Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal

Do you love the taste of chocolate peanut butter cups, but not the added sugar, fat, and calories? Then this chocolate, peanut butter oatmeal is just for you.

Three ingredients (and water are all you need): old-fashioned rolled oats, cocoa powder, peanut butter, and water. I put a banana on mine, because who doesn’t love a banana with chocolate or a banana and peanut butter? And as a dietitian, it adds a potassium rich fruit to my day.

One serving cooks up quickly in the microwave. Start with ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats. Oatmeal is a whole grain and provides thiamin (vit B1), magnesium, phosphorus, and manganese. Oats are also a great source of soluble fiber, which can help lower blood cholesterol. It takes about 3 grams of soluble fiber daily to get the cholesterol lowering effects. 1/2 cup oats (about 1 cup when cooked) provides 4 grams of total fiber with about half that as soluble fiber.

Now add about 1 Tbs cocoa powder. The amount is up to you – the more powder the more chocolaty your oats will be. I also add a little pinch of salt which helps cut the bitterness of the cocoa. Cocoa powder provides an intense chocolate flavor without the calories, sugar, and fat found in chocolate chips, bars, or melts.

Next pour in 1 cup of water and give everything stir. Tip: stir the cocoa and oats together before adding the water. This helps keep the cocoa from “floating” on the water and everything mixes together better.

Put mixture in microwave for 2-3 minutes. Stir every 30-45 seconds to keep the mixture from bubbling over. Tip: put the mixture in a large bowl, so there is room for bubbling up. I use a 4-cup plastic mixing bowl for one serving of oats. When oats are cooked add 1 Tbs peanut butter, creamy or chunky – it’s up to you. Give everything a stir and watch the peanut butter melt into the warm oats.

​Top with a banana if desired. Not only does this add a potassium rich fruit to my day it adds fiber too. I also add milk to my oats before eating – it takes the dish from dark to milk chocolate. Yum! Who knew breakfast could be so decadent and delicious.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oats 
(click title for downloadable recipe card)
 ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 Tbs cocoa powder
Pinch salt
1 cup water
1 Tbs Peanut Butter
1 banana (optional)
 
Put oats, cocoa, and salt in a large (about 4 cup) plastic mixing bowl. Stir dry ingredients together. Add 1 cup water and stir. Place in microwave on high for 2-3 minutes stirring every 30-45 seconds. Time may vary. Stir peanut butter into cooked mixture. Top with fruit and milk.