These Cherry Chocolate Overnight Oats are a delectable combination of tart cherry, bitter chocolate, and sweet maple syrup. They include a nice little boost of plant protein from chia seeds to help keep you satisfied and are perfect for mornings on the go or as an afternoon pick-me-up. It's easy to change the milk to your preferred variety.
What are Overnight Oats?
Overnight oats are oats that have been soaked overnight instead of traditionally cooked. The main ingredients are old fashioned rolled oats and milk. The flavor add-ins are unlimited! The liquid slowly softens the oats over the course of several hours. The result is a chewy oatmeal with great texture that is most often eaten cold. Overnight oats have become a popular breakfast meal prep item since they don't need heating and they can be put into a mason jar for easy travel.
Why You'll Love Cherry Chocolate Overnights Oats
It has chocolate - what more is there? Just kidding! This recipe is also:
FAST - These Overnight Oats take mere minutes to mix.
NO COOK - Cut, measure and stir - so simple!
MAKE AHEAD - This recipe is made ahead of time and can be portioned out so you can simply grab and go as needed.
KID FRIENDLY - These overnight oats are sweet enough for kids to enjoy, while also providing quality fuel for little (or big) ones on the go.
SNACK FRIENDLY - Looking for an after-school or work snack you can feel good about? This is it. The cocoa powder is rich in antioxidants and the oats and chia provide a balance of plant protein and healthy carbs to keep bodies fueled.
You May Also Enjoy
Love a touch of chocolate for breakfast? Try this Vegan Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread.
In the mood for more recipes using fruit? This Plum Compote Dessert Sauce is incredibly versatile (plus it's super simple!) and can be added to everything from pancakes to yogurt bowls to ice cream.
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Ingredients + Equipment
Here's a quick run-down of everything you'll need to make this Cherry Chocolate Overnight Oats recipe. See recipe card for specific quantities and detailed instructions.
Ingredients
Plant milk - Plain, unsweetened plant milk of any kind will work here. You could even use "lite" coconut milk from a can for extra richness.
Old fashioned oats - This variety of oats will give you a nice texture since the oats retain some of their chewiness. You can substitute with Quick Oats if needed.
Cocoa Powder - The source of our chocolate flavor, cocoa powder is made from crushed cacao beans that have then had the fat (cocoa butter) extracted. I've made this with both natural and dark cocoa powders with equally delicious results, so go with your personal taste preference.
Maple syrup - A delicious liquid sweetener that balances out the bitterness of the cocoa powder. I've used Date Syrup with equally delicious results. Honey (if you are not vegan) would also work.
Chia seeds - These tiny little seeds are packed with fiber, nutrients, omega-3 fatty acids and protein (1). We are only using a Tablespoon here since our focus is on the oats, but the chia gives the overall nutritional content of the recipe a nice boost. Go chia!
Cherries - Our burst of fruity tartness! I'm using fresh dark cherries that I've pitted and cut into quarters, but you could also use defrosted frozen cherries.
Chocolate chips - A touch of dairy-free mini chocolate chips adds texture to our recipe. If you prefer to leave them out, finely chopped almonds would make a delicious substitute while providing a similar pop of crunch.
See recipe card for specific quantities and detailed instructions.
Equipment
All you need for this recipe is a bowl and a spoon, plus a knife to cut the cherries. There is no cooking, no mixer, and very little cutting. Let's get to it.
Instructions
Making these Cherry Chocolate Overnight Oats is incredibly simple. The hardest part is waiting to eat them! The oats and chia need time to absorb the liquids to get to their perfect texture. Six or more hours is ideal.
Put your dry ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine. This includes your oats, chia, chocolate chips, and cocoa powder.
Add the milk, maple syrup, and chopped cherries. Stir to combine. Cover the bowl and pop it in the fridge. You're done!
Allow your oats to sit in a covered bowl in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours for it to thicken and for the flavors to meld together. Ideally, make this ahead and refrigerate it overnight.
