Mulberry Overnight Oats Recipe

If you’re looking for a delicious breakfast that’s easy to make, look no further. These mulberry overnight oats are a sweet way to start your day the right way. Healthy and filling, packed with fresh berries, and the method couldn’t be simpler. Plus, you can adjust the ingredients with all sorts of add-ins!

Why I Love This Recipe

Okay, I finally understand the craze over overnight oats. This mulberry overnight oat recipe is as tasty as it is simple to make. You can go as healthy as you like or add all sorts of options to make this recipe your own!

I like to set out the ingredients options and let my boys make their own. And they really enjoy customizing their breakfast to their individual tastes. And it only takes 5-10 minutes for everyone to get their own jars made, and clean up is easy!

This recipe uses fresh mulberries, but you can also use frozen or add the berries of your choice that are in season. There is so much opportunity for adjusting ingredients, you can add a different oatmeal to your daily diet every morning!

Here are a few other reasons you’ll love this recipe too.

• Less than 5 minutes to prep the night before
• In the morning, breakfast is served!
• So much opportunity for adjusting and adding ingredients you like
• Great use for berries
• Go as healthy as you’d like
• My entire family loves overnight oats

Recipe Ingredients

This recipe only calls for a handful of fresh, wholesome ingredients.

Milk - I like whole milk, but you can use your favorite milk or half a cup almond milk or other DF milk.

Rolled oats - Old fashioned rolled oats are preferred. Check the label for GF friendly

Mulberries - If you are lucky enough to have mulberry trees, pick them fresh, remove the stems and wash them well a couple times before using. If using frozen mulberries, allow them to thaw completely and press a paper towel into them to remove excess moisture.

Honey - You can also use a little maple syrup or agave.

How to Make Mulberry Overnight Oats

The directions for this recipe couldn’t be simpler.

Step 1

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and combine gently but well. You don’t want the berries breaking up too much.

Step 2

Transfer the combined mixture to a mason jar and seal tightly. 

Step 3

Place in the refrigerator overnight and enjoy the next morning.

Recipe Notes

• Leave a little room in the jar so the oats have some space to expand overnight.
• Don’t mix the oats and berries too forcefully. You don’t want the berries breaking too much, unless you do.
• Use rolled oats instead of quick cook oats or steel cut oats.
• Fresh or frozen mulberries can be used.
• Use a dairy free nut milk and maple syrup or agave nectar to make this recipe vegan.

What To Add To Overnight Oats

Use your favorite mix-ins to add a personal touch to your oats. The options are almost limitless. These are just a few of my favorite additions.

• Crunchy or creamy peanut butter, almond butter, or other nut butters
• Unsweetened coconut flakes
• Lots of fresh fruits and berries
• Organic raisins or other dried fruits
• Just a hint of organic ground cinnamon or nutmeg
• Nuts - crushed cashews, peanuts, or almonds are great add-ins to your overnight oats 
• Seeds - sunflower seeds, organic pumpkin seeds, organic chia seeds or flax seed, etc

Overnight Oats vs Cooked Oats

Overnight oats are soaked in milk or water overnight, as the name would imply. The soaking process softens the oats without breaking them down as much as cooking does, resulting in a creamier and chewier texture than cooked or boiled oats, which have a soft, smooth texture

Overnight oats are also generally considered healthier than cooked oats because they retain more resistant starch, a natural carb that acts as a prebiotic fiber and can help with digestion and weight loss. Overnight oats are usually served cold, but can also be served slightly heated

Can You Make Overnight Oats with Instant Oatmeal

Rolled or “old-fashioned” oats are best for this recipe. Rolled oats seem to absorb the perfect amount of liquid to achieve the best texture. 

I find using instant oatmeal in an overnight oats recipe usually results in an almost pasty result like oat porridge. The quick oats become very thick and somewhat gloopy.

On the other hand, steel cut oats end up not absorbing enough of the liquid and have a chewy, kind of dense texture the next morning.

Can You Use Frozen Fruit in Overnight Oats

Frozen fruit works great in overnight oats. Which is good because most mulberries are sold frozen. A lot of people even prefer them to fresh, suggesting they add a sweeter flavor.

Some people avoid using frozen berries because of their tendency to change the color of the oats.

Mulberries vs Blackberries

Mulberries are sweeter than blackberries but also have a range and variety of flavors depending on their color which ranges from white or pale pink to deep black/purple. Some say perfectly ripe mulberries even taste like gummy bears!

Mulberries and blackberries share some aspects of a similar appearance, but that’s about where it ends. If you ask people the difference, you might get a lot of funny answers.

Also, the mulberry isn’t technically a true berry. It’s a fruit that grows from a tree and not a bush. 

Where Can I Find Fresh Mulberries

Mulberries only have a shelf life of a few days. Because of the high risk of food waste, it isn’t profitable for stores to carry fresh mulberries. Most supermarkets only carry frozen mulberries.

You can find fresh mulberries at some Farmers Markets when they’re in season. You can also search Google for “fresh mulberries near me” or “are there mulberry farms near me” and to find when berry season is near you. 

Mostly around here we forage mulberries in season and some neighbors even have mulberry trees and are happy to share their bounty!

How to Freeze Fresh Mulberries

Freezing fresh mulberries, when you can find them, is easy and a great way to save money. Especially since most stores don’t carry fresh mulberries because of their short shelf life, and you’re lucky if you can find frozen ones. 

Wash your fresh mulberries and pat them dry with some paper towels. Line a baking sheet that will fit in your freezer with some parchment paper and place the cleaned berries in a single layer on the baking sheet.

Place the berries in the freezer for at least 3 hours or until the berries are frozen firm. When the berries are fully frozen, you can transfer them to a freezer safe, zip-top bag or container.

Frozen mulberries will be at their best for up to 6 months when stored properly.

How to Eat Mulberries

Mulberries, either fresh or frozen, can be used in a variety of ways. I love to eat fresh mulberries by the handful on their own. They’re just so sweet and delicious! 

You can also use them as you would any other fresh berries. Especially blackberries or raspberries. I love them in muffins, pancakes, served on waffles or in a delicious fruit bowl with some homemade granola sprinkled over it.

They’re also great in cakes and pies and served over some vanilla ice cream as a sauce or just as the whole berries.

How to Serve Mulberry Overnight Oats

This mulberry overnight oat recipe makes for the perfect grab-and-go breakfast or for sitting leisurely on the back porch admiring your garden.

You can also serve it as part of a larger breakfast with some billionaire bacon and this easy scrambled egg bake.

More Mulberry Recipes

Fresh Mulberry Muffins
Homemade Mulberry Sauce
Sweet Mulberry Pancakes
Mixed Berry Oatmeal Bars