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Black Forest Overnight Oats


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Black Forest Overnight Oats combines fresh summer cherries with cocoa, nourishing oats, dairy-alternative milk and yogurt, and a dollop of whipped coconut cream to make a delicious, gluten free, and refined sugar-free breakfast treat!

Black forest overnight oats in a glass on black plate

Black Forest Overnight Oats

It’s summer and I love fresh cherries.  And if you have been following the blog, you will know this to be true.  Case in pointFresh Cherry Ice Cream, Cherry Coffee Cake, Cherry Skillet Cake, and the namesake to this recipe – Black Forest Small Batch Cupcakes.

This leaves me with another matter-of-fact statement – chocolate and cherries are a match made in summer heaven!  However, summer does come with a couple of downsides – it’s a little too hot to turn on the oven, and sunscreen gets used up way too fast in this house! 

Now, I can’t do anything about the latter because we should all be wearing sunscreen.  However, I can offer you this no-bake, super easy, flavor-packed recipe for Black Forest overnight oats that double as breakfast, dessert, and a mid-day snack!

Two servings side by side on a wood tray of black forest overnight oats

Everything To Love About These Overnight Oats

  • Easy No-Bake Treat – With limited ingredients, easy preparation, and no oven needed, these Black Forest overnight oats are more than easy.
  • Breakfast, Dessert, or Snack – Don’t you just love a recipe that serves multiple purposes?!
  • Gluten Free – Yes, oats are naturally gluten free.  But be sure to get the package that says gluten free to avoid any cross-contamination at processing.
  • Refined Sugar-Free – Another maple syrup is my sweetener of choice recipe! I know, I know, maple syrup is still sugar, but I love it because it is not as processed and it sits lower on the glycemic scale.
  • Hand-Held, Portable Treat – This is awesome for summer – no sticky popsicle or ice cream drips with this recipe!

Ingredients

  • Fresh Cherries – Always fresh, especially if in season.  However, frozen cherries can work if you want to make the Black Forest Overnight Oats in the winter!
  • Lemon Juice – The lemon juice is for the cherry compote and it brightens the cherry.
  • Cocoa Powder – I prefer Dutch-processed cocoa powder because it isn’t as acidic as natural cocoa powder.  However, use whatever you prefer (and have on hand)!
  • Coconut Milk Yogurt – The yogurt makes the overnight oats extra creamy.  I prefer unsweetened vanilla coconut milk yogurt but use any yogurt you like.
  • Coconut Cream – The solids from a can of unsweetened coconut milk or cream.  The coconut cream makes the oats thick and creamy.  It is also used to make the whipped coconut cream topping.
  • Maple Syrup – I like to use maple syrup for its flavor and because it is refined sugar-free.  But you can swap in any sweetener of choice.
  • Oat Milk – The oat milk complements the oats.  However, I have also made overnight oats with carton coconut milk.  Whatever milk you prefer, swap it in!
  • Rolled Oats – The oats may be the only ingredient that I say don’t swap.  I recommend rolled oats – also called old-fashioned rolled oats – for their size, texture, and liquid absorption.
Top view of two glasses of black forest overnight oats on a wood tray

Helpful Tips

  • Look for gluten free labeled rolled oats – Oats are naturally gluten free.  However, if you are looking to stick to gluten free, some brands may process their oats alongside gluten products.  Thus, the oats are cross-contaminated.  Gluten free labeled oats ensure there is no cross-contamination.
  • Allow the oats to sit overnight – I have taken bites of the overnight oats 2 to 4 hours into their soak time and found them to have an unappetizing bite.  Give them time to chill overnight.
  • This recipe for overnight oats is very forgiving – Meaning, you can add/remove flavors, swap ingredients (except for the oats!), and truly make your own.
  • Garnish the Black Forest overnight oats with chocolate shavings – Because why not more chocolate flavor?!  And if you don’t have a chocolate bar, chop up some chocolate chips!
Close of up a single serving of black forest overnight oats on a wood tray

Recipe FAQ

Will frozen cherries work in the overnight oats?

