Chocolate for breakfast! Who doesn’t love the idea of waking up to a bowl of warm chocolate goodness, especially when it’s topped with sweet juicy strawberries and crunchy toasted pecans? This dark chocolate oatmeal is the perfect healthy way to start your day and make you feel like you’re totally indulging yourself at the same time. It literally takes just a few minutes to stir together and two minutes to cook before you are sitting down to a healthy, indulgent breakfast. Grab your coffee (or chai, or whatever you prefer to sip on in the morning) and get ready to rev up your day!
I love the contrast of warm, soft, comforting chocolate oat meal and the cool, juicy berries, with a little crunch of nuts for added texture. I always load mine up with LOTS of berries so I have fresh berries in every bite. It feeds and soothes my inner chocolate cravings and keeps me full for hours! It’s quick enough I can stir it together even if I have just a few minutes between meetings (since I work from home, this is easy) and keeps me from getting hangry on a busy, crazy work day.
Another awesome thing about this recipe is you can make it with quick oats OR with oat bran (the better option, healthwise). I used to buy my oat bran in bulk at our local grocery store, but since COVID started, they’ve closed down that section of the store, so I bought a BIG bag online and had it shipped to me. I use oat bran a lot for my heart health, both as a cereal in the morning, but also in baked goods (breads, brownies, and more!) and I even sometimes add it to savory recipes like meatballs in place of bread crumbs. It’s super versatile, tasty, and adds a nice bit of healthy fiber to your dish.
I really like the texture of oat bran cereal way much better than traditional oatmeal. It’s softer and creamier, more like cream of wheat (or Coco Wheats)! But if you don’t have oat bran, you can definitely use quick oats. I’ve included in the recipe notes an adaptation for quick cooking oats so you’re not left out in the dark if you have no oat bran in the house. I want EVERYONE to taste this delicious, easy breakfast.
Of course you can switch up the toppings to your liking. Use a different kind of berry or some fresh pitted cherries or a different kind of nut. Stir in some protein powder for extra protein. Sprinkle some chocolate chips or festive sprinkles on top for a special kid-pleasing breakfast. Maybe some toasted coconut? Banana slices? Let your imagination go wild and create your own oat bran breakfast sensation. Who says oatmeal has to be boring!
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Dark Chocolate Oatmeal w/Strawberries & Pecans
- Prep Time: 3 min
- Cook Time: 2 min
- Total Time: 5 min
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Microwave
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Who doesn’t love chocolate for breakfast? This indulgent yet healthy chocolate oatmeal satisfies your chocolate cravings, fills up your tummy and provides energy all morning long!
Ingredients
For the oat bran cereal:
- 1/4 cup oat bran
- 1/3 cup milk of choice
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- A pinch of EACH: salt & cinnamon
- 1 Tablespoon dark cocoa (such as Rodelle)
- 1 – 3 Tablespoons maple syrup or honey (or 1 Tablespoon maple syrup + stevia/sweetener to taste)
For the toppings:
- About 4 fresh strawberries, cut into small chunks
- About 2 Tablespoons toasted pecan pieces
Instructions
- Mix together the oat bran cereal ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl, then microwave on high for 1 minute, stir and microwave for 1 more minute. Stir again. Since microwave cooking times vary, if the oatmeal isn’t a pudding-like consistency, microwave another 30 seconds and stir.
- Taste and add more maple syrup or your choice of sweetener to taste. If the oat bran is too thick for your liking, add a little extra milk.
- Top with fresh strawberries and nuts and enjoy!
Notes
To use quick cooking oats in place of oat bran, reduce the amount of milk and water to 1/4 cup each. Cook time remains the same.
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Nutrition
- Calories: 254
- Fiber: 5.5g
Keywords: Oats, Oat bran, Oatmeal, Chocolate, Strawberries, Nuts, Pecans, Breakfast
Nutrition facts are an estimate, using 1 Tablespoon maple syrup & 1 % milk.
