Cherry Overnight Oats

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Creamy, sweet, and full of bright cherries, this cherry overnight oats recipe is a fun way to change up plain ol’ overnight oats. They come together easily in a few simple steps and make for the best grab-and-go breakfast recipe. Loaded with wholesome ingredients, this breakfast meal prep will keep you satisfied until lunchtime!

Whenever cherry season rolls around, you can find me eating them by the handful. I love sweet cherries and they make for such a delightful addition to overnight oats! Once you give this a try, you’ll want to make it 24/7.

A jar of cherry overnight oats with cherry jam and fresh cherries on top on a serving board with fresh cherries scattered.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It’s a healthy and nutritious way to start off the day! Between the rolled oats, cherries, and chia seeds, it’s a nutrient-packed breakfast that is filling and hearty! Cherries are also supposedly great for exercise recovery, so the runner in me loves this recipe.
This cherries overnight oats recipe will keep you feeling satisfied until lunch. It’s a great grab-and-go breakfast so that you can throw it into your bag alongside your bottle of iced coffee as I do.
I love using ripe, juicy cherries in the summer. There are always cherries on sale once summer hits, but this cherry overnight oats recipe can easily be made all year long with frozen cherries.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients needed to make cherry overnight oats.

cherries — I’m using fresh, ripe cherries, but you can also use frozen cherries. You can use tart or sweet cherries. I love tartness, but I totally get it’s not for everyone.
maple syrup — you can also use honey or brown sugar if you prefer.
lemon juice — just a bit to brighten up the flavor of the cooked cherries. I recommend using fresh lemons and not bottled lemon juice, as it tastes more bright and fresh.
cinnamon — a pinch of cinnamon adds some warmth to the cherries while they cook. If you have some nutmeg, you can add that as well! Not a fan? Skip it!
rolled oats — make sure you are using old-fashioned rolled oats. Instant oats and quick oats do not hold up as well, so I do not prefer the texture.
chia seeds — chia seeds come in both black and white seeds, but there is no difference in nutritional content. They are excellent source of plant-based protein and helps thicken the overnight oats.
salt — just a pinch to help enhance the flavors in the overnight oats.
vanilla extract — I always recommend using real vanilla extract and not artificial extract. Don’t have any? Skip it! No biggie.
yogurt — to help with the creaminess of the overnight oats, the yogurt works with the chia seeds to give the overnight oats a creamy texture. If you don’t have yogurt, you can use applesauce or mashed bananas. You can use regular or plant-based yogurt. You can also use Greek yogurt to bump up the overall protein. Cherry yogurt is also a great addition as it boosts the overall cherry flavor.
milk — you can use any milk of your choice, from cow’s milk to non-dairy milk such as oat milk, almond milk, or cashew milk. If you don’t have milk, you can make it with water, like my overnight oats with water recipe.

How to Make Cherry Overnight Oats

Set of two photos showing pitted cherries in a small saucepan along with cinnamon.

Add the pitted cherries to the saucepan over medium heat, along with the cinnamon and 3 tablespoons of maple syrup.

Set of two photos showing cherries cooked in a saucepan.

Saute for 4 to 5 minutes or until cherries are tender and syrupy. Turn off the heat and stir in lemon juice.
Set aside to cool and set aside 1 cup for topping.

Set of two photos showing ingredients for overnight oats added to a bowl.

Once the cooked cherries have cooled a bit, add the rolled oats, chia seeds, yogurt, milk, vanilla extract, salt, and maple syrup mixture into a bowl.

Set of two photos showing the cherry overnight oats ingredients mixed together in a bowl and then added to a jar.

Mix until well combined. Cover and put the mixture into the fridge (or individual containers) for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
When ready to enjoy, top with the cooked cherries that were set aside. You can reheat the cherries before topping to get them syrupy and warm again.

A slightly overhead view of a glass of cherry overnight oats with cherry jam and fresh cherries on top.

Recipe Tips and Notes

You can add a sprinkle of lemon zest to the cherry overnight oats for some extra bright and zesty flavor.
You can use frozen cherries if cherries are not in season. Add them directly to the pot without thawing. Frozen cherries are also great as they come pitted!
A cherry pitter is a great tool to have on hand to pit multiple cherries quickly!
You can add a couple of spoonfuls of nut butter to the overnight oats to add extra protein and flavor.
For an on-to-go meal, mason jars are great. 16-ounce wide-mouth mason jars are great if you plan on adding toppings, so you don’t spill anything. I also LOVE a good weck jar. They’re so pretty.
You can portion out the cherry overnight oats into jars the night before and let them set up in them, so you get an easy grab-and-go breakfast.
The longer the cherries overnight oats sit in the fridge, the creamier the oats.
If you prefer more texture in your cooked cherries, you can cut them in half. For a little less texture, you can cut them into quarters. I tend to mash mine a bit as I’m cooking it, so it’s almost like a puree.

Make Ahead Tips

Meal prep: store the overnight oats without any toppings in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge.
Freezer: to freeze overnight oats, portion out the oats in small containers, then freeze! Thaw the overnight oats in the fridge for 6-8 hours/overnight before you’d like to eat them. You can store the overnight oats in the freezer for up to 2 months.

What are overnight oats?

Overnight oats are a no-cook method of making oatmeal! It’s made by soaking rolled oats in some liquid overnight, so they become soft and digestible.

Do you eat overnight oats hot or cold?

If you’re not a fan of a cold breakfast, that’s ok! You can microwave the overnight oats until warmed through before enjoying them for breakfast.

Are overnight oats healthy?

I personally consider this overnight oats recipe to be healthy as the ingredients are rich in fiber, protein, and antioxidants. This recipe also contains a wide range of vitamins and minerals! Cherries, in particular, are also great for your health!

Can you use steel-cut oats for overnight oats?

I personally prefer not using steel-cut oats, but you can if you only have them on hand. However, keep in mind that steel-cut oats will need to be soaked longer in comparison, and the texture will be more dense and chewy.

What are chia seeds?

Chia seeds are tiny seeds from the plant Salvia hispanica. You may recognize them from those cute little chia pet commercials from way back when but other than a cute terra-cotta pet, the seeds are packed with healthy goodness. Despite being tiny little seeds, an one-ounce (28 grams) serving of chia seeds contains 11 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein, and 9 grams of fat (5 of which are omega-3s).

Want another overnight oats recipe? Try my strawberry shortcake overnight oats recipe!