Few things in the world make me happier than a perfectly creamy, perfectly tangy piece of cheesecake. I’ve never met a cheesecake I didn’t like, but my favorite of the bunch might just be strawberry cheesecake. There is something about the combination of fruity sweetness and the cool, creamy cheesecake that just makes my tastebuds sing! I love it so much that I decided I must pull that flavor combo into a jar of overnight oats. Getting to eat my favorite dessert for breakfast? That’s the glorious magic that is overnight oats!
What are overnight oats?
Overnight oats are oatmeal that you make by letting them rest overnight (hence the name!) in the fridge instead of cooking on the stove. In the morning, you can eat it cold like a pudding, or you can heat it up if you prefer. If you’re new to making overnight oatmeal and want a full primer (plus lots of other easy-to-make recipes), check out our Overnight Oats 101 post.
What makes overnight oatmeal so great?
I make overnight oatmeal during my meal prep session almost every week. Why do they have such a coveted spot in my fridge?
- They are just flat-out delicious! The oats soften up in the fridge to make a thick, sweet pudding that is totally yummy, decadent, and rich. Even my kid devours overnight oats!
- You can customize them to fit your preferences. Make them gluten-free, vegan, or in whatever flavor you’d like. We’re covering strawberry cheesecake overnight oats in this post, but once you get the idea of overnight oats down, you can go wild making your own creations!
- They can be as healthy as you’d like. You are in control of how healthy or decadent (or both!) these oats become. Reduce the sweeteners, add in some superfoods like hemp seeds or chia seeds, or mix in some protein powder or collagen peptides. The possibilities are endless!
- Overnight oats are great for meal prep. Spend just a few minutes in the evening, and you’ll have a grab-and-go breakfast in the morning!
- Overnight oats are easy to make in bulk. They are a staple of many meal prep menus for good reason—you can mix up an entire week’s worth of breakfast in just a few minutes.
Can you make substitutions to these overnight oats?
Yes, that’s one of the glorious things about overnight oats—they are super flexible! You can easily make swaps to suit your preferences. It’s no extra effort to make these oats vegan, gluten-free, and low- or no-sugar. We cover all the substitutions you can make in our in-depth overnight oats post, but here are some specific swap ideas for these strawberry overnight oats:
- Make it vegan: Use plant-based milk, plant-based yogurt, plant-based cream cheese, and maple syrup for sweetener.
- Make it sugar-free: Drop the sweetener and double the strawberries. Or, you can use stevia or monk fruit sweetener instead of the honey or maple syrup.
- Make it gluten-free: Make sure to use certified gluten-free oats.
Do you eat overnight oats hot or cold?
Whichever! Most folks choose to eat them cold (that’s part of the grab-and-go appeal of them), but if you’re not into cold oatmeal, just warm them in the microwave for 30-60 seconds, stirring frequently, or in a small saucepan on the stove until heated to your liking.
Where can you find more overnight oats recipes?
We’ve got you covered when it comes to simple and easy overnight oats recipes! Here are some of the most well-loved recipes on Wholefully.
And check out these reader favorites:
Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oatmeal Recipe
Eat dessert for breakfast with these Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats. Sweet, tangy, and satisfying, these healthy oats are sure to kick your day off right.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup (heaping) rolled oats
- 2/3 cup unsweetened milk of choice
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flax meal
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 0–2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh strawberries
- 3 tablespoons softened cream cheese
- Zest and juice of 1/2 lemon
Instructions
- Whisk together all ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Spoon into a jar with a tight-fitting lid.
- Close and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight before eating.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 407Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 264mgCarbohydrates: 61gFiber: 6gSugar: 42gProtein: 12g
At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.
