Warm black forest oatmeal. A comforting bowl of chocolate oatmeal, sweetened with dates and cherries. This nutritious, yet decadent-tasting breakfast is sure to keep you full for hours!

Just sharing a bowl of black forest oatmeal because we’re in Germany!

We officially made it to Munich on Thursday and we’re already leaving tomorrow. Time goes by too fast! We spent the day visiting the city and I’m now warming up in our Airbnb with a hot cup of green tea, relaxing before another busy day tomorrow. We’re waking up early to catch a train and we’ll be spending the day exploring the Neuschwanstein castle before making our way to Switzerland.

As we’re back in the fall-like weather (I was so cold today!), I’m getting really excited for all things warm and cozy. Especially a warm bowl of oatmeal in the morning.

Since we left for Europe over a month ago, I’ve been eating peanut butter toasts almost every morning. We’ve been travelling from one city to the other with our heavy backpacks, so we’re limited to the amount of food we can carry. So instead of buying all the ingredients to make oatmeal, we stick to small loaves of bread and small jars of peanut butter. Yes, I’m getting tired of peanut butter toast and while I’m not excited for this amazing trip to finish, I am excited to start eating oatmeal again.

I created this black forest oatmeal last summer, before we left for Europe. I knew I wanted to create something black forest flavored for our time in Germany and this is what I came up with. Something a little simpler than black forest cake. Something warm and cozy for fall.

I made this recipe using our freshly picked cherries last summer, but as the season is over, you can certainly use frozen cherries. Trust me, you can eat this recipe all year long.

How to Make Black Forest Oatmeal

It’s just like making any other bowl of oatmeal. Dump all the ingredients in a small saucepan, bring it to a boil, then simmer until thick and creamy.

I like to use chopped dates as a sweetener, but any other sweetener will work. You can also skip the sweetener and let the cherries shine. They do offer some sweetness, but I needed a little more.

Finally, you can add any toppings your heart desires. Think chocolate chips, chopped nuts, nut or seed butter… The possibilities are endless! Oatmeal really is the best breakfast. Or at least in my opinion.

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Warm Black Forest Oatmeal

A warm and comforting bowl of chocolate oatmeal, sweetened with dates and cherries. This nutritious, yet decadent breakfast is sure to keep you full for hours!

Course Breakfast

Cuisine vegan

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 2

Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk, or plant-based milk of choice
• 1 cup cherries, pitted and halved
• 1 1/2 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 3 Medjool dates, pitted (or sweetener of choice)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds

Instructions

• Add the oats, milk and chia seeds to a small saucepan. Bring to a low boil, then reduce heat to low-medium. Stir in the cherries and let simmer until thick and creamy, about 5 minutes.
• Serve warm with other toppings of choice.

Notes

I love to serve this oatmeal with almond butter for added protein and creaminess. 

I often use frozen cherries during winter. You can add them frozen directly to the oatmeal during cooking. You might need to cook it a few more minutes to ensure the cherries are warm. However, as it thaws, the sweet juices blