Overnight Oats with Summer Berries
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats do not use quick oats or steel-cut
- 1 cup plain full-fat Greek yogurt divided between jars
- 3/4 cup whole milk or oat milk for dairy-free
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup or honey adjust to taste
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 pinch fine sea salt
- 1/2 cup fresh strawberries hulled and sliced
- 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
- 1/4 cup fresh raspberries
- 1/4 cup fresh blackberries
- 1 teaspoon honey optional, for drizzling on top before serving
- 4 leaves fresh mint optional garnish
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, Greek yogurt, milk, chia seeds, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and sea salt. Stir well until everything is fully combined and the chia seeds are evenly distributed throughout.
- Taste the mixture and adjust sweetness if needed by adding another teaspoon of maple syrup or honey. The mixture will taste slightly bland at this stage — the flavors deepen and sweeten significantly overnight.
- Divide half of the oat mixture evenly between two wide-mouth 16-ounce mason jars.
- Add a middle layer of mixed berries — use about one third of your total berries here, divided evenly between the two jars.
- Spoon the remaining oat mixture on top of the berry layer, dividing evenly between both jars.
- Seal both jars with their lids and place in the refrigerator for a minimum of 6 hours, or up to overnight (8–10 hours is ideal). The oats will absorb the liquid and soften into a thick, creamy, spoonable texture.
- The next morning, remove the jars from the refrigerator. If the mixture seems thicker than you prefer, stir in a tablespoon or two of milk to loosen it to your desired consistency.
- Top each jar generously with the remaining fresh mixed berries. Optionally drizzle with a little honey, add a few fresh mint leaves, or sprinkle with granola or chopped nuts for crunch. Enjoy cold, straight from the jar.
Notes
Make-Ahead: Prepare up to 5 jars at once for the full week. Store sealed in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Add fresh berry toppings each morning for the best appearance and texture. Dairy-Free: Swap Greek yogurt for full-fat coconut yogurt and use oat milk or coconut milk in place of whole milk. Frozen Berries: If using frozen berries, reduce added milk by 2 tablespoons per jar, as frozen berries release extra liquid as they thaw. Sweetness Tip: When berries are at peak summer ripeness, you may not need any added sweetener at all — taste before adding maple syrup or honey.