Cheesecake Overnight Oats — two delicious flavors: Peanut Butter Cheesecake and Strawberry Cheesecake. Both are creamy and packed with protein.
Cheesecake Overnight Oats
When I was in college, I relied on quick breakfasts and often didn’t have time to prepare a full meal in the morning. That’s when I discovered overnight oats. They became a nightly ritual — prepared the evening before, tossed into my bag, and enjoyed during class or between study sessions.
Overnight oats are ideal for busy mornings: fast to assemble, filling, and convenient to eat cold or straight from the fridge.
Ingredients
- Milk — Use the milk you prefer. Unsweetened vanilla almond milk works well for a subtle flavor.
- Oats — Old-fashioned rolled oats are best for texture. Steel-cut oats don’t soften as well; quick oats can become mushy.
- Maple syrup — My preferred sweetener. Adjust from 1 to 2 tablespoons to suit your taste. Liquid stevia (1/4 tsp) can substitute for a zero-calorie option.
- Vanilla — A splash of vanilla extract enhances flavor but is optional.
- Salt — A pinch brightens and balances the flavors.
- Honey vanilla Greek yogurt — Adds the classic cheesecake tang. Use a yogurt you enjoy plain, since its flavor comes through.
- Cream cheese — Essential for the cheesecake flavor. Soft or room-temperature cream cheese blends in more smoothly; cream cheese spread can be convenient.
Quick Tip
For a lower-calorie alternative to cream cheese, stir in 1 tablespoon of sugar-free (or regular) cheesecake pudding mix to get the cheesecake flavor with less fat.
Toppings & Variations
- Peanut Butter Cheesecake Overnight Oats: Add peanut butter to the base and top with an extra swirl or spoonful of peanut butter in the morning. Mini chocolate chips are a fun addition. If you use powdered peanut butter (PB2®), increase the liquid because it absorbs more.
- Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats: Omit peanut butter and fold in chopped strawberries. Top with extra strawberries, coarsely chopped white chocolate, or a broken graham cracker for a true cheesecake feel.
Author’s note
Tips from Years of Making These
- Cold and creamy: Overnight oats are eaten cold and become soft and pudding-like as they soak. Allow at least 30–45 minutes chilling; overnight is ideal.
- Use ripe berries: For the strawberry version, choose sweet, ripe strawberries. Overripe berries can taste off after sitting overnight.
- Room-temperature cream cheese: Let cream cheese soften before mixing so it blends smoothly without lumps.
- Thicker oats: For a thicker texture, stir in 1–2 tablespoons chia seeds or add more oats.
More On-The-Go Breakfast Recipes
Snacks
Granola Bars
Breakfast
Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Desserts
Chocolate Banana Muffins
Breakfast
Yogurt Parfait Recipe
Cheesecake Overnight Oats
Equipment
- Small bowl or jar
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- 3 tablespoons cream cheese, room temperature
- Pinch of salt (about 1/16 tsp)
- 2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or preferred milk)
- 1/3 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup (adjust to taste)
- Mini chocolate chips (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- 3 tablespoons cream cheese, room temperature
- 2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or preferred milk)
- 1/3 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 cup finely chopped strawberries
- Toppings as desired (extra strawberries, white chocolate, graham cracker)
Instructions
- Peanut Butter version: Combine the peanut butter, vanilla extract (if using), softened cream cheese, salt, almond milk, yogurt, oats, and maple syrup in a small bowl, jar, or container. Stir until fully combined — it may take patience to work out the cream cheese. Taste and add more maple syrup if desired.
- Strawberry version: Combine the vanilla extract (if using), softened cream cheese, salt, almond milk, yogurt, oats, and maple syrup. Stir until smooth, then gently fold in the chopped strawberries. Taste and sweeten if needed.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight or until thickened and chilled. If you’re short on time, 30–45 minutes in the fridge will soften them enough to enjoy.
- Serve cold, straight from the fridge, and top with any optional garnishes.
Recipe Notes
Note 1: These oats are intended to be creamy. For a thicker texture, add a few extra tablespoons of oats or 1–2 tablespoons of chia seeds.
Note 2: Adjust maple syrup to taste, or omit sweetener entirely. Liquid stevia (1/4 tsp) can be used as a low-calorie option.
Note 3: Favorite toppings include extra fresh strawberries, 1/2 tablespoon coarsely chopped white chocolate, and 1 tablespoon broken graham cracker.
Nutrition Note: The listed nutrition below refers to the strawberry cheesecake version. The peanut butter version contains approximately 537 calories.
Storage: Store overnight oats in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 375 kcal |
Carbohydrates: 34 g |
Protein: 12.3 g |
Fat: 21.7 g |
Cholesterol: 56.3 mg |
Sodium: 298.7 mg |
Sugar: 29.6 g
Nutrition information is an approximation.