Basic Chocolate Oatmeal

Everyone should know how to make basic chocolate oatmeal.

Why? Because it’s chocolate. That’s why.

And yes, I just started a pseudo sentence with because. I’m out of college, and nobody can stop me. 🙂 Besides, if a picture of chocolate oatmeal is staring you in the face and all you can think about is grammar rules, something’s wrong. The beauty of the following recipe is its simplicity, which allows for thousands of variations:

• Mexican Hot Chocolate Oatmeal: add a pinch of chili powder and cinnamon.
• Almond Joy Oatmeal: use coconut milk as the liquid and add almond extract and shredded coconut.
• Peppermint Patty Oats: add pure peppermint extract (and maybe some spinach, if you’re brave).
• Reeses Peanut Butter Oatmeal: just add peanut butter!

Or stir in cherries, raspberries, strawberries… the possibilities are endless, as almost anything pairs well with chocolate!

Basic Chocolate Oatmeal

Adapted from: 5-Minute Chocolate Oatmeal.

(One can never have too many chocolate oatmeal recipes!)

• 1/2 cup rolled oats (or 1/4 cup steel-cut oats) (45g)
• 1 1/2 cups milk of choice or water (360g)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder, dutch cocoa, or hot cocoa mix (5g)
• 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
• sweetener of choice (stevia, maple syrup, sugar, etc.)
• optional: nondairy creamer or canned coconut milk for the top
• optional: chocolate chips

Combine oats, liquid, and salt in a large pyrex-type measuring cup (or saucepan, if cooking on the stovetop). Heat on the stove until most—but not all—of the liquid is absorbed. Or, if using the microwave, heat 3 minutes, then heat 1 more minute, watching so it doesn’t spill over. (Microwave times will vary depending on wattage.) Leave in the microwave 5 minutes, then transfer (uncovered!) to the fridge overnight. The next morning, the oats will have soaked up all the excess liquid. (If you want to eat it right away, just heat longer or use less liquid. I always use the overnight method because I want breakfast ready in the morning.) Now add your vanilla, sweetener, cocoa, (and optional creamer or coconut milk if desired). Reheat, unless you prefer cold oatmeal like I do.

—> View Chocolate Oatmeal Nutrition Facts <—

What’s your current favorite breakfast?

Lately I’ve been eating a lot of overnight oatmeal, and also cold cereal with fruit. Cold cereal’s never been my favorite, but I like that it’s quick to prepare.  I’m doing a ton of cooking every day (both for the blog and the book), which unfortunately can sometimes leave me pressed for time to make my actual meals. So I have to cut corners whenever I can… A girl can’t live on chocolate alone! 

Link of the Day: Sugar Cookie Oatmeal