This Chocolate Oatmeal Recipe is a quick and filling breakfast with a rich chocolatey flavor and fudgy texture. It’s a protein and fiber-packed breakfast and is also refined sugar-free and Vegan. It will keep your hunger pangs at bay till lunchtime. Not a fan of breakfast? Have it for dinner and say goodbye to those late-night snacking and sugar cravings.
I was never a fan of oatmeal till about a decade ago. Back then, I used to try cooking instant oatmeal from those little packets and dismissed oatmeal to be tasteless and textureless food. Then one day, I tried cooking my own oatmeal using rolled oats. I had found a winner. It was all about the texture for me and once I got that right, oatmeal became one of my go-to breakfasts.
Over the years, I’ve experimented a lot by cooking oatmeal in just water, in just milk, and a combination of both. I’ll also give notes on how to make variations to the texture based on your taste preference. I like using 2-ingredient plant-based milk to achieve the right texture.
My son has been eating oatmeal for breakfast or dinner ever since he was 1.5 years old. I make different flavored oatmeal to keep it interesting, yet his favorite is this Chocolate Oatmeal. It keeps him full for longer stretches and saves me from his ‘I’m hungry’ complaints. It also has all the micronutrients and macronutrients that my toddler needs. I get him involved in the preparation and now, he can recite the entire recipe.
Check out other Toddler-friendly meal ideas from my blog
Top 3 Health Benefits of Oatmeal (Particularly, this Chocolate Oatmeal Recipe)
1. Fiber-rich
Oatmeal is rich in fiber, thanks to its outer bran. It not only helps keep you full for a long time but also reduces constipation while keeping you regular.
2. High in Magnesium
Raw cacao is one of the richest plant sources of Magnesium. Magnesium is essential for many biochemical reactions in the body, including protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation. Magnesium also helps reduce PMS symptoms in women.
3. Lowers Cholesterol levels
The Beta-glucan fiber in oats helps reduce the bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases the release of good cholesterol (HDL) in the body. This in turn helps prevent heart disease.
This Chocolate Oatmeal Recipe
- Takes 5 minutes to make
- Is Vegan
- Is protein and fiber-rich
- Keeps you full for a long time
- Is Toddler-approved
- Tastes like a decadent chocolate pudding
Ingredients for Chocolate Oatmeal Recipe
Rolled oats
This recipe comes together in 5 minutes. You must use rolled oats and not instant oats or steel-cut oats. I like to use sprouted rolled oats, as it makes it a lot easier on our tummies.
Ripe Banana
Make sure you use an overripe banana to sweeten the oatmeal naturally. If your banana is not sweet enough, you may have to add more sweetener in the end.
Cacao powder
I always use raw unprocessed cacao powder for most recipes that call for cocoa powder. Feel free to swap it with cocoa powder.
Almond milk
I use either Almond milk or cashew milk interchangeably. I like the taste of Almond milk better than Cashew milk in this Chocolate Oatmeal recipe. You can substitute it with cow’s milk using my instructions below.
Vanilla extract
Pure vanilla extract always elevates the flavor of any chocolate dish up by a notch.
Coconut sugar/Maple syrup
I like to use a combination of coconut sugar and maple syrup to sweeten my chocolate oatmeal. Feel free to substitute them with any sweetener of choice.
Chocolate Oatmeal Recipe – Method
Step 1: Mash the banana and keep it aside.
Step 2: In a saucepan, add the mashed banana, rolled oats, cacao powder, vanilla extract, and almond milk. Mix well.
Step 3: Heat the mixture in medium and keep stirring from time to time. Add a pinch of salt.
Step 4: Once it starts boiling, continue to cook on medium heat for 5 more minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Stirring frequently yields creamier oatmeal.
Step 5: Remove from heat and add maple syrup. Taste it and add more sweetener if needed. Pour into serving bowls and top it with nut butter and banana slices. Serve warm.
Can I make this Chocolate Oatmeal Recipe with any other milk?
- Yes, you can. However, if you’re using whole dairy milk, I would recommend replacing a portion of the milk with water (1 cup of milk and .25 cups of water).
- If you’re using reduced-fat dairy milk, proceed without any change in the measurement (1.25 cups of milk)
- You can also use any other plant-based milk without any change in the measurement(1.25 cups of milk) if the ingredients are just nuts/grains and water.
- If you’re using plant-based milk that is thickened using an emulsifier, replace a portion of the milk with water depending on how thick your milk is.
Chocolate Oatmeal Recipe
Course: BreakfastCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy1
servings2
minutes5
minutesThis Chocolate Oatmeal Recipe is a quick and filling breakfast with a rich chocolatey flavor and fudgy texture. It’s a protein and fiber-packed breakfast and is also refined sugar-free and Vegan. It uses simple ingredients available in your pantry.
Ingredients
Rolled oats – 1/2 cup (45 grams)
Ripe banana – 1 (118 grams)
Cacao powder – 1/4 cup (25 grams)
Almond Milk – 1.25 cups (300 grams)
Vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon
Coconut sugar – 1 tablespoon
Maple syrup – 1 teaspoon (adjust according to sweet preference)
Salt – a pinch
Directions
- Mash the banana and keep it aside.
- In a saucepan, add the mashed banana, rolled oats, cacao powder, vanilla extract, and almond milk. Mix well.
- Heat the mixture in medium and keep stirring from time to time. Add a pinch of salt.
- Once it starts boiling, continue to cook on medium heat for 5 more minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Stirring frequently yields creamier oatmeal.
- Remove from heat and add maple syrup. Taste it and add more sweetener if needed.
- Pour into serving bowls and top it with nut butter and banana slices. Serve warm!
Recipe Video
Notes
- Keep stirring to prevent burning. Stirring also results in creamier oatmeal.
- You can stir in few chunks of chopped dark chocolate when you serve for an intense chocolate flavor.
- The sweetness of your oatmeal depends on the ripeness of your banana. Make sure you use a very ripe banana.