This vegan chocolate strawberry oatmeal is a quick and easy oatmeal to make with only real-food ingredients. A delicious way to eat those early, less-sweet berries (and wonderful with any strawberries, of course - even frozen!). Gluten-free, oil-free, refined sugar-free, and quick, ready in about 15 minutes.
As we’re heading toward June, we’re relishing the warmer weather around here. And yet, there are still cooler and even sometimes April shower kind of days. On those mornings, this is the breakfast I reach for: vegan chocolate strawberry oatmeal. It’s rich and flavorful, and it makes great use of those early strawberries that maybe aren’t quite ripe but are perfect for a strawberry sauce. It may look a bit fancy and involved, but this oatmeal actually comes together quickly and easily. It is such dreamy comfort on those cooler mornings.
Enjoy year round
This oatmeal is so good made with fresh strawberries in the spring and summer, but you can also use frozen strawberries to make it any time of year. Simply thaw the strawberries just enough to chop them and you’re good to go.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Rolled oats, or steel cut, oat groats, or any whole grain that can be made into a porridge. I like rolled oats because they're quick to cook, which is indicated in the recipe. If you use a different grain, be sure to follow its cooking instructions.
Oat milk or other unsweetened plant-based milk.
Chopped medjool dates add sweetness without refined sugar.
Unsweetened baking chocolate adds chocolatey goodness without the refined sugar.
Fresh or frozen strawberries.
Maple syrup or fruit-sweetened strawberry jam.
Lemon juice to add balance to the berries.
Top with whatever you'd like, such as chocolate chips, cacao nibs, or nut butter. I love pecan butter on mine.
Strawberry sauce
The strawberry sauce is nice and saucy on purpose so that the oatmeal is essentially floating in it luxuriously and it seeps into every bite. It’s just the way I like it, but if you’d prefer a thicker sauce, you can add a bit of arrowroot powder or cornstarch to thicken it up. The sauce is nice and sweet yet refined sugar-free!
Instructions
This is such an easy recipe! It just involves bringing the oatmeal ingredients to a simmer (which includes the chocolate), and bringing the berry sauce to a simmer. Once simmering, both are done within about 5 minutes.
More breakfast recipes
Chocolate Strawberry Oatmeal Recipe
Equipment
- 1 medium pot and stovetop
- 1 small pot and stovetop
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups oat milk or other unsweetened plant-based milk
- 4 medjool dates
- 1 ounce unsweetened baking chocolate
- salt a dash/to taste
- 1 pound strawberries about 2 ½ cups, fresh or frozen
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or fruit-sweetened strawberry jam
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Optional Toppings
- chocolate chips usually contains refined sugar
- cacao nibs
- Coconut Cacao Bliss contains coconut oil and coconut sugar
- nut butter I like pecan or almond butter
Instructions
- Chop the dates into small bits and place them, the oats, water, plant milk, cacao wafers/baking chocolate, and salt in a pot and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes.2 cups rolled oats, 4 medjool dates, 2 cups water, 2 cups oat milk, 1 ounce unsweetened baking chocolate, salt
- Meanwhile, chop the strawberries and place them in a small pot, along with the strawberry preserves/maple syrup and lemon juice. Bring the berry mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for a few minutes until the berries have softened.1 pound strawberries, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Divide the oatmeal into serving bowls and top each serving with about ¼ cup of the strawberry sauce. Add desired toppings and serve. Extra servings can be stored in the fridge for a few days.