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Chocolate Oatmeal

Name: Chocolate Oatmeal
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup rolled oats; 1 cup plant-based milk; 1 cup water; 2-3 tbsp cocoa powder; 1-2 tbsp maple syrup; 1/2 tsp vanilla extract; 1/2 tsp cinnamon; 1/8 tsp salt

Published: Jan 17, 2021 · Modified: Oct 6, 2021 by Kaylie Grace · 43 Comments

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Chocolate oatmeal is a quick, easy, and delicious breakfast recipe! This thick and creamy oatmeal is made with basic ingredients like rolled oats, cocoa powder, and plant-based milk. The recipe is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and made in 10 minutes. It tastes like a rich and chocolatey dessert, but it’s healthy enough for breakfast!

a bowl of chocolate oatmeal surrounded by small white bowls filled with cocoa powder, maple syrup, chocolate chips, and rolled oats

You know those times when the cravings hit and you feel like you could pretty much eat an entire chocolate cake? Yeah, me too. But I am proud to say that I have a solution for the both of us: rich, creamy, chocolatey oatmeal!

This chocolate oatmeal recipe is my go-to whenever I’m craving dessert but want to stick to a healthy diet. They’re comforting, satisfying, filling, and delicious. The recipe tastes like an indulgent treat but it’s made with wholesome, guilt-free ingredients. That’s right – you can now enjoy dessert for breakfast with these 10-minute chocolate oats. What better way to guarantee a great day ahead than to start it with a chocolate-filled breakfast?

These chocolate oats are adapted from my foolproof Peanut Butter Oatmeal. It’s a very similar recipe, but cocoa powder is added and peanut butter is subtracted. If you love them, you will adore my Chocolate Banana Baked Oatmeal and Chocolate Overnight Oats too.

This chocolate oatmeal is:

Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and oil-free
Rich, chocolatey, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup
A quick and easy breakfast recipe // Made in 10 minutes or less
A one-pot recipe that’s made with pantry staples
Healthy enough for breakfast but delicious enough for dessert!

a wooden spoon scooping into a bowl of chocolate oatmeal

What ingredients are in chocolate oats?

Oats: There are a few varieties of oatmeal available in grocery stores, including steel cut, rolled, quick, and instant oats. However, this recipes uses rolled oats. They’re packed with fiber, a healthy amount of plant-based protein, and several nutrients.
Plant-based milk: Use any type of plant-based milk. I suggest almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk.
Water: The liquid portion of this recipe includes half plant-based milk and half water. Although some recipes will use all milk or all water, I have found the best results to be half of each ingredient.
Cocoa powder: Cocoa powder is the key ingredient for the rich chocolate flavor. You can also use cacao powder instead.
Maple syrup: If you have a sweet tooth, you may want to sweeten the oatmeal. I recommend using a natural sweetener, like real maple syrup.
Vanilla: A dash of vanilla extract balances the cocoa. It adds a delicious flavor and aroma, too.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon contributes a nice warm flavor. It’s also an incredibly healthy spice.
Salt: A pinch of salt makes all the difference. Don’t skip this one.

a marble and wood cutting board topped with bowls of rolled oats, cocoa powder, almond milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt

How to make this chocolate oatmeal recipe

For the full ingredients list and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to view the recipe card below.

When I called this a quick and easy oatmeal recipe, I wasn’t exaggerating. It’s made with a handful of ingredients in under 10 minutes! First, combine all of the ingredients in a small pot. This includes rolled oats, cocoa powder, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla extract, salt, plant-based milk, and water.

Next, transfer the pot to a stove. Cook the oatmeal on medium heat, stirring frequently, until thick and creamy. This should take 6-8 minutes. Be sure to stir the oatmeal often in order to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

rolled oats, cocoa powder, almond milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla extract in a small pot

Healthy ways to sweeten oatmeal

Sweetening your oatmeal is an entirely optional step. If you tend to have a sweet tooth, you will most likely want to include a sweetener. The classic way is adding a dash of sugar or brown sugar. As written, the recipe uses maple syrup for a light, healthier, subtly-sweet flavor. However, there are several other ways to sweeten oatmeal.

How to sweeten oatmeal without sugar:

To naturally sweeten your oatmeal, mix in any of the following ingredients. They can be added while the oats are cooking or immediately afterwards.

Mashed banana (make sure it’s overripe)
Applesauce
Maple syrup (use real maple syrup)
Chopped medjool dates
Coconut nectar
Agave nectar
Date syrup
Honey (if you are not vegan)
Coconut sugar (this is unrefined)
Stevia (a safe artificial sweetener)

a marble and wood cutting board topped with vegan chocolate oatmeal and small bowls filled with the ingredients

What are the best toppings?

Once your chocolate oats are cooked, don’t forget to add the toppings! There are countless options to choose from. I’ve listed my favorite ones below.

Fruit: Add fresh fruit, like sliced banana, blueberries, strawberries, chopped pear, chopped apples, raspberries, or blackberries.
Coconut: Chocolate and coconut are a popular pairing. Sprinkle coconut flakes or coconut shreds on top for a tropical flavor.
Chocolate: Toss a handful of dark chocolate chips over the oats for a double chocolate flavor. Alternatively, use stevia-sweetened chocolate chips for a sugar-free option.
Nut butter: Choose from peanut butter, almond butter, and cashew butter. If you need a nut-free option, use sunflower seed butter or tahini instead.
Granola: Granola adds a crunchy texture.
Nuts: Toss a handful of crushed nuts on top, like peanuts, almonds, pecans, walnuts, or cashews.
Seeds: Choose from hemp seeds, chia seeds, flaxseeds, and pumpkin seeds.
Dried fruit: If you like dried fruit, add dried blueberries, cranberries, Goji berries, dried mulberries, or raisins on top.

a white bowl filled with chocolate oatmeal and topped with banana, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, and cacao nibs

More vegan oatmeal recipes

If you try this Chocolate Oatmeal, please let me know your thoughts by leaving a rating and comment below! Ready for more? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Instagram and YouTube!