Make breakfast fun and easy with these black forest overnight oats! Prep them the night before and wake up to a bowl of delicious ready-to-go chocolate and cherry-flavored oatmeal.
Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by The Quaker Oats Company. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Consider your deepest darkest chocolatiest breakfast dreams answered.
(With a cherry on top.)
THESE OATS. I’m going bonkers crazy for them…and that’s probably the understatement of the year.
It’s not that I’m lazy in the morning, but as much as my mind tells me that it only takes a mere quick and easy five minutes to cook oats on the stove, my body just can’t bring itself to do it. Especially not in my pre-coffee hangry half asleep state.
Enter my new morning ritual savior: the OVERNIGHT OAT.
Basically, you mix everything together the night before and wake up the next morning to a bowl of creamy oat goodness. Breakfast just doesn’t get any easier than that.
I’ve dabbled with a few versions of overnight oats before, just to whet my appetite and get a feel for what I like/don’t like mixed into my morning breakfast bowl, but by far my favorite flavor combination is this black forest medley. A little cocoa powder and vanilla mixed into low-fat dairy milk serves as the richly chocolate-y base for the oats. Then I finish it off the next morning with a handful of cherries, slivered almonds, and cacao nibs. Each fruity, chocolate- and oat-filled bite makes me feel like I’m eating dessert for breakfast…which is always a good thing in my book. This is totally open to adaptation, though, so feel free to swap in your favorite fruit for the cherries or your favorite nut topping for the almonds! The possibilities are endless.
The one thing that I feel is totally non-negotiable, though, is that you absolutely must use Quaker® Old Fashioned Oats as your overnight oat staple. They’re the oats my mom would always make oatmeal with when I was growing up, and they’re still the brand of oats I reach for today. Paired with real Dairy Milk in this recipe, the wholesome goodness of the amazing oat joins forces with a high quality protein and calcium source to create a breakfast that is truly a force to be reckoned with.
Plus it makes eating breakfast that much more fun. And I just can’t argue with that.
- 2 cups Quaker® Old Fashioned Oats
- 3 cups low fat Dairy Milk
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 2 tbsp coconut flakes
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla
- 2 cups cherries, pitted and halved
- ½ cup sliced almonds
- ¼ cup cacao nibs or chocolate chips
- In a large bowl, stir together the Quaker® Old Fashioned Oats, milk, chia seeds, coconut flakes, maple syrup, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Mix until well combined. Cover and refrigerate overnight
- The next morning, divide oats among four bowls. Top evenly with cherries, almonds, and cacao nibs.
I so need to make overnight oats!!! and love the black forest cake spin. . brilliant!!
There are 2 things I am obsessed with at the moment – overnight oats and chocolate for breakfast, so you have pretty much combined 2 of my favourite things. High five for you!
Oh, and black forest gateau is my favourite cake. I must make this!
I just discovered the deliciousness that is overnight oats and my breakfast identy was changed FOREVER. I eat oatmeal a lot, it’s almost embarrassing, so I am totally craving this bowl of goodness right now! Pinned!
Oh. My. God. This is what I call a killer breakfast. Absolutely stunning, delicious and healthy. I need this in my life. 🙂
Great idea to prepare everything ahead. Mornings tend to be really crazy around here!
Love it!!! Overnight oats are a lifesaver!
Absolutely gorgeous! Who wouldn’t want these flavours for breakfast? 🙂
In all the times I’ve made overnight oats, WHY I have never thought to chocolate them up? Thank goodness for you. 🙂
I really need to get on the overnight oats train!
I had the foresight to make a french toast casserole last night, for this morning. And right now, as it’s baking, I am certain I am the smartest person ever. Next weekend? These oats!
This actually sounds amazing! I have yet to try overnight oats, but I am seeing them in the near future.
I could go for a bowl of these oats right now. Black forest cakes are the best so I know the oats are delicious.
I have a love hate relationship with overnight oats. Some days, I don’t mind the texture, other days it’s like glue. But one thing I do love is the wonderful flavors you paired together in this recipe.
I am so making this for the breakfast! It looks too good to miss in life.
This is insane! I wouldn’t know what to think having such a delicious breakfast and WITH my coffee! I made some banana bread overnight oats recently. I wasn’t too crazy about the cold oatmeal thing so I warmed it up real quick in the morning. Do you eat yours cold?
Well doesn’t this recipe look AMAZING!! I love it! …and I totally love it this time of year! The AM can get pretty hectic… but this recipe helps ya skip the prep and dig right into a healthy, balanced, nourishing AM meal!! Love it! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
I’ve wanted to make overnight oats for a while now but haven’t made them yet. Will be making this recipe for sure!
These oats looks delicious 🙂
I do dream of chocolate…. this looks SO damn good! I have never tried overnight oats, but it seems like a great idea 🙂
Chocolate oats for breakfast? Yes, I do think I could get on board with this.
Looks like the perfect breakfast! Will definitely try these oats! Pinned!
Whaaaaat–breakfast-ifying another of my fav desserts! Joanne, you are a veritable life-saver. And I’m definitely saving this one, hehe!
I just tried overnight oats for the first time and I didn’t expect to like them. I actually loved them and now I can make breakfast and coffee the night before and have a much better morning routine. I’m trying your Black Forest version ASAP!
I was just thinking I need to start making oatmeal the night before so I can have it ready to go in the morning.
These over night oats look and sound like the stuff dreams are made of!!! 🙂
I wish I’d seen this before cooking my hot oats this morning! Tomorrow 😀
I’ve been whipping up brownie batter overnight oats recently, will have to give this a try too!:-)
Overnight oats are indeed the way to go – your version is decadent, love it!
Pinned for future reference and enjoyment… 😉
Chocolate for breakfast? Count me in!! What a great way to start the day!
So gorgeous! So indulgent! And if I’m REALLY feeling lazy, I could blend it all up with extra milk for a smoothie. Love this idea.
Whoa! Totally wish I was eating this for breakfast right now!
oatmeal has never looked so good! i usually consider it to be boring and bland, but this is the opposite of all that!
Ohhhhh yeah I will be trying this recipe STAT!! What a fab idea and you made it healthy!
these overnight oats look great – honestly I am about as hopeless the night before as in the morning but it seems such a good idea and this look like a favourite flavour combination for me too (can’t wait for cherries to be in season)
I can already tell this is going to be my new favorite oatmeal. LOVE!