Healthy Chocolate Oatmeal
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.I have transformed the “regular bowl of oatmeal” into the most decadent tasting breakfast thanks to my Healthy Chocolate Oatmeal recipe! It’s so easy to make, ready in just 15 minutes, and is the perfect recipe for adults and kids alike. I promise, it’s so delicious that it will get any picky eater to love oatmeal.
It’s no secret that I love my morning oatmeal, and I’m always looking for ways to spice it up to make my breakfasts more interesting and fun. I also like using oatmeal as a base to recreate some of my favorite sweet treats like banana bread oatmeal and pumpkin spice oatmeal. The possibilities really are endless.
When my kids got tired of oatmeal, I decided to try to make oatmeal that tasted like their favorite dessert at the time – chocolate. Thanks to my secret ingredient combination, I’m happy to share that this recipe was a total success. Not only does it satisfy my sweet tooth but my kids love it too!
👩🏽🍳 Why I Love This Recipe
How could I not love this healthy chocolate oatmeal? It’s impossible! It’s super satisfying and hearty with the oats, and the best part? It tastes a little like dessert. 😉 My secret ingredient is unsweetened cocoa powder combined with just a little bit of maple syrup, which makes this recipe taste sweet with only 3 grams of sugar per serving.
I appreciate how easy it is to make, and that I can whip up a huge batch for my whole family in no time. It also happens to be naturally gluten-free and easy to make vegan with just one simple swap (see my suggestions below on how to do this!)
My chocolate oats are loaded with fiber and protein, keeping me full right up until lunch, making those mid-morning snack cravings much less tempting! And did I mention that it’s healthy? This recipe is SO good for you! The oats are rich in soluble fiber, B vitamins, other vitamins and minerals. They are also low-glycemic so can improve blood sugar control, and are heart-healthy too.
The best part about this recipe is how much my kids love it, and how accessible it is for picky eaters. If your kids like chocolate milk, they likely will enjoy this chocolate oatmeal. Both of my kids were picky when it came to oatmeal, but these chocolate oats turned them into total oatmeal lovers.
And if you want to make it more decadent (and like a “dessert for breakfast” treat), you can always top their bowls with just a few dark chocolate chips. When I make it that way, my kids gobble it up!
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🥘 Ingredients
I keep it simple with just a few basic ingredients to make this heart-healthy chocolate oatmeal! Here’s what you’ll need:
Gluten Free Rolled Oats: I cook these with 1.5 cups of water. I like using rolled oats better than steel-cut oats or quick-cooking oats because it gives this breakfast a nice creamy and hearty consistency. I also like using gluten-free certified rolled oats because they’re guaranteed to not have any cross-contamination, but you can use regular rolled oats too.
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Make sure you’re choosing the unsweetened variety with just one ingredient (cocoa powder). Hot chocolate mix or sweetened cocoa will make this recipe way too sweet and it won’t be as healthy.
Milk: I used low fat organic milk, but I have also made this with non-dairy milk and it turns out great!
Mix-Ins: I like to add in chopped walnuts and ground flaxseed for a slight nutty flavor, added texture and healthy fats.
Optional Sweetener: While it’s not essential, I find it really enhances the flavor and makes it more kid-friendly. Just a drizzle of maple syrup goes a long way, you don’t need much.
Spices: A dash of cinnamon and a pinch of salt help bring out the chocolate flavor in my healthy chocolate oatmeal. Sometimes I also add a little bit of vanilla extract to bring out the sweetness even more.
Swaps
Milk: I have tested this recipe with dairy-free milk options like coconut milk, unsweetened almond milk, soy milk, and oat milk, and they all taste delicious in this dish.
Sweetener: Sometimes I switch it up with brown sugar, honey, or coconut sugar, they all work perfectly in this recipe.
