Cheesecake Overnight Oats with two flavor variations! Peanut Butter Cheesecake and Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats are packed with nutritious ingredients and lots of protein!
Cheesecake Overnight Oats
During college, I was all about quick and easy breakfasts. I rarely (if ever) had time to make a breakfast “meal” on the weekdays.
It was during those crazy college years that I discovered overnight oats. They seriously changed my college life. I began to make overnight oats every single night. I would stick them in my backpack to eat during my first class or somewhere on campus while I was studying.
They were the perfect breakfast: super quick, very filling, and completely convenient!
Cheesecake Overnight Oats ingredients
- Milk. Whatever milk you enjoy will work great in these cheesecake overnight oats. We prefer to use unsweetened vanilla almond milk.
- Oats. The type of oats you use matters; we like old–fashioned oats the best. Steel cut oats don’t soften as well and quick oats become mushy.
- Maple syrup. This is my favorite sweetener to add to overnight oats.
- Depending on how sweet you like your breakfast, you can scale the amount added into the oats up or down. I’d recommend at least 1 tablespoon and up to 2 tablespoons for a sweeter breakfast. Liquid stevia (1/4 teaspoon) can be used in place of maple syrup.
- Vanilla. Vanilla adds a nice flavor to the oats. It’s not entirely necessary, so don’t worry if you don’t have any to add.
- Salt. Salt helps intensify flavors and balance all the ingredients in these Cheesecake Overnight Oats.
- Honey Vanilla Greek Yogurt. Along with the cream cheese, the Greek yogurt adds that classic cheesecake “tang.” Our favorite yogurt to use in these overnight oats is Honey Vanilla Greek yogurt (made by Greek Gods®; not sponsored). Whatever yogurt you choose to use, make sure you like it plain or you likely won’t love it in these oats.
- Cream cheese. Cream cheese is essential for a cheesecake, so of course it’s necessary in these overnight oats! Cream cheese is popular in keto and low carb diets because it adds fats and protein to recipes. I find using a cream cheese spread is more convenient and easy to use in these oats. Plus, you’ve got some leftover for bagels.
Quick Tip
For a low-calorie alternative to cream cheese, add 1 tablespoon sugar-free (or regular) cheesecake pudding mix. It will give all the flavor of cheesecake with less fat.
Toppings
- Peanut Butter Cheesecake Overnight Oats: We add peanut butter to the base. I also like to top the oats in the morning with an additional swirl or spoonful of peanut butter. Another fun topping idea is miniature chocolate chips.
- If you opt to use PB2® instead of peanut butter, you’ll likely want to increase the liquid as well. PB2 absorbs a great deal more liquid than regular peanut butter.
- Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats: We leave out the peanut butter and stir in chopped strawberries. In the morning, I also like to top the oats with additional strawberries. For other fun topping ideas, try some coarsely chopped white chocolate and/or a broken graham cracker.
Recipe notes
- Overnight oats are eaten cold in the morning. As they soak overnight, they become soft, luscious, and creamy, with a pudding-like consistency from the soft and chewy oats.
- You can make overnight oats in the morning to enjoy. I actually prefer them this way! Nowadays, I usually make them first thing when I wake up, then I go work out, and enjoy them when I’m done. (So they’ve sat about 30-45 minutes.)
- For Strawberry Overnight Oats, make sure to use sweet, ripe strawberries. If the berries are overripe or breaking down, they can give the overnight oats an off (even moldy) flavor after sitting overnight.
- Use room-temperature cream cheese. To avoid chunks in your oats, set out the cream cheese for sufficient time to get to room temperature before using. (Here are some tips to getting the cream cheese to room temperature quickly).
- Make them thicker. I’m obsessed with creamy oatmeal — the creamier the better! I’d say these overnight oats are fairly creamy (even after thickening overnight). If you’d like them thicker, add in 1-2 tablespoons chia seeds.
Other on-the-go breakfast recipes
- Granola Bars with miniature chocolate chips
- Peanut Butter Overnight Oats tastes like a Reese’s cup!
- Chocolate Banana Muffins with Greek yogurt
- Healthy Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies reader favorite recipe
- Chocolate Muffins bakery style
Cheesecake Overnight Oats
Equipment
- small bowl
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Cheesecake Overnight Oats
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
- 3 tablespoons cream cheese room temperature
- 1/16 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk or your preferred milk
- 1/3 cup vanilla Greek Yogurt
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats see note 1
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup see note 2
- Mini chocolate chips optional
Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
- 3 tablespoons cream cheese room temperature
- 2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk or your preferred milk
- 1/3 cup vanilla Greek Yogurt
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats see note 1
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup see note 2
- 1/4 cup finely chopped strawberries
- Toppings as desired see note 3
Instructions
- To make the Peanut Butter Cheesecake Overnights Oats, place the peanut butter, vanilla extract, soft cream cheese, salt, almond milk, yogurt, old-fashioned oats, and maple syrup in a small bowl, jar, or plastic container. Stir until all ingredients are well incorporated. It can take some time and patience to make sure the cream cheese is sufficiently mixed in. Taste the mixture and add any additional maple syrup if desired.
- To make the Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats, place the vanilla extract, soft cream cheese, salt, almond milk, yogurt, old-fashioned oats, and maple syrup in a small bowl, jar, or plastic container. Stir until all ingredients are well incorporated. It can take some time and patience to make sure the cream cheese is sufficiently mixed in. Taste the mixture and add any additional maple syrup if desired. Gently mix in the coarsely chopped strawberries.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight, or until thickened and cool. Sometimes, I make them in the morning and let them chill while I get readyโthey're delicious even after just 30 minutes in the fridge!
- Enjoy these softened oats, cold and straight out of the fridge, garnished with any optional toppings as desired.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I definitely want to try this. Maybe I would learn to love oatmeal finally. Sounds amazing!
Thanks Melanie! Yeah, I’m not a fan of hot oatmeal, but I sure do enjoy cold oats in this form!
I love overnight oats! They are such an easy and healthy breakfast. My favorite is to make them in an almost empty jar of PB!
Oh that is such a good idea! I bet that makes them even more peanut butter flavored! Thanks for the great idea Cate ๐
Thanks so much Taylor! I know I’m kind of addicted to sugar free pudding mixes. They are so much fun!
I used to make overnight oats for breakfast while I was in college, too. Super convenient! I only tried adding lemon zest, but chocolate and peanut butter? That sounds like perfection! Can’t wait to try this ๐
They are totally the perfect on-the-go or college breakfast! Thanks Megan!
This sounds really excelent! I must try it out. Oats are so healthy and I would love to give them a new twist and make them delicious, too.
Thanks for stopping by Joanna! ๐
Love waking up to overnight oats ๐
Thanks Kelly! You’ll have to let me know if you try it out! Have a great day ๐
my kiddos are huge oatmeal fans (me, not so much!) ….. I need to make this for them!
Haha you’ll have to let me know if they like it! Thanks Jamie ๐
I’ve never made overnight oats but I see them everywhere – do the oats absorb the flavors really that much more?
oh and ps this looks delish lol
Thanks Christine! Yeah, I think the oats absorb the flavor a lot, but it’s a whole different experience with oats. Instead of hot they are cold and they have a whole different texture. You’ll have to give them a try and see if you like them! My husband’s not a huge fan of them, but I can’t get enough!
I am a HUGE breakfast person, but if I have something every morning for a week or so, I get really burnt out on it. So I’m always looking for quick and delicious breakfasts, and this looks absolutely perfect! Peanut butter AND cheesecake for breakfast? Yes, please. ๐
I’m totally the same! Always looking for new things to try ๐ Thanks Beth!
You simply had me at the PB. And, the overnight action! I’m definitely going to try this out tonight. My boys (and myself) would devour this.
Thanks so much Gloria! You’ll have to let me know what you think ๐ Have a great day Gloria!
ok call me silly but does this then get warmed up for a bit
I don’t warm it up, but you certainly can! Overnight oats are a totally different taste and texture than hot oatmeal, so it’s just different. But warming it up makes it more similar to hot oatmeal ๐