WARNING: If you are not a SERIOUS chocolate lover, proceed with CAUTION.
The above picture is just a mere snapshot into the bliss that I discovered IS chocolate oatmeal. Sure, I’d heard around town that adding a little cocoa powder to your usual bowl of oats will send you in to a chocolate food coma, but I hadn’t listened…until now. That is, until I got pregnant and felt that chocolate was an appropriate morning snack.
I say to ‘proceed with CAUTION’ with this recipe because it is NOT for the faint of heart. It’s got a sinfully RICH, deep chocolate flavor that only a TRUE chocolate lover could appreciate. It will send your senses in to a state of euphoria. So watch out and use ONLY when necessary (and you know those days I’m talking about).
Okay, so maybe you don’t have to be THAT cautious. This is actually a surprisingly healthy morning meal or evening snack! Great news huh? Loads of fiber, protein, and antioxidants actually make this bowl of a oats a nutritional powerhouse! In fact, Dr. Oz was JUST talking about the benefits of 100% cacao in his show yesterday. Cacao powder is rich in flavonols and procyanidins, which can help clear away heavy metal buildup within our bloodstream and battle the free radicals which lead to cardiovascular disease. Cacao is also rich in essential minerals like calcium, zinc, iron, copper, sulfur, and potassium. “Cacao also contains many chemicals that enhance physical and mental well-being, including alkaloids, proteins, magnesium, beta-carotene, leucine, linoleic acid, lipase, lysine, and some neurotransmitters such as dopamine…” (source)
Those are just added bonuses in my book! I’m just thankful because I found the answer to my chocolate filled prayers. Don’t hold back. Scrap and lick the bowl. Oh yea, it’s THAT good.
Chocolate Lovers’ Bowl of Oats
Serves 1
- 1/2 c. rolled oats
- 1/2 c. organic whole milk or other ‘milk’ of choice
- 1/2 c. filtered water
- 1 medium banana, mash half, slice half
- 2 T organic raisins
- 1 1/2 T unsweetened 100% cacao powder or dark chocolate cocoa powder
- teensy grind of salt, optional
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 tsp liquid stevia or other sweetener (optional)
Directions:
Bring milk and water to a boil. Add oats, mashed banana, raisins, cacao powder, salt, vanilla, and stevia. Stir well and let simmer ~ 5-7 minutes. Pour in to a bowl and top with sliced bananas.
Nutritional Profile: 334 calories, 8 g fat (3.5 g sat.), 85.5 g carbohydrate, 14 g fiber, 19 g sugars, 11.5 g protein, 12 mg cholesterol, 300 mg sodium
Dark Chocolate is the BEST!!! <3 <3 <3 I would totally top that with peanut butter and it would be like Dark Chocolate Reese's Cup!
That looks like one chocolately bowl of oats!
I’m usually not a chocolate fanatic, but I do like it and get strong cravings for it every so often!
Amazing! I am always game for chocolate in the mornings. It is the best ease in to a weekday
Oh wow this sounds so good!!
Maybe I’ll make this for dessert tonight…
um…so excited to surprise my hubby with this…he is a sweet lover to the millionith degree
xoxo from Trinidad
Oh boy I would say this is my kind of oatmeal for sure. Love rich and bitter dark chocolate flavor yum!
I think I need to get on the chocolate oatmeal bandwagon and give this a try. Looks seriously good! I have a recipe for dark chocolate muesli on my blog that uses chunks of dark chocolate and cacao nibs. The dark chocolate melts right in to the milk when you heat it up, and is pretty yummy too!
Dark chocolate oatmeal….mmmm, you’re a girl after my own heart! I I tend to add cocoa/cacao to everything possible (I think my fave is avocado pudding)… and really, it’s a superfood so it’s a totally justifiable breakfast treat! I’m not sure I am totally a chocolate lover in general (I don’t buy chocolate bars or chocolate stuff in the store)…but I’ve found using the unprocessed stuff is so energizing. That said, I use both—dutch processed and unalkalized…
Yum!
Yes Gina! The dutch processed is processed but from what I’ve read, it still has a pretty high ORAC score in comparison to 100% Cacao powder!
Yep, I’ve been using cocoa powder in my oats for months now, and I’m officially addicted! It started with oats, then went on to pumpkin, yogurt, and just about anything I can think of (smoothies too!). The dark chocolate powder has been alkalized (or dutch processed) so it has less beneficial antioxidants…but, if that’s what you prefer I suppose its no big deal. I love 100% cocoa powder! I have three canisters in my pantry right now
Omg! This might be the most delicious bowl of oats I have EVER seen! I don’t eat oats all that much, I really should start though!
Yep, I am definitely up for this. Amazing!
Oh my goodness, this does look “lick the bowl” worthy! I need to get some cacao powder in my kitchen!
chocolate oats are my favorite!! i also love mixing my oatmeal with hot chocolate packets
Oh my does this sound delicious! I don’t make chocolate oats nearly as much as I should, this is what I am having for breakfast tomorrow morning! Happy Friday!
I’m a serious chocolate lover and just seeing this glorious bowl makes me happy! Sooooo gooooooodd
Can I eat chocolate for breakfast even if I’m not pregnant?
These oats look amazing. I kind of want to serve them for dessert. Chocolate oatmeal pudding!
Yuuum!!! I love breakfast that tastes like dessert!
I feel like this is a challenge I want to take!
Totally done it. And you’re right- it’s awesome when you have a craving!
I’ve also used hot cocoa mix, but that sends you in a bit more of a sugar spin (you’ve been warned! ha).
Psh, not a serious chocolate lover? If you aren’t a serious chocolate lover, you should re-examine your life.
This looks amazing. Do you think this needs a sweetner b/c the cocoa might make it a little bitter? I bought some Justin’s chocolate pb yesterday and might try that sometime this week too.