🔪 How To Make
Making my Healthy Chocolate Oatmeal is always a joy, especially knowing how excited my kids are for breakfast! Here’s how I make it:
Cook Oats: I first cook my oats with 1.5 cups of water until the oats are fluffy and all the water has disappeared. The best way to do this is cook the oats for 2 minutes in the microwave, then stir oats, then cook again for 2 more minutes.
Add Spices: I like to add the cocoa powder and cinnamon to the cooked oats while they are still hot, I find they “melt” into the oatmeal better that way.
Combine: I stir until everything is fully combined, and my oats have a deep chocolatey color.
Add Nuts: Then I add the walnuts, milk (you can add as much milk as you like – I use about 1/2 a cup to give the oats a nice creamy consistency), and sweetener if using, and stir to combine.
Add Flaxseeds: I stir in the flaxseeds, and heat again for 1-2 minutes until the oatmeal is hot! I typically like super hot oatmeal but you can heat it for less time if you want just warm oats.
Serve: I always serve this bowl of chocolate oatmeal warm, and with additional toppings if I’m in the mood for it! (See my suggestions below on topping ideas for these oats).
💭 Expert Tips
My #1 Secret Tip for making my Healthy Chocolate Oatmeal recipe is to make sure you cook the oats properly, and be mindful of the water-to-oats ratio!
Too much water will make the oats mushy, too little will make the oats tough. I also like to ensure that I’ve cooked the oats long enough in the microwave until they’re soft and creamy – sometimes I have to adjust the cooking time or stir the oats and cook again, depending on the brand of oats I’m using.
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Other Oats: I recommend avoiding instant oatmeal, since it’s higher glycemic and most instant oatmeal in packets have added sugars. If you prefer to use steel cut oats, I recommend cooking them on the stovetop or the Instant Pot first, because they turn out much better that way!
- Double This Recipe: You can easily cook a double batch of these chocolate oats in the microwave, just be sure to use a larger glass container to cook them in. You can also use the stovetop to cook a large batch!
- Make It Vegan: To make this breakfast vegan, use a plant based non-dairy milk and use my vegan honey (or use maple syrup or coconut sugar).
📖 Variations
I love how versatile this healthy chocolate oatmeal recipe is! Depending on my mood, I can switch things up with different flavors to keep it exciting. Here are a few of my favorite variations to make it even more delicious.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Oatmeal: I love stirring in a tablespoon of peanut butter while cooking, it makes it so creamy and adds a nutty twist. My pumpkin seed butter also takes it to the next level.
Mocha Oatmeal: When I need an extra kick, I add a teaspoon of instant coffee to the mix. It turns my chocolate oatmeal into a rich, mocha-flavored breakfast treat.
Berry Chocolate Oatmeal: Sometimes I toss in a handful of berries while it’s cooking. The juicy bursts of fruit with the chocolate are absolutely amazing.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
I like starting my day with my healthy oatmeal, it is creamy and delicious on its own, but I love adding toppings to take it to the next level.
Toppings I Love
I like to mix it up with a variety of delicious options. Some of my favorites are nuts like almonds, peanuts, or cashews, a dollop of Vegan Nutella, or a sprinkle of dark chocolate chips. I also love adding a pinch of sea salt, my low-sugar granola for crunch, or seeds like hemp, chia, pumpkin, or sunflower seeds to pack in extra nutrients.
How I Enjoy It
I usually enjoy this recipe for breakfast alongside my favorite breakfast fruit salad and a warm cup of tea. On days when I feel like treating myself, I pair it with my homemade honey latte, it’s the perfect cozy combo.
🧊 Storage Directions
Refrigeration: Let the oats cool and transfer them to an airtight container. I typically store them in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Freezing: I personally don’t like the consistency of oats when frozen and reheated — I find that they become mushy. So I don’t recommend freezing this recipe.
Reheating: Reheat in the microwave until warmed through.
❓Recipe FAQs
What can I do if my oatmeal is too thick or too runny?