The next day, give the whole bowl a nice stir and transfer to individual jars if desired. The oats and chia will have absorbed the liquids and softened. The mixture should be thick and hold together on a spoon.
Serve with additional toppings as desired: more fresh cherries or chocolate chips, toasted coconut, finely chopped nuts, or even a chocolate drizzle.
Top Tip
While mason jars of overnight oats are the most adorable thing ever, I prefer to let my oats all hang out together in the original mixing bowl until they are "done". TRUST ME. Splitting up the freshly made mixture is messy and it's difficult to get the same ratio of liquid to oats into each jar. Save yourself the mess and wait until the mixture has had time to absorb the liquids before transferring to individual serving jars.
This dish tastes best when it’s been chilled and has had a chance to properly set. I use jars for on the go, but at home I just scoop a serving into a bowl and add toppings.
Substitutions
Old fashioned oats - Old fashioned oats give a great chewy texture, but you can use quick-cooking oats in a pinch.
Milk - Use your preferred type of milk here.
Maple syrup - Substitute with a liquid sweetener of your choice. Date syrup works well. Try agave or, if not vegan, honey.
Chia seeds - You can replace the chia seeds with any other type of small seed, like ground flaxseed or hemp. Those will not absorb as much liquid so your end result will be slightly less thick. Or simply replace the seeds with an extra Tablespoon of oats if preferred.
Storage
Store in the refrigerator in a well-sealed container for up to 5 days.
I do not recommend freezing overnight oats.
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Cherry Overnight Oats (Vegan, Gluten Free)
Ingredients
- 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats Certified Gluten Free if necessary
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 2 Tablespoons chocolate chips I like to use minis.
- 1 Tablespoon chia seeds
- 2 cups unsweetened plant milk such as soy, coconut, or almond
- ⅔ cup whole fresh cherries, pitted and quartered
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup or more to taste
Instructions
- Combine oats, cocoa powder, chocolate chips and chia seeds in a small mixing bowl or storage container. Mix to distribute everything evenly.
- Add milk, cherries and maple syrup. Mix thoroughly.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight or for at least 6 hours to thicken.
- Serve cold with your choice of toppings.
Notes
- To make this recipe gluten-free, use certified gluten-free oats.
- It is easiest, and less messy, to allow the oats to sit overnight in the mixing bowl. Move to single-serve mason jars once the mixture has thickened.
- For a deeper chocolate flavor, use dark cocoa powder, such as Hershey’s Special Dark.
- For additional flavor, add ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon at Step 1.
- This recipe was tested with soy milk and Enjoy Life brand mini chocolate chips.
- Any unsweetened plant milk or standard dairy milk will work.
- Rolled oats work best as they retain some texture once soaked, but Quick Oats can be used in a pinch.
Nutrition
FAQ
This recipe is naturally gluten free, just be sure to use Certified Gluten-Free oats.
Yes! Studies have long confirmed that oats are a wonderfully healthful whole grain that provide fiber, help to lower cholesterol, and can keep you feeling full longer than other foods. You can bulk up the nutrition content of these overnight oats by adding more fruit on top.
Yes indeed! The oats become soft and chewy - no cooking required! - when left to soak overnight. The beauty of overnight oats is that they are highly portable and don't require heating to eat them. Just throw one in a cooler or insulated bag and it's ready to eat whenever you get the urge.
Yes! Slice frozen cherries and mix them in as directed in the recipe. They will thaw out while the mixture sits overnight.
More Recipes
Looking for more portable snacks? Try this Chocolate Dessert Hummus for a protein-packed (but chocolatey!) creamy dip to pair with fruit or pretzels. It packs really well and kids love it!
Prefer to stick with something more classically "breakfast" but still want a little kick of chocolate? Bake up a loaf of this moist Vegan Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread for all the cozy feels.
References
- Healthline article: 7 Enticing Health Benefits of Chia Seeds
Ella
So easy and super delicious!