I’ve unashamedly pilfered a recipe for Creamy Cocoa Oatmeal from an issue of Runner’s World magazine and I’m also going to nick what they had to say about the recipe:
Stick-to-your-ribs steel-cut oats are packed with betaglucan. According to a 2011 Nutrition Journal study, this soluble fiber can help slash LDL (or so-called “bad” cholesterol) levels. Research shows cocoa anti-oxidants help relax blood vessels, ease blood pressure, and improve circulation. Ground flaxseed is rich in omega-3s, which reduce inflammation in arteries.
Of course I made some modifications: I soaked the oats overnight to reduce the cooking time; subbed almond milk for dairy milk; added Dandy Blend for coffee flavor; used applesauce instead of a mashed banana (I didn’t have a decently ripe specimen) and ignored the addition of nutmeg (which I’ve never liked). I call mine:
Mocha Steel-Cut Oats
Serves 4
1 1/2 cups steel cut oats
2 cups water
1 cup nut milk
4 oz. unsweetened applesauce
1 1/2 tbsp. cacao powder (or cocoa powder)
1 tbsp. Dandy Blend, optional (or use some fresh-brewed coffee for some of the water or milk)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp. maple syrup (or your favorite sweetener, to taste)
dried tart cherries
sliced bananas
chopped walnuts
cacao nibs, optional
Place the steel cut oats in a medium-sized bowl and cover with water. Let sit overnight.
In the morning, drain the oats then place in a medium-sized saucepan and add 2 cups water and 1 cup nut milk. Bring to a boil then simmer gently for 10-15 minutes. Stir in the cacao powder, Dandy Blend, cinnamon, applesauce and maple syrup. Continue to cook until the oats are soft and creamy, adding more liquid as necessary.
To serve, top with cherries, bananas, walnuts and cacao nibs.
One year ago today: My Sally Field Moment
One year and one day ago today: The Sugar Cookie Challenge
Mmmmm, very comforting! I knew I was going to like this when I saw your categories at the top: “Breakfast, chocolate, hot cereals”.
Haha! Yes – the best of categories. If I’d put “tea” up there, it would’ve been even more appealing
!
Totally agree, Lorna! Heaven in a bowl. Is it legal to have this as breakfast?
Wow! What a decadent breakfast. I love it!
I love the little bites of cacao
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Stomach is growling just lookin at this one
That is about the best endorsement for any food!
I wonder if you could just throw it all in a slow cooker overnight? Looks great!
Yes – you can!! And I’ve done it quite often. Be sure to spray the inside of the slow cooker w/ a bit of oil otherwise the cleanup is a real pain
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I have a canister of steel cut oats, a tub of raisins and a jar of rice nectar at my desk at work… I can vouch for the awesome stomach filling properties of a breakfast including whole oats. I need more ingredients though.
I always suspected you were brilliant!
Good riff babe! I love the runner’s world recipes! Some of the best part of the magazine for sure. I’m still in shock about Oscar Pistorious. He’s one of my favorite running heroes. WTH?!?
I KNOW?! Talk about major meltdown! It’s really hard to understand, shocking.
I just recently let my RW subscription lapse, but I will miss the recipes.
Unfathomable. Totally rocked by the news. My subscription just makes me feel guilty at the moment. I’ve been tucking it away so I don’t have to look at it until I’m literally up and running again.
I figured I needed a little break from RW – it’s kind of the same info over and over, (how many shoe guides to I really need?) but I really like their deeper stories. You’ll get back after it – once you HEAL UP!
ah I still need to try that dandy blend! I’ve been drinking dandelion root tea infusions lately, super yum/cleansing. Your mocha oats sound like a treat.
It adds a nice warm flavor to the oats (and other things) without being overwhelmingly COFFEE. Never heard of dandelion root tea – must look into that, thanks!
This sounds amazing! I wonder if it would work overnight in the slow cooker – just tossing everything in at bedtime?
It works! When I make steel oats in the slow cooker I use 1 1/2 cups oats and 6 cups liquid (I usually use some water, some nut milk). Throw in dried fruit, crystallized ginger – if you add cinnamon, my advice is to hold off until the morning (and stir in before serving) as it tends to form a crust otherwise.
This is so happening. I think I have most of these ingredients in the house right now, even!
It looks like a real morning treat, Annie!! I make raw food oat meal in the morning, it is so satisfying and delicious – I must try your recipe
Happy weekend!
I have to say I was a little skeptical about chocolate and coffee in my oats, but that looks incredibly delicious! I am LOVING your photos!
Give it a go! It’s neither overwhelmingly chocolatey or coffee-ish. Just a nice hint of each!
These would go great with…wait for it..a cup of..COFFEE! I bet you had no idea I was going to say that! YUM!
When you are right, you’re right!
Now THAT is what a wholesome breakfast should look like! The only problem that I have with this recipe is that I have been totally unable to find a source of steel cut oats here in Tasmania! I can’t even buy whole groats! What kind of place IS THIS!!! I used them repeatedly in Western Australia to make oat milk and propper Scottish porridge but here, I have to roll with “rolled” (sorry about the pun…it makes it more bearable
). The craziest thing is that we actually have a town here in Tasmania called “Oatlands”…the name derives from its entire purpose and oats are grown around this area and STILL I can’t find steel cut oats! It would be prohibitive to import them from the mainland (cost wise) and so I might just have to grow my own to avail myself of this wonderful wholesome foodstuff. I live in the backwaters! Consider me Australia’s Florida 
I always look forward to your comments, dear Fran! This one made me smile. To be without steel cut oats?! Why, it’s inhumane!! Does Oatlands (love that) export all of their goods or simply roll the heck out of everything
?
Tasmanian’s are a numpty lot Annie…Oatlands is defunct but they have an amazing grain mill (windmill) there that supports a small sourdough bakery that has amazing product. Its a pity they don’t produce steel cut oats. You can buy bags of their flour, just no oats
. The locals tend to be VERY literal with names… one local area that I haven’t yet quite come to terms with it’s name is “Chicken Fat Flats”…er…NO! 
Seriously, they named an area “Chicken Fat Flats”…I rest my case Tasmania! 
Don’t like nutmeg???? *GASP* Hehehe but seriously, this sounds delicious without it
What is wrong with me?! It’s a family trait – beyond my control!
This looks like the perfect breakfast to me! I’ve yet to try the Dandy Blend, but I will!
Oh you gotta! It’s yummy!
Looks like a great one to try this next week. Keep ‘em coming!
Thanks, Morgan!
I don’t like nutmet either!
Phew! I don’t feel like such an outcast anymore
!
Now, this is the sort of breakfast that i love yto make at home too! Great in this colder winter!
Yum!
Thanks so much for your hand-painted card: it was beautiful!! I received it today with the mail!
xxx
There’s nothing like the taste of mocha first thing in the morning! This looks so great!
Gets the motor running, for sure!
Never thought to combine chocolate and/or coffee in my oats!! Oh my you may have changed my starting point!! Wow…
Yeah, go!!
I just love you. That is all.
A simple declaration of love is always welcome
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I’ve been trying to hunt down a recipe for steel cut oats recently, as I’ve got no clue on how to eat them and want to try some out as opposed to my regular rolled kind. Was also cool to read about the betagluten, didn’t know that before! Thank you so much, I’ll be trying this recipe out asap!
Most of the time I eat the rolled – just easier – but the steel cut are really wonderful. Totally different texture. Definitely give them a try!