Cherry Overnight Oats (5-Minute Prep, High-Fiber Breakfast)

These Cherry Overnight Oats are a creamy, delicious, high-fiber breakfast you can prep for the entire week in about 5 minutes. Made with whole grains, healthy fats, protein, and antioxidant-rich cherries, this is the kind of easy, nourishing breakfast that fits into real life.

Whether you’re looking for a simple way to use cherries, need quick breakfast ideas for busy mornings, or want more make-ahead options that actually keep you full, this cherry overnight oats recipe checks all the boxes.

Quick Look at This Recipe

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: None
• Total Time: 5 minutes (+ overnight soak)
• Servings: 1 (easy to scale for meal prep)
• Method: No-cook
• Flavor & Texture: Creamy, lightly sweet, fresh with warm spice

Ingredients

You’ll find the full ingredient list and exact measurements in the recipe card below. The recipe card is written for one serving, but you can easily double or triple the amounts depending on how many jars you want to prep for the week.

• Rolled oats (old-fashioned oats). This is the best oat for overnight oats. Quick oats turn mushy, and steel-cut oats won’t soften enough without cooking. Rolled oats give you that perfect creamy texture.
• Cinnamon. Adds warmth and depth and pairs beautifully with cherries without overpowering their flavor.
• Unsweetened almond milk is my milk of choice, mostly because it’s what I always have on hand for smoothies. That said, any non-dairy milk or regular dairy milk will work just fine in this cherry overnight oats recipe – just be sure to choose an unsweetened option if possible.
• Dark sweet cherries (fresh or frozen). Both fresh and frozen cherries work well. Just be sure to remove and check for pits before adding them to the jar. Frozen cherries are convenient and release their juices as they thaw, which naturally flavors the oats. So good!
• Pure vanilla extract. Pure vanilla extract adds another layer of flavor and helps round everything out. If you don’t have vanilla on hand, you can leave it out – it’s nice to include but not essential for this cherry overnight oats recipe.
• Ground flaxseed and chia seeds. Ground flaxseed and chia seeds are the two superfoods I use in this recipe. Both add fiber, healthy fats, and protein, with the chia seeds helping create a creamy, pudding-like texture. I personally like using chia seeds in every overnight oats recipe because of the texture they provide. If you don’t have ground flaxseed, you can leave it out — it adds extra omega-3s and fiber, but it isn’t essential to this recipe.
• Pure maple syrup. Just enough to complement the cherries and vanilla without making the oats overly sweet.

If you’re looking for the jars, superfoods, and pantry staples I use for overnight oats, you can find all of my recommendations in my Amazon storefront.

How to Make Cherry Overnight Oats

Step 1: Prepare the cherries. If using fresh cherries, remove the pits and either chop them or leave them whole. If using frozen cherries, I still recommend giving them a quick check – even “pitted” cherries sometimes sneak one through.

Step 2: Mix the dry ingredients. Add the rolled oats, cinnamon, ground flaxseed, and chia seeds to a 16-ounce mason jar. Stir them together first so everything is evenly distributed before adding the liquid.

Step 3: Add the liquid ingredients. Pour in the almond milk, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. Stir well, making sure the oats are fully covered in liquid – this is key for softening properly overnight.

Step 4: Add the cherries. Place the cherries on top of the oats. As they thaw and soak, their juices will release into the oats, adding natural cherry flavor.

Step 5: Refrigerate. Cover the jar with a lid and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight.

Step 6: Stir and adjust in the morning. In the morning, give the oats a good stir. Add a splash of milk if needed to loosen the texture, and taste to see if you want a little extra sweetness.

Expert Tips & Helpful Variations

• Use any container you like. I prefer 16-ounce mason jars for portion control and portability, but any container with a lid works. You can also make a large batch and scoop out portions each morning.
• Gluten-free note. Oats are naturally gluten-free, but cross-contamination can happen. If this matters to you, choose certified gluten-free rolled oats.
• Always check cherries for pits. Even frozen “pitted” cherries can occasionally contain pits. I recommend halving the cherries or checking them before adding to the jar.
• You can eat these warm or cold. Overnight oats are typically enjoyed cold, but you can absolutely warm them on the stovetop or in the microwave. Eat them the way you enjoy them.
• Add crunch or chocolate. Chopped almonds, walnuts, dark chocolate chips, or cacao nibs are all great additions.
• Boost the protein. Stir in Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, protein powder, or collagen. I prefer unsweetened, unflavored options so you can control sweetness without an aftertaste. If you’re unsure whether protein powder or collagen is best, check out my protein powder vs. collagen guide.

Storage Tips

For the week: Store prepared cherry overnight oats in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Stir and add a splash of milk before eating if needed.

For the freezer: Freeze the dry ingredients and cherries together in jars or freezer bags without the liquid. When ready, add milk and refrigerate overnight. See my how to freeze overnight oats tutorial for more tips.

Other Overnight Oats Recipes

• Blueberry Overnight Oats
• Vanilla Overnight Oats
• Pumpkin Overnight Oats
• Banana Overnight Oats
• Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats
• Raspberry Overnight Oats

Or check out all of my healthy oatmeal recipes.

Did you make this recipe?

If you tried these Cherry Overnight Oats, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a 5-star rating and a comment below – it helps other readers and allows me to keep sharing easy, healthy recipes that actually work.