This Chocolate Cherry Overnight Oats tastes like a slice of black forest cake — It is decadent like dessert yet healthy enough for breakfast.
If you are looking for more unique overnight oats recipes, then try my strawberry overnight oats that taste like chocolate-covered strawberries!
A Quick Look at the Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: Chocolate Cherry Overnight Oats Recipe
🕒 Ready In: ~10 minutes plus soaking time
👪 Serves: 1 serving
🧑🍳 Main Ingredients: Rolled oats, chia seeds, fresh cherries and maple syrup
📖 Dietary Info: Vegetarian and gluten-free option
📌 Difficulty: Easy, no cooking or baking
Why you’ll love these chocolate cherry overnight oats?
I’ve always been obsessed with black forest cake—it was my birthday cake every single year growing up! Now, I’m always on the hunt for ways to enjoy that nostalgic flavor in healthier, everyday treats.
This chocolate cherry overnight oats recipe is one of those guilt-free indulgences. Just like my black forest mug cake, it delivers the rich chocolatey flavor and bursts fresh Bing cherries in every bite—without any of the guilt.
- maria doss
👉 This chocolate cherry overnight oats recipe has been a reader favorite since I first shared the recipe in 2017. It was updated with new photos and a short video in May 2025.
If you’re craving clean-eating overnight oats, this recipe has you covered! It’s high in fiber from rolled oats and cherries, packed with antioxidants from cocoa and cherries, and naturally sweetened with a touch of maple syrup for just the right amount of sweetness.
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Tips for Success
- I like to use Bing cherries for that classic Black Forest cake flavor, but any variety of sweet, fresh cherries will work just as well.
- If you plan to store the oats for more than two days, prepare the chocolate cherry mixture as directed, but wait to stir in the chopped cherries until just before serving.
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Chocolate Cherry Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 3 to 4 Bing cherries pitted and chopped
Instructions
- Add oats, cocoa powder, chia seeds, milk and maple syrup into a mason jar or a container.
- Mix well to combine.
- Add the chopped cherries and stir to combine. Refrigerate overnight.
- Enjoy topped with maple yogurt and top with more cherries. 👉 To make maple yogurt, stir together some Greek yogurt and maple syrup together.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
Watch how to make it
Frequently Asked Questions
The best cherries for overnight oats are sweet, plump, and firm, so they hold up overnight without getting mushy. Bing cherries are ideal—they’re naturally sweet, juicy, and have a rich flavor that pairs perfectly with chocolate. You can also use tart cherries if you like a tangy contrast, or frozen cherries year-round (just thaw, drain, pit, and chop first).
Yes! You can add chocolate protein powder to boost the protein content. Just keep in mind that it may slightly alter the flavor, so it might not taste exactly like classic black forest cake.
Yes, absolutely! Just thaw the cherries, drain them well, remove the pits, and chop before adding. For the best flavor and texture, look for frozen Bing cherries, which are naturally sweet, plump, and have a firm, juicy flesh that holds up perfectly in overnight oats.
🍒 Looking for more ways to use fresh cherries? Try my cherry chocolate brownies or the chocolate cherry smoothie recipe!
MADE THIS RECIPE AND LOVED IT? 💚 Please leave a ⭐️STAR rating and COMMENT below- I love to hear your feedback! Tag me with your creations on Instagram and find me on Facebook.
Hi, I’m Maria! I share easy, flavor-packed dinners, high-protein meals, and irresistible baking ideas. If you’ve ever asked, “Don’t know what to cook tonight?” you’re in the right place. And yes—there’s plenty here for breakfast, snacks, and dessert too. More about maria ->
Patrick@looneyforfood.com
Loving all things cherry while they are in season
Maria Doss
Totally!!
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats
Sounds so yummy Maria! It would make a great breakfast to wake up to 🙂 have a great weekend! Xoxo
Maria Doss
Thanks Kelly:)
Deepika|TheLoveOfCakes
Blackforest is one of my favorite flavor for summer cakes! This overnight oatmeal looks like a perfect desserty breakfast to make my mornings better :). Moreover, this is so easy to put together! Thanks for sharing Maria :*
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
This sounds incredibly delicious. I love all things cherry this time of year!
Kim | The Baking ChocolaTess
I pinned this for later! It looks so good and black forest oatmeal sounds like a winner!! Those fresh cherries! YUM!
Pamela (BrooklynFarmGirl)
This is such a perfect and healthy dessert/breakfast!
heather (delicious not gorgeous)
i overdid it on the overnight oats a while back and got bored with my cinnamon raisin combo. but THIS. sounds delicious. it's almost like eating cherry garcia ice cream for breakfast, but a little healthier, so i can work with that compromise (: