Mixed Berry Protein Overnight Oats

 
This past spring, my dad decided to start eating healthier. He already packed himself wholesome lunches and snacks with plenty of fresh fruit and veggies (he can’t live without his apples, carrots, and broccoli!), so he mainly wanted to change his breakfast and dinner habits.  

When he received my banana bread protein overnight oats recipe in his email inbox (have you signed up for those emails here? you’ll receive all of my new recipes straight to your inbox for free!), he mentioned to me that it sounded really good. With an overly spotty banana sitting on my counter, I offered it to him so he could make the recipe that evening.

The next morning, I received a text from him, reporting that the oats tasted amazing! He loved the texture and the little hint of cinnamon, and he actually stopped by the store just to buy a big ol’ bunch of bananas on his way home from work that evening so he could continue making and eating those oats for the rest of the week.
 

 
After that, Dad became my official “overnight oat taste tester” for all of the fun versions you’ve seen here on Amy’s Healthy Baking! Whenever I created a new recipe, I wrote him a note, and he shared his thoughts with me the following day. Nearly every time, he started with, “They’re not my favorite…” (that badge of honor has always gone to those original banana bread protein overnight oats!), “BUT they still taste great!”

When he sampled this special recipe (it’s only available here on Instagram!), he provided the same exact feedback, but he added on a second line. “Could we do a version that includes blueberries too?”
 

 
So here is Dad’s special recipe… These Mixed Berry Protein Overnight Oats! Full of sweet, juicy fruit and packed with 16g+ of protein, they’re the perfect healthy way to start the day. (And Dad actually reported that they just might be tied for first place with the banana bread recipe!)
 

 
For those of you unfamiliar with overnight oats, they’re incredibly easy to make! You simply mix together the ingredients in a mason jar or tupperware container, seal the lid on top, and refrigerate them overnight (or about 8 hours). That’s all there is to it!

And yes, overnight oats are meant to be eaten cold! By letting the oats soak in the liquid from the recipe for that many hours, the oats soften as much as if you had cooked them the traditional way on the stove or in the microwave. This makes them great for quick grab-and-go breakfasts for busy mornings!

Since making overnight oats is so easy, let’s just talk briefly about the ingredients. To start, you’ll need… You guessed it—oats! Both old-fashioned oats and instant oats (also called “quick cooking” or “minute” oats) will work. And if you’re following a gluten-free diet, make sure you buy certified gluten-free oats! However, do not substitute steel-cut oats. Those do not soften enough, and they’ll remain dry and crunchy.
 

 
For the protein source, you’ll use one of my favorite ingredients in healthier baking. If you’ve been around my blog for a while, you already know what it is… It’s Greek yogurt! Greek yogurt contains around 21g of protein per cup, as opposed to regular yogurt that only offers around 10g of protein, so it’s a super easy way to sneak in extra protein. I always buy the huge tubs, rather than the single-serving cups, because I use it so much!

To sweeten the oats, you’ll use vanilla crème stevia. Stevia is a plant-based, no-calorie sweetener that’s clean eating friendly. It’s very concentrated, so a little goes a long way. You only need ¼ teaspoons for these oats! This is the kind that I buy because I love its warm vanilla flavor. You can find it any many health-oriented grocery stores, as well as online. (And you’ll use it in all of these recipes of mine, too!)

And of course, the fruit! Please, please, please use fresh strawberries and blueberries if you can because they taste so much better in this particular recipe than frozen. I promise it’s worth the tiny bit of extra money at the grocery store!
 

Time for breakfast! And when you make yours, remember to snap a picture and share it on Instagram using #amyshealthybaking and tagging @amyshealthybaking IN the photo itself! (That guarantees that I’ll see the notification from you! ?) I’d love to see your overnight oats and feature them in my Sunday Spotlight series!

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You may also like…
♥   All of my “Protein Overnight Oats” Recipes!
♥   Whole Wheat Strawberry Blueberry Banana Bread
♥   Mixed Berry Shortcakes with Skinny Whipped Cream
♥   Almond Berry Crumble
♥   Maple Mixed Berry Muffins
♥   Mixed Berry Green Smoothie