Chocolate Oatmeal with Stewed Apple Walnut is about to be your new favorite power breakfast. Stewed and caramelized diced apples and bananas mixed with oatmeal, chia, sesame, and sunflower seeds for a healthy and delicious sweet breakfast. Naturally sweetened with dark chocolate and topped with crunchy walnuts. GF, Vegan and Refined Sugar Free. 8 g of protein and 11 g of fiber per serving. You might even think you’re eating dessert. 
Let’s talk breakfast. Most important meal of the day. What’s your style? Simply a cup of coffee? Bacon and eggs? Cold bowl of cereal? Granola bar on the go? 1 minute oatmeal?
My breakfast routines have drastically changed over the years. From a childhood of eating garbage for breakfast (also known as Cinnamon Toast Crunch – or how to get the maximum dosage of artificial ingredients bright and early in the morning) to my college years of a Nature Valley granola bar eaten on the go while running late to class, I’ve spent many years eating bad breakfasts.
All of that changed when I entered proper adulthood.
Cold cereal and crunchy bars weren’t doing it for me anymore. I needed to start my days properly – with a healthy, hearty breakfast filled with vitamins and nutrients, something to keep me going for hours. And while I have also recently fallen in love with acai smoothie bowls topped with homemade granola, sometimes I need a proper hot breakfast.
Helloooooo oatmeal.
And I have to admit I used to hate hate hate oatmeal. Something about the texture, the look of it, meh not for me I thought. I kind of always thought you had to eat it plain, cooked in water and flavorless.
Definitely not the case. When I had a bowl of oatmeal while traveling with my mom and aunt in Costa Rica last year, I started to change my mind about this classic breakfast dish. That time it was cooked in coconut milk with apples and cinnamon, and it was pretty good I must admit.
It needed a bit more to get me excited but it was a great starting point. And yesterday this vegan stewed apple walnut chocolate oatmeal bowls were born. No refined sugar, no gluten, no dairy. Just pure wholesome ingredients cooked together perfectly. The apples and bananas get “stewed” or caramelized in a bit of coconut oil with a couple soaked dates to provide that sweet element.
Then the oatmeal gets added along with additional super food ingredients including chia, sesame and sunflower seeds. All of that cooks in water before melted proper dark chocolate right into the pan. These chocolate oatmeal bowls are then topped with crunchy walnuts and shredded coconut.
This is the ultimate guilt free healthy and sweet breakfast. You might even think you’re treating your mind to dessert for breakfast, while your body is thanking you for all that healthy goodness.
One thing I have grown to love about oatmeal is that it keeps you full for hours. Must be all the fiber in there, but when I have oatmeal for breakfast I am good to go for a long time, without needing a snack – which is fairly rare for me.
I know you’re going to love these fruity nutty chocolate oatmeal bowls. These are the perfect flavor combination of soft stewed fruit with crunchy nuts and seeds all enveloped by fluffy smooth oatmeal. A high fiber and high protein vegan breakfast to keep you full for hours.
How do you like your oatmeal? Share in the comments below!
Other delicious and healthy breakfast options:
- Vegan Breakfast Scramble with Chickpeas and Cauliflower {GF}
- Gluten Free Almond Butter Oatmeal Cookies with Coconut
- Spinach Acai Bowl Recipe {GF, Vegan}
- Vegan Acai Papaya Smoothie Bowl {GF, Refined Sugar Free}
- 10 Nutritious Vegan Gluten Free Breakfast Recipes
How to make chocolate oatmeal
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- 1 green apple diced
- 1 banana diced
- 2-3 pitted dates depending on how sweet you like things (soaked in hot water overnight)
- 1/2 cup gluten free oatmeal
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds optional
- 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds optional
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds optional
- 2 tablespoon chopped dark chocolate
- 2 tablespoons walnuts
- optional: shredded coconut
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Heat oil over medium heat in a pan. Add bananas, and apples. Cook for 4-5 minutes until fruit is lightly browned. Add dates. Mix everything together, mashing the dates up.
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Add oatmeal, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds. Add 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered for 5-10 minutes.
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Mix in chocolate until melted.
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Serve topped with chopped walnuts and shredded coconut (optional)
Sara says
So good. Much to my dismay, at age 40 my weight began to creep up. I assumed it was because of my age, a slower metabolism and hormonal changes. To change I had tried EVERY diet program, Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, Atkins as well as medically supervised programs with hunger suppressing medications. Each was successful to varying degrees. However, I ALWAYS gained the weight back. How could this happen? I have been on a weight loss/weight gain roller coaster for the last 20 years. I purchased several Paleo books until I found Nancy’s blog http://paleorecipediet.com/paleo-recipes-diet/ and then my life changed. This is the best overall in information and has great recipes. I have lost several pounds in a couple of weeks. I feel more energized, strong and balanced throughout our days. The best part is, for the most part, no crazy out of reach ingredients, the meals are simple and really tasty…all which fits in very nicely with our busy lifestyle.
Vicky says
Happy to hear the paleo diet has helped you! Every person’s body truly is different so different diets work for different people. Definitely worth it to test out some different ones to see which one allows you to feel the best!
Erika says
Mmmmm! I used to dislike oatmeal as well, but ever since I learned to mix in apples and cinnamon I changed my mind! Delicious!
Vicky says
Makes all the difference right?!
Kathy says
I can’t wait to try this for breakfast this week!!
Vicky says
Enjoy! Feel free to add more dates if you like yours a bit sweeter.
Sarah @ Champagne Tastes says
So many yummy toppings!!! Oatmeal is delicious when it’s smothered like this lol 😉 Yumm
Vicky says
Yes I completely agree! Couldn’t imagine eating it plain!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
Such great ingredients! Love the dates and walnuts (and chocolate!). I’m still sometimes a “Nature Valley Granola Bar grab & go girl.” Old habits 🙂
Vicky says
Haha we all still have our Nature Valley days I’m sure!
Renz says
I don’t really do breakfast, bad I know but I just cant seem to muster up to eat early in the mornings. This looks really good though. Def will try it later in the day
Vicky says
I normally wake up starving and couldn’t imagine starting the day without eating! I envy you!
The Food Hunter says
I love oatmeal and I love this recipe!
Vicky says
Thanks! Perfect for an oatmeal lover!
Lucy says
I used to binge on Cinnamon Toast Crunch as a kid, too! (Um, and I admit I sometimes still do.) But I also love oatmeal, and this recipe looks amazing! So many flavors and textures, plus the walnuts make it super healthy. Can’t wait to try it!
Christine | Mid-Life Croissant says
I always hated oatmeal too. Because I only ever had those instant packets. Love me some ‘real’ oatmeal now and yours looks amazing.
Vicky says
So you totally know where I’m coming from. No to that instant oatmeal blandness!
Linda says
This looks delicious and tasty. I love this breakfast.