Sometimes the same old, same old just won’t do…

And that’s when I opt for this absolutely epic, decadent (without being overly sweet) dessert-style breakfast that combines four of my great loves: oats, dark chocolate, fresh oranges, and sweet cherries. The combination is an explosion of flavor and feels like such a treat, but actually, it only takes about 6-7 minutes to prepare from start to finish AND it’s full of nutrients to keep you feeling energized throughout your morning.

Special enough for a holiday, easy enough for a random Tuesday, this Chocolate Orange Oatmeal is a game changer and I can’t wait for you to try it!

• 1/2 cup quick cooking oats

• 1 cup water

• 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

• 2 tbsp cacao powder

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 pinch of salt

• 1 orange

Toppings:

• vegan yogurt, unsweetened plain

• frozen cherries

• almond butter

• maple syrup

• cacao nibs

In a saucepan, add water and almond milk. Bring to a boil, stir in the oats, and reduce heat to medium low. Stir occasionally and cook for 5 minutes.

In the meantime, zest the orange, and then cut it in half. 🍊

Add the cherries and the juice from half of the orange in a small pan over medium heat and cook for 2-3 minutes, then set aside.

Return to the oats and stir in the juice from the remaining half of the orange, plus the cacao, vanilla, and salt.

Cook for 2 more minutes or until thickened.

To serve, transfer the chocolatey oats to a bowl and top with a generous dollop of vegan yogurt. Spoon the warmed cherries on top, add a drizzle of both almond butter and maple syrup, and finish with a sprinkle of cacao nibs and orange zest.

If you make this recipe, let me know in the comments or tag me in a picture on Instagram so I can give you a shoutout on my Stories!

↠ My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikkivegan/

Adjust the sweetness as you see fit by adding maple syrup on top or stirring it in while the oatmeal cooks 🙂