Add a little magic to your breakfast with this recipe for Hot Chocolate Oatmeal! Creamy, rich, and satisfying, this chocolate oatmeal recipe will make both the big and little kids happy!
I love oatmeal! From slow cooker oatmeal to instant pot oatmeal, to overnight oats, oatmeal is my go-to for breakfast. But this Hot Chocolate Oatmeal is just downright fun!
If you are looking for a way to get kids out of bed and excited for breakfast even on early school mornings, this recipe for Hot Chocolate Oatmeal is sure to do the trick.
While not as decadent as my recipe for Homemade Hot Chocolate, this Hot Chocolate Oatmeal still feels like an indulgent way to start the day!
This oatmeal is rich and decadent and filled with chocolate, but yet is also packed full of fiber, calcium, whole grains, and antioxidants.
Chocolate oatmeal is seriously a win-win. Healthy and Decadent!
Notes On Ingredients
- Oats: This recipe for chocolate oatmeal works using quick-cooking and old-fashioned oats, but do not use steel-cut oats. Also, be sure your oats are gluten-free if needed.
- Milk: Use any milk you like for this chocolate oatmeal. I have used regular milk, coconut milk, and almond milk with great success.
- Cocoa Powder: Use pure cocoa powder, not hot chocolate powder.
- Sweetener: You can opt to use sugar, maple syrup, or honey to sweeten this recipe for oatmeal. Personally, I find that this oatmeal recipe does not need much sugar added at all, especially when topped with marshmallows, but of course, you can adjust the sweetness to the level your family prefers.
- Marshmallows (optional): Hot chocolate and marshmallows are a match made in heaven and certainly make breakfast a bit more fun.
How to Make Chocolate Oatmeal
- In order to help the cocoa powder fully dissolve into the oatmeal, mix the cocoa powder with a bit of water until smooth. This will keep your oatmeal smooth.
- Mix the chocolate mixture, oats, milk, and maple syrup (or sugar) together in a medium saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a low boil, then immediately reduce the heat to a simmer. When making chocolate oatmeal, you need to be careful to not scorch the milk while cooking. To avoid this pitfall, cook over low heat and stir frequently.
- Once the oatmeal has thickened and the oats are softened, turn off the heat. Stir in the vanilla and dish out and top with marshmallows.
More Oatmeal Recipes
- Baked Sweet Potato Oatmeal
- Instant Pot Oatmeal
- Peanut Butter & Jelly Baked Oatmeal Cups
- Baked Banana Oatmeal
- Baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal
If you enjoyed this recipe for Hot Chocolate Oatmeal, I would love for you to leave a review and comment below.
Hot Chocolate Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 3 cups milk of your choice
- 1 cups water
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup cup maple syrup use ⅓ cup if like really sweet
- 2 cups oats quick-cooking or old-fashioned
- dash of salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- marshmallows if desired
Instructions
- Mix together the cocoa powder in ½ cup water until the cocoa powder is dissolved and smooth.
- Add the cocoa powder mixture to a medium saucepan, along with the milk, remaining ½ cup of water, and maple syrup. Bring the mixture to a boil, while whisking frequently, to not scorch the milk.
- Stir in the oats and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook for 1 minute if using quick-cooking oats, and 5 minutes for old-fashioned oats, or until the oats are thickened and creamy.
- Turn off the and stir in the vanilla and a dash of salt. Top with marshmallows if desired.
Alice
I have always enjoyed starting the morning with chocolate, its a great way to wake up and such a lovely treat! 😉 This is a fun way to get kids to appreciate oatmeal! Mine dont care for it but they LOVE hot cocoa so I'll have to give this a try!
Kristen Chidsey
I hope it makes your kids believers!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland
OMG I could have gotten my kids to eat oatmeal with this recipe!!
Kristen Chidsey
Ha!! yes!!
jenn @ peas and crayons
Ohmygosh it's like s'mores in oatmeal form! YES!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Jenn. It is definitely a fun way to start the day.
JayanthiSindhiya
Cocoa in oatmeal that's a fantastic idea,cool one
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks so much!
Donna
Hello......wondering if you could give approximate measurements of each of the ingredients? Thanks in advance!
Kristen Chidsey
Oh my!! Looks like the recipe was cut off. Just fixed!! Sorry about that Donna!
Karen @ Karen's Kitchen Stories
I have no doubt that the kids loved this! What a cool idea!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Karen!
Kristina
I love adding chocolate to our oatmeal! I haven't added the marshmallows though, next time...
Kristen Chidsey
Marshmallows bring out the kid in everyone!
Mischa @ Accidental Farm Wife
I'm not usually a big fan of oatmeal, but this caught my attention. I can definitely get into hot cocoa oatmeal!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Mischa! I hope this version of oatmeal makes you a believer!
Chandra@The Plaid & Paisley Kitchen
Cocoa in Oatmeal?! LOVE!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Chandra!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction
I would love to start my morning with a bowl of this oatmeal!
Kristen Chidsey
I made this again for my kiddos this morning--and they were all smiles (even though they had to go back to school!)