Yes! But I always recommend fresh if in season. Plus, you can top your oats with a fresh cherry on top.

Can I heat overnight oats?

Yes. Microwave the overnight oats for 1 to 2 minutes to serve warm.

Black Forest Overnight Oats

GF
5 from 2 reviews
Black Forest Overnight Oats combine fresh summer cherries with cocoa, nourishing oats, dairy-alternative milk and yogurt, and a dollop of whipped coconut cream to make a delicious, gluten free, and refined sugar free breakfast treat!
Servings4 Servings
Prep20 minutes
Chill8 hours
Total8 hours 20 minutes

EQUIPMENT

  • Serving Glasses

INGREDIENTS

Chocolate Overnight Oats

Cherry Compote

  • 1 cup fresh cherries, pitted and halved
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup (or any sweetener; sweeten to taste)

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Plan Ahead – Refrigerate the can of coconut milk overnight. We are only using the coconut solids from the can.

Chocolate Overnight Oats

  • In a small mixing bowl, stir together the cocoa powder, yogurt, coconut cream, and maple syrup until smooth and creamy. Stir in the oat milk.
    1 ½ tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, Dutch process, 1/4 cup coconut milk vanilla yogurt, 1/2 cup unsweetened canned coconut milk or cream, full fat, 3 to 4 tablespoons pure maple syrup, 1 cup oat milk
  • Sprinkle the oats into the liquid and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate the oats, at least overnight.
    1 cup, plus 2 tablespoons rolled oats
  • Whipped Coconut Cream Topping – You can whip up the remaining coconut solids from the can to make whipped cream. Add the coconut cream and 1 tablespoon maple syrup to a small mixing bowl and using a hand held mixer, whip on medium high speed until soft, fluffy, and medium peaks form. Note – Sweeten to taste, but keep in mind the more maple syrup added will add more liquid to the whipped cream.
  • Transfer the whipped cream to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate until ready to assemble the oats.

Cherry Compote

  • In a small saucepan, add the cherries, lemon juice, and maple syrup. Heat over medium-low heat until the cherries start to break up and their juices release. About 10 minutes.
    1 cup fresh cherries, pitted and halved, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • Transfer the cherry compote to bowl, cover, and refrigerate until ready to assemble the oats. Note – You can add extra fresh cherry halves to the compote to give it more texture.
  • Assemble the Oats – Portion equal amounts of the Chocolate Overnight Oats into your serving glasses. Top with equal amounts of Cherry Compote, and finish with a dollop of whipped cream, chocolate shavings (optional), and a fresh cherry on top. Enjoy!
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RECIPE NOTES

  • Serving Size – This recipe will yield 2 healthy portions, or 4 smaller poritons.
  • Oats – I recommend rolled oats because of their size and texture.  You don’t have to use ‘Gluten Free‘ labeled oats if the recipe does not need to be gluten free.
  • Oat Milk – The oat milk is a nice flavor compliment to the oats.  Although you can use any milk you prefer.
  • Coconut Milk/Cream – To make the overnight oats creamy AND to make successful whipped cream – the can of coconut milk should be refrigerated overnight.  You can swap the coconut cream with yogurt in the overnight oats, and omit the whipped cream topping if you prefer.
  • Coconut Milk Yogurt – This is added to make the oats extra creamy.  Feel free to use any flavor or yogurt you prefer.
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: American
Author: Erin Cernich

NUTRITION ESTIMATES

Calories: 405kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 48mg | Potassium: 491mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 152IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 177mg | Iron: 4mg
Nutrition information is calculated by a third-party and should only be considered an estimate and not a guarantee.
Headshot photo of Erin Cernich

about the author ...

I'm Erin and I'm all about desserts - and a little bit of butter!

I've tested, written, and photographed hundreds of recipes on my website. Here you'll find the tastiest small batch desserts - all homemade, all simple, and all for you! Click here to learn more about me!

5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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