If my oatmeal turns out too thick, I just add a splash of warm water, milk, or plant-based milk and stir until it’s the perfect consistency. If it’s too runny, I let it cook a bit longer over low heat, stirring often, or I’ll mix in something like nut butter or protein powder to help thicken it up.
Can I modify this recipe for toddlers or babies?
Absolutely! For young toddlers (age 1-4 years), I recommend omitting the walnuts and using nut butter instead (assuming your child doesn’t have any nut allergies), and reducing the amount of cocoa powder, cinnamon, salt, and sweetener you use.
For babies aged 6-12 months, I recommend grinding up rolled oats in the food processor and cooking it the same way you’d cook whole oats – just to make it easier for little ones to “chew,” using breastmilk or formula instead of regular milk or plant-based milk, omitting the walnuts, sweetener, and salt, and reducing the amount of cocoa powder and cinnamon you use.
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🎥 Watch How to Make It
Healthy Chocolate Oatmeal
I have transformed the "regular bowl of oatmeal" into the most decadent tasting breakfast thanks to my Healthy Chocolate Oatmeal recipe! It's so easy to make, ready in just 15 minutes, and is the perfect recipe for adults and kids alike. I promise, it's so delicious that it will get any picky eater to love oatmeal.
Servings: 1 serving
Calories: 293.5kcal
Ingredients
- ½ cup gluten-free rolled oats
- 1½ cups water
- 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ cup low-fat organic milk or any unsweetened, plant based milk
- 1 tbsp chopped walnuts
- 1 tbsp ground flax seed
- ½ tsp maple syrup, honey, coconut sugar, or brown sugar (optional)
- 1 pinch salt
Equipment
Instructions
- Cook the oats with 1½ cups of water and the pinch of salt until the oats are fluffy and all the water has disappeared (I do this by cooking it for 2 minutes in the microwave, stirring, and cooking it for 2 more minutes, and then letting it sit for another 5 minutes.)
- Add the cocoa powder and cinnamon to the cooked oats while they are still hot.
- Stir until everything is fully combined, and your oats have a deep chocolatey color.
- Add the walnuts, and the milk (you can add as much milk as you like – I use about ½ a cup to give the oats a nice creamy consistency)
- Add the honey and stir to combine.
- Stir in the flaxseeds, and heat again for 1-2 minutes until the oatmeal is the temperature you like!
Notes
- My #1 Secret Tip for making my Healthy Chocolate Oatmeal recipe is to make sure you cook the oats properly, and be mindful of the water-to-oats ratio! Too much water will make the oats mushy, too little will make the oats tough. I also like to ensure that I’ve cooked the oats long enough in the microwave until they’re soft and creamy – sometimes I have to adjust the cooking time or stir the oats and cook again, depending on the brand of oats I’m using.
- I recommend avoiding instant oatmeal, since it’s higher glycemic and most instant oatmeal in packets have added sugars. If you prefer to use steel cut oats, I recommend cooking them on the stovetop or the Instant Pot first, because they turn out much better that way!
- You can easily cook a double batch of these chocolate oats in the microwave, just be sure to use a larger glass container to cook them in. You can also use the stovetop to cook a large batch!
- To make this breakfast vegan, use a plant based non-dairy milk and use my vegan honey (or use maple syrup or coconut sugar).
Nutrition
Calories: 293.5kcal | Protein: 12.1g | Fat: 11.6g | Saturated Fat: 1.6g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 209mg | Potassium: 242mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 10g
Hi Anjali,
Oh no – I was totally fooled by the teaser all the way to the end!…but can’t you add extra steps to really make a healthier oatmeal based brownie substitute? e.g. bake the oatmeal (maybe with a bit of flour and egg or something) to make a healthier real brownie substitute? Do you think this could work?
Worth a try I reckon!
Haha! Oh no – I’m sorry 🙂 But yes – you can totally create a healthier brownie recipe if you grind up oatmeal into a flour and use that for half of the white flour used in brownies. You can also totally makeover brownies using my recipe (scroll all the way to the bottom of this list: https://74.220.215.66/~pickyeat/five-healthy-valentines-day-desserts/) – let me know if you end up trying it and how it turns out!
Hi Anjali,
This looks great! I just found you through Oh She Glows and am so glad I did! I can’t wait to explore your recipes more. By the way, which cocoa powder did you find at Whole Foods that you thought tasted so good?
Hi Lauren! Thanks so much – it’s so nice to meet you! 🙂 For the cocoa powder, I don’t remember the exact name, but it was the organic, raw, unsweetened cocoa powder in a clear upright ziploc bag that was next to the other raw foods products near the produce section. I just ran out of it, so the next time I do groceries I’ll take a picture and will Tweet it 🙂 I hope that helps!!
I love oatmeal and I love chocolate so I’m going to give this a go!
Woohoo! Glad to hear it Fiona! Can’t wait to hear what you think!
Nice recipe. I love a simple brownie recipe which is easy for the kids 🙂
I also like the below traditional brownie recipe.
https://www.wascene.com/food-drink/perfect-chocolate-brownie-recipe/
Thanks for sharing,
Jane
mine did not come out this way, btw am I missing a step or it your instructions did not specify if this needs to be baked or refrigirated?
Hi Ivana! In the directions in the post, I mentioned that I microwave the oatmeal to cook it. But you can also cook it on a stovetop over low heat, in a slow cooker, or even just by putting the oats in a bowl, pouring 1.5 cups of boiling water over them, and letting it sit until the oats have soaked up all of the water. Then you just mix in the toppings, add the milk and reheat in the microwave if needed. Hope that helps!
Hi, I did that but it just did not turn out right. Will try again. Cheers
Oh weird! If you want you can email me the exact steps you followed (at pickyeats@gmail.com) – and I can help you “troubleshoot” the recipe over email 🙂 I definitely want to help make sure it turns out right the next time you make it, because it is so delicious!!
I just used leftover crockpot steel cut oatmeal to make this, and it worked great! I did add some almond butter for extra creaminess…and some cacao nibs. (Why not, right?) Thanks for the recipe!
Oooh I love steel cut oats – they are awesome! Seriously – why not use almond butter + cacao nibs!! What great additions! So glad you liked the recipe 🙂
That looks delicious to me!
Thanks!! I’m sure you’ll love it when you try it!
What a fantastic dessert for breakfast! I might have to make this for tomorrow morning 🙂
Yay! Let me know how you like it!
Wow… My mom was a beast then! She’s been making me and my bro chocolate oatmeal and chocolate grits since 1992. lol. Word.
Haha wow! That is awesome. Your mom was totally a pioneer – go her! 🙂
Now this is a breakfast I can get behind! So delicious and creative!
It definitely gives you something to look forward to in the morning! 🙂
Now that’s smart adding cocoa powder to the oatmeal. I might try this with my crockpot oatmeal.
Crockpot oatmeal is the best! I love that you can just leave it for hours cooking away. Hope you enjoy this!
From a Non-Oatmeal Eater it looks too good not to give it a try!
hehe glad you think so! My husband said the same thing 🙂
I’m not usually a fan of oatmeal, but this looks pretty good!
Thanks! If you do end up trying the recipe, I’d love to know if it converted you to enjoy oatmeal!
If you want more protein I’ve also used a scoop of chocolate protein powder…DELICIOUS!
Oh what a great idea!! I’ll have to try that next time. I bet it makes it even more chocolatey and delicious 🙂
Jeralyn, did you use the protein powered instead of the cocoa or just as an added ingredient?
Yum yum yum! Oh my goodness this looks amazing. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
No problem! I’m sure you will love it!
yum! i wanna try!
hehe it is seriously an addicting breakfast treat 🙂 let me know how you like it!