National Breakfast Month: Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal (No Added Sugar!)

Funny story. I keep the oats on top of my fridge. You know, in that card board-ish cylinder container with a plastic lid. I reached up to pull them down to make this oatmeal recipe. I was completely shocked to get a face full of oats. I had my glasses on, so I didn’t get oats in my eyes, but they were in my nose and I was spitting oats out of my mouth. I pulled my shirt away from my body and about a half a cup of oats fell to the floor. It took me by surprise and I just stood there stunned for a minute. And then I just stood there laughing all by myself in the kitchen. I guess the lid wasn’t on tight, but I think I need to find a new place for the oats.

This whole grain breakfast has no added sugar and no butter or oil (unless you count the peanut butter). It is rich and flavorful and I think it tastes like a chocolate peanut butter cookie. Its pretty thick, so if you like thin oatmeal, add a little more milk. Make sure you eat it hot!

I think it feeds one really hungry person. I can’t ever finish it on my own. Yes, I have put chia seeds in every breakfast recipe this month. I am a little chia happy. I love those little guys. To learn more about the benefits of chia seeds, click here. They are a little spendy, but a little goes a long way. I bought a small mason jar full from the bulk section of Whole Foods for a few dollars and it has lasted me for about 4 months of throwing a scoop in here and a scoop in there, and I still have about half the jar! So, yes, a big bag is kind of spendy, but it will last for a long time.

PRINTABLE RECIPE

Ingredients:

• 1/2 C. old fashioned oats
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp. chia seeds
• 1 tsp. cocoa powder
• 1/3 C. oat milk, unsweetened 
• 2 TBSP. natural peanut butter (add more if you like)
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 banana, mashed
• 1 TBSP chopped peanuts or sugar free chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix together the oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, and chia seeds.

2. In a separate bowl, mix together the milk, peanut butter, vanilla, and  mashed banana. Mix in the dry mixture until just combined.

3. Transfer mixture to a small bake-able dish, like a ramekin or Pyrex. Bake for 18 minutes and top with chopped peanuts or chocolate chips. Eat while it’s hot!

P.S. Can you see my reflection in the spoon in the top picture? How embarrassing!

By Edible Experiments