oat, soy, or coconut milk- just like we do to make our overnight oats with coconut milk.
- Sweetener: Sweeten cherry overnight oats with honey, vanilla extract, and juicy cherries.
- Toppings: The toppings are optional, but I enjoy adding more cherries, toasted almonds, and a drizzle of honey to finish the meal.
Additions and Substitutions
- Use flaxseeds instead of chia seeds for fiber and protein.
- Replace almond milk with your milk of choice.
- Use monk fruit, maple syrup, agave, or brown sugar to sweeten overnight oats with cherries rather than honey.
- Add protein to the breakfast by incorporating nut butter (like a deconstructed PB & J) or Greek yogurt.
- Make cherry chip overnight oats and enjoy dessert for breakfast by stirring in chocolate chips before refrigerating the oats.
How to Make Cherry Overnight Oats
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Pit the cherries and transfer them to a blender.
Step 2: Add the oats, chia seeds, almond milk, honey, and vanilla extract. Process until smooth.
Step 3: Divide the mixture between two glasses, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
Step 4: Remove the oatmeal from the fridge, give it a quick stir, and top them with a drizzle of honey, sliced almonds, and more cherries.
Tips for Make the Best Cherry Overnight Oats
- Store overnight oats in a jar with room to spare since the oatmeal expands as it rehydrates, and so will any mix-ins you add.
- I find a 1:1 ratio of one part old-fashioned oats and one part milk the best unless you add chia seeds. Use less liquid if you want thicker oatmeal and more if you like it runny.
- Despite the name overnight oats, they only need to soak for 2-3 hours before you can enjoy them. However, the longer you soak the oats, the softer they will become.
- Give the mixture a good stir before adding toppings and digging in. If the oats seem dry after sitting in the fridge, add another splash of milk.
- Overnight oats are typically consumed cold, but if you prefer a warm bowl of oatmeal, you can heat the prepared oats in the microwave.
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Serving Suggestions
The best thing about cherry overnight oats is flexibility. All you need is oats, cherries, almond milk, and toppings or mix-ins. Here are a few suggestions we love.
- Chocolate Chips, Cocoa Nibs, Cocoa Powder
- Chocolate or Vanilla Protein Powder
- Walnuts, Pecans, Almonds
- Agave, Maple Syrup, Monk Fruit, Fig Jam
- Greek Yogurt, Cottage Cheese
- Almond Butter, Sunflower Seed Butter, Peanut Butter, Nutella, Cookie Butter
How Long do Overnight Oats Last?
- Refrigerate – Most overnight oat recipes keep for three days in the refrigerator. If the cherry overnight oats seem dry after sitting in the fridge, add another splash of almond milk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is overnight oats and fruit healthy?
Overnight oats with cherries are high in protein, fiber, and vitamins. And since the meal is so versatile, you can easily add toppings like seeds, nuts, and more fresh fruit to fortify the oats and meet your health goals.
Do you use frozen or fresh fruit for overnight oats?
The answer to that question is both. Fresh fruit is always delicious, but if your favorite fruit is out of season, frozen fruit is a great option! Cherry season in North Carolina runs from late spring to summer, so you and your family can enjoy this tasty breakfast treat all summer.
When should I add fruit to my overnight oats?
I love including fresh or frozen cherries in my overnight oats before they have had time to set so they incorporate into the oatmeal. However, if you prefer them solely as a topping, you can add them when you’re ready to eat!
What fruit is best for overnight oats?
When preparing overnight oats, you’ve got plenty of fruit options to choose from! It depends on what floats your boat. I’m a big fan of berries, like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries.
If creamy is more your vibe, slice up some bananas. Other mix-ins I love are mangoes and peaches, and don’t forget the cherries!
More Overnight Oats Recipes:
Cherry Overnight Oats
- 2 Airtight Container
- ⅓ cup cherries, plus more for garnish
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 cup vanilla almond milk, unsweetened
- 2½ teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons sliced almonds, toasted, divided, for garnish
- Pit the cherries and transfer them to a blender.
- Add the oats, chia seeds, almond milk, honey, and vanilla extract. Process until smooth.
- Divide the mixture between two glasses, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
- Remove the oatmeal from the fridge, give it a quick stir, and top them with a drizzle of honey, sliced almonds, and more cherries.
- Store overnight oats in a jar with room to spare since the oatmeal expands as it rehydrates, and so will any mix-ins you add.
- I find a 1:1 ratio of one part old-fashioned oats and one part milk the best unless you add chia seeds. Use less liquid if you want thicker oatmeal and more if you like it runny.
- Despite the name overnight oats, they only need to soak for 2-3 hours before you can enjoy them. However, the longer you soak the oats, the softer they will become.
- Give the mixture a good stir before adding toppings and digging in. If the oats seem dry after sitting in the fridge, add another splash of milk.
- Overnight Oats are typically consumed cold, but if you prefer a warm bowl of oatmeal, you can heat the prepared oats in the microwave.
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.