Chocolate Steel Cut Oats

This preparation of steel cut oats tastes like chocolate pudding to me. Not only is it delicious but it is super healthy. I make one batch and have enough for three breakfast bowls that I heat up with a splash of almond milk in the microwave. While I prefer this chocolate preparation made with oat groats, most people are more familiar with steel cut oats. I highly recommend the oat groat version (oats before they have been cut into steel cut oats) that I call Chocolate Groatmeal and have provided it at the end of this page (scroll down).

Serves 3-4

Ingredients

• 1 cup steel cut oats

• 3 cups water

• 1/2-1 whole banana, chopped

• Pinch of salt

• 1cup unsweetened plant milk (I like almond)

• 2-3 medjool dates, chopped

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 2 tbsp raw cacao powder (or any cocoa powder)

• 1 tsp chai seasoning (or spice of choice)

• Optional toppings: berries, chia seeds, cacao nibs, pomegranate arils, banana, nuts, peanut butter drizzle, unsweetened plant yogurt, coconut flakes, etc.

Instructions:

1. Place water, pinch of salt, and steel cut oats in a pot and bring to a boil. Add banana and turn heat down to simmer. Cook until water is almost cooked out, about 15 minutes.

2. Add unsweetened plant milk, chopped dates, vanilla, cacao powder, and chai seasoning and cook an additional 10-15 minutes or until plant milk is cooked down and mixture is thick. Make sure to stir occasionally to keep oats from sticking to bottom of the pot.

3. Scoop into serving bowl and top with additional banana, berries, a sprinkle of chia seeds and cacao nibs, and a dollop of yogurt.

4. Store leftovers in fridge and re-heat in microwave with a splash of plant milk.

Note: The banana helps to sweeten the oats-if you choose to omit the banana, you will need to add an additional 1-2 dates or 1-2 tbsp maple syrup.

Chocolate Groatmeal

Ingredients:

• 1 cup oat groats, soaked overnight in bowl of water

• 3 cups water

• 1/2-1 whole banana, chopped

• Pinch of salt

• 1cup unsweetened plant milk (I like almond)

• 2-3 medjool dates, chopped

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 2 tbsp raw cacao powder (or any cocoa powder)

• 1 tsp chai seasoning (or spice of choice)

• Optional toppings: berries, chia seeds, cacao nibs, pomegranate arils, banana, nuts, peanut butter drizzle, unsweetened plant yogurt, coconut flakes, etc.

Instructions:

Follow instructions for steel cut oats except soak the oat groats in water (cover with about 2 inches of water) overnight. Drain and rinse the oats then place in pot with 3 cups water and continue with above instructions.