Looking for berry breakfast ideas? Start your day with these yummy Blackberry Overnight Oats! This make ahead recipe is loaded with fresh berries, super easy to prepare, so tasty, and perfect for meal prep ... a delicious, nutritious meal that you're sure to love!
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Ginnie's Take
There's nothing better than waking up to a grab-and-go-breakfast on a chaotic weekday morning. Overnight Oatmeal has long been one of my go to meals for these busy days. It's easy to make, nutritious, and most importantly, delicious! I love experimenting with different flavors, and typically, the more fruit the better. Lately, I can't get enough of these tasty Blackberry Overnight Oats!
Why You'll Love the Recipe
- Super Delish - If you're looking for blackberry breakfast recipe ideas, add this one to your list! Each serving of these yummy refrigerator oats is loaded with fresh, sweet berries, and you won't be able to resist the rich, creamy texture.
- Quick + Easy - Spend just a few minutes making these oats at night, and you'll wake up to a mouthwatering, ready to eat breakfast. So simple!
- Great Make Ahead Meal - This recipe is ideal for busy weekday mornings, because all the work is done the night before (perfect for meal prep). Of course, it makes a lovely (and laid back) meal for weekend breakfasts and brunches, too!
- Nutritious - Each serving of this easy recipe is packed with good for you ingredients. Oats are a terrific source of soluble fiber and antioxidants, and they help you feel full longer. Blackberries are loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. And yogurt, which is a good source of calcium, probiotics, protein, vitamins, and minerals, is nutrient-rich, too. Learn more about the health benefits of oats, yogurt, and blackberries.
Okay, ready to dig in? Then keep reading for the easy recipe, plus lots of helpful tips!
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Ingredients
This recipe for Overnight Oats with Blackberries uses healthy, easy to find ingredients! Here's what you'll need:
- Blackberries - You'll want some blackberries, of course! Choose berries that are firm, plump, and unblemished for the best results.
- Oats - This recipe calls for old fashioned rolled oats. Avoid using quick cooking or steel cut oats, because they have a different texture, don't absorb milk in the same way, and won't turn out as well.
- Milk - Feel free to choose your favorite milk. Both regular and plant based varieties will work great. I like to use my favorite unsweetened soy milk, which has a neutral flavor and creamy texture.
- Yogurt - For this recipe, you'll want to use plain yogurt, which gives the cold oatmeal a super creamy texture. Greek yogurt doesn't work quite as well, because it's thicker and contains less liquid. Although you can use Greek yogurt in a pinch, you'll need to thin it with an extra tablespoon (or two) of milk or water. Tip: I've found that using yogurt plus milk (versus using just yogurt) for oats works best. The addition of milk keeps oats from becoming too thick and gummy.
- Maple Syrup - A little maple syrup naturally sweetens the oats. You can easily add more or less to taste, and feel free to substitute another sweetener, such as honey or brown sugar, if you prefer.
- Lemon - Fresh lemon zest brightens up the flavors and complements the berries so well. Lime zest would also be delish.
- Salt - Just a pinch of salt (I recommend kosher salt) brings out all the other flavors!
This recipe is vegetarian and nut free. You can easily make it vegan + dairy free, simply by using plant based milk and yogurt. Rolled oats are naturally gluten free, however there is a risk of cross contamination. If you have a gluten allergy, always read your labels carefully, and look for specially marked GF oats.
You'll Also Need
You'll need a small bowl with a lid or a jar to combine the ingredients and to store the oatmeal. Mason jars work perfectly for this! I used 12-ounce jars for my photos, but a slightly larger 16-ounce jar will give you a bit more wiggle room. A microplane zester (one of my fave and most used kitchen tools) will also come in handy for zesting the lemon.
How to Make Blackberry Overnight Oats
These tasty Blackberry Oats couldn't be easier to make! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's an overview of the steps:
- Mash berries. Mash about ⅔ of the berries until there are no large chunks left. Tip: You can do this right in the storage container, if you prefer. But if you're making more than one jar of oats, it will go faster if you mash all the berries at once.
- Combine ingredients. Add the mashed berries to a mason jar (or a small bowl with a lid), then add the oats, milk, yogurt, maple syrup, lemon zest, and salt. Mix until well combined. Top with remaining berries.
- Refrigerate. Cover the oats, then refrigerate them overnight (or for at least four hours).
Time to enjoy your Blackberry Overnight Oats ... don't they look delish? This is one breakfast that you'll look forward to waking up early for!
Variations
Feel like experimenting? Here are a few ideas to try:
- Mixed Berry - Feel free to pair the blackberries with another berry, or use a combination of berries. Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries would all work well. You could also mix the berries with other fruits, like banana, mango, peaches, apples, etc.
- No Yogurt - Prefer to make the oats without yogurt? Simply leave it out, and use ½ cup milk (total) instead.
- Nuts + Seeds - Top the berries with your fave nuts or seeds, such as chopped pecans, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, or hemp hearts.
- Chia - Nutritious chia seeds would also make a great addition. To add them, stir in one tablespoon chia seeds, plus three extra tablespoons milk.
- Lime - Lime zest would be a delicious replacement for the lemon zest.
- Sweetener - Swap out the maple syrup for honey, brown sugar, or your favorite sweetener.
- Vegan + Dairy Free - To make this recipe vegan and dairy free, simply use your fave plant based milk and yogurt. I prefer soy milk (it has a neutral flavor and a thick, creamy texture), although almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, etc. may also be used.
Storage
Store your homemade Blackberry Oats in an airtight container in your refrigerator. They will have the best texture and taste best when eaten within three to four days.
Tip: This recipe serves one, however you can easily prepare three or four jars (or more) at the same time, which covers breakfast for most of the week. To make multiple servings, prepare them assembly line style by lining up the jars up on your counter. Add the mashed berries first, then the oats, next the milk, etc.
Related Recipes
Looking for similar breakfast ideas? Try one of these easy recipes next:
- Overnight Oats Recipe - My fave basic recipe with tons of topping ideas and tips!
- Yogurt Overnight Oats - The basic recipe, but with an extra creamy twist.
- Raspberry Chocolate Overnight Oats
- Blueberry Overnight Oats
- Peach Overnight Oats
- Banana Overnight Oats
- Berry Baked Oatmeal
- Blueberry Banana Baked Oatmeal
P.S. You can find even more Overnight Oatmeal recipes here! If you're searching for blackberry recipes, check out this Mixed Berry Crumble and this Berry Compote recipe, too.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Overnight oats are a type of no cook, cold oatmeal. They're prepared by soaking old-fashioned rolled oats in liquid (milk, yogurt, or water) overnight or until they've softened. Other ingredients, such as sweeteners, spices, fruits, and nuts, are usually added, too. Check out my guide, How to Make Overnight Oats, for helpful tips, variations, and topping ideas!
Overnight Oats will last for three to four days when stored in your refrigerator. If your toppings are perishable (like some fruits), add them just before serving.
Overnight Oats are usually eaten cold, straight from the refrigerator. However, if you prefer a hot breakfast, you can warm them gently in your microwave for about a minute before eating.
If your Overnight Oats didn't work, there are a few things that might have gone wrong. If they're thick and gluey, there wasn't enough liquid. To fix this, add a little extra milk or water to thin them, then refrigerate for a couple hours. If the oats aren't tender, you need to refrigerate them longer (overnight is best), and you should also double check that you've used old fashioned rolled oats (not steel cut oats). If your oats taste bland, you can adjust the seasoning by adding cinnamon (or other spices), stirring in maple syrup for extra sweetness, and by mixing in a pinch of salt. Toppings such as fresh fruit and nuts will also add extra flavor.
Blackberry Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ¾ cup blackberries, divided (about 4 ounces / 113 grams)
- ⅓ cup milk
- ⅓ cup plain yogurt
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- pinch kosher salt
Equipment
Instructions
- Place about ⅔ of the blackberries in a mason jar (or small bowl). Mash with fork until mostly smooth.
- Add the milk, yogurt, oats, maple syrup, lemon zest, and salt to the berries. Mix until well combined.
- Top oats with remaining berries, then cover jar (or bowl).
- Refrigerate overnight (or at least 4 hours) before eating. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
