I am a bit of a cherry freak. Cherry pie? My favorite. Cherry Jolly Ranchers? The best. Cherry gelatin? Sign me up. I even have multiple items of clothing in my closet with cherries on them! My love of cherries also extends to breakfast with these Cherry and Toasted Almond Overnight Oats.
The flavor of tart, sweet cherries combined with nutty toasted almond is just knock-your-socks-off delicious! This is one of my favorite overnight oats flavors when I’m looking for something cozy and nourishing.
What is overnight oatmeal?
Overnight oats are a no-cook form of oatmeal that you mix together and let sit overnight in the fridge. In the morning, you have a grab-and-go breakfast that you can eat cold, or warm-up. If you want more details on everything overnight oats, check out our big Overnight Oats 101 post.
What makes overnight oats a great meal prep item?
Overnight oats are a meal prep staple in our house! Here’s why we’ll always have them in our rotation here:
- Overnight oats are just plain delicious! This oatmeal is thick, hearty, and creamy—almost like eating pudding for breakfast!
- Overnight oats are a breeze to make. It takes just a few minutes on the weekend or in the evening, and breakfast will be ready to grab-and-go the next morning. Overnight oats are not only easy to make in advance—they are designed for it!
- You can customize them to fit your dietary needs. Make your overnight oats vegan, gluten-free, or whatever you need—make them your own! We’re sharing cherry and toasted almond oats here, but once you get a feel for overnight oats, you can discover your own favorite flavor.
- Overnight oats can be made in bulk. You can make an entire week’s worth of breakfast at once. The only limitation is how many jars you have!
- They can be a healthy (or decadent) way to start the day. You are in full control of your overnight oats, so you can make them as nutrient-dense (try adding super seeds like chia, flax, and hemp) or decadent (try adding some white chocolate) as you’d like.
Do you eat overnight oats cold or heated up?
Most folks eat overnight oats cold (that’s part of the grab-and-go appeal of them), but if you’re not into that, you can warm them in a small saucepan on the stove. Or, you can heat them in the microwave for 30-60 seconds, stirring frequently.
Can I use fresh cherries instead of dried cherries?
In the recipe, I opt for dried tart cherries (unsweetened, if you can track them down) because they are available in our area all year long. If you are making this during peak cherry season, you can definitely swap in fresh cherries! Just add in pitted and halved cherries in place of the dried cherries. Yum!
Can you make substitutions to these overnight oats?
One of the best things about overnight oats is that they are super customizable. You can make all sorts of tweaks to suit your dietary needs or preferences. We cover all sorts of substitutions you can make in our in-depth overnight oats post, but here are some specific swap ideas for these cherry and toasted almond overnight oats:
- Make it vegan: Use plant-based yogurt and maple syrup.
- Make it sugar-free: Drop the sweetener, make sure to use unsweetened milk, and add 1/2 mashed ripe banana. Or use stevia or monk fruit sweetener in place of the maple syrup or honey, if you prefer.
- Make it gluten-free: Make sure to use certified gluten-free oats.
Where can you find more overnight oats recipes?
We’ve got you covered with a whole load of overnight oats recipes! Here are some of our favorites:
Cherry and Toasted Almond Overnight Oats
These nourishing Cherry and Toasted Almond Overnight Oats are packed full of flavor and amazing creamy texture. Make them up for an easy meal prep breakfast!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
- 1/4 cup dried tart cherries, unsweetened preferred
- 1/2 heaping cup rolled oats
- 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2/3 cup unsweetened milk of choice
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 0-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Whisk together all ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Spoon into a pint or half liter jar with a tight-fitting lid.
- Close and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight, before eating.
Notes
Almond milk will give you an extra boost of almond flavor!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1 half batchAmount Per Serving: Calories: 352Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 127mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 6gSugar: 27gProtein: 13g
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.
