Chocolate Oatmeal Recipe

This chocolate oatmeal recipe is easy to make and is always a family favorite.

If you don’t mind being fooled into thinking that you are having dessert for breakfast, then this may be the oatmeal you want to try. Its chocolate flavors are delicious, sweet, and wonderfully healthy.

This oatmeal reminds me a bit of brownie batter, though not quite as intense in its level of chocolate intensity. It’s a great recipe for meal prep, and you can make enough for a few days at a time, add different additions to each portion, and enjoy chocolate oatmeal all week long. You can also freeze this in muffin tins with different additions to keep things interesting. Just be careful of which toppings you choose to freeze. Not all foods freeze well.

Why Eat Oatmeal?

The benefits of oatmeal are numerous. Filled with fiber, oats are great for gut health as well as heart health.

WebMD gives the following list of benefits:

• Lowers blood sugar levels
• Provides antioxidants
• Promotes healthy bacteria in your gut
• Helps you to feel full to manage your weight
• Eases constipation
• Relieves skin itching and irritation
• Lowers your chance of colon cancer

Is Flavored Oatmeal Healthy?

It depends on what you flavor it with. If you use healthy ingredients, then yes! It’s perfectly healthy. The only time it’s not really healthy is when you use store-bought flavored oatmeal that is flavored with lots of processed sugar and other ingredients.

Can This Be Made Vegan? Or Gluten-Free? Or Dairy-Free?

Absolutely! With just a few adjustments, you can make this any way you need.

• Gluten-free – Make sure you purchase gluten-free oats and double-check the other ingredients as well.
• Dairy-free – This recipe is naturally dairy-free, but if you choose to cook your oats with milk, simply use dairy-free milk.
• Vegan – This recipe is naturally vegan as long as you use a vegan sweetener.

Healthy Sweeteners For Oatmeal

With this recipe, and pretty much any oatmeal, you can use a large range of sweeteners. The most healthy and clean being:

• Honey
• Maple syrup
• Sucanat
• Coconut sugar
• Monk fruit
• Pure stevia

Can You Use Milk Instead Of Water To Cook Oatmeal?

You can use milk in place of water to cook oatmeal in equal amounts Some suggested kinds of milk are:

• Dairy milk
• Unsweetened almond milk
• Unsweetened oat milk
• Unsweetened cashew milk
• Coconut milk
• Any non-dairy milk

What Are The Best Toppings For Chocolate Oatmeal?

• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Raspberries
• Apples
• Oranges
• Mandarins
• Peaches
• Nectarines
• Dark chocolate chips
• Walnuts
• Almonds
• Pecans
• Peanuts
• Nut butter – any kind
• Banana or even mashed banana
• Vanilla extract
• Pumpkin pie spice
• Cinnamon
• Chia seeds
• Salt – Just a pinch to bring out the sweetness.

About The Ingredients

Water – Make sure it’s at least filtered. You don’t want to flavor your oatmeal with chlorine.

Traditional oats – Do not use quick-cooking oats. These should be traditional oats, rolled oats, or old-fashioned oats. Steel cut oats could work here, but I haven’t tried it.

Unsweetened cocoa powder – Make sure it’s just cocoa powder. Not hot chocolate mix or sweetened cocoa powder.

Maple syrup – or honey – add sweetener to taste.

Chopped strawberries – or other addition. See suggestions above.

How To Make This Chocolate Oatmeal Recipe

Put the water in a medium pot and bring it to a boil.

Stir in the oats and cook until done, stirring occasionally.

Stir in the unsweetened cocoa powder.

Stir in the sweetener.

Chop up any fruit or other additions you want to add and layer the oats and extras in a cup or bowl.

Serve and enjoy.

How To Store Chocolate Oatmeal

Keep this in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Freezing Chocolate Oatmeal

This can easily be frozen, but preferably without any fresh fruit additions. Dry additions will freeze with this just fine.

Reheating Chocolate Oatmeal

If frozen, thaw in the fridge overnight first. From cold, it’s easiest to microwave this for a minute or two. To warm on the stovetop, you’ll want a small pot and a bit of milk to refresh the oats and keep the liquid balance as it warms.

Recipe Supplies

For this recipe, you’ll need a medium pot, a wooden spoon, and something to serve your oats in. Click any of the images below to be taken to that product on Amazon. (Affiliate links)

More Healthy Oatmeal Recipes

• Carrot Cake Oatmeal
• Apple Pie Oatmeal
• Peanut Butter Oatmeal
• Buttery Cinnamon Oatmeal

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Chocolate Oatmeal Recipe Card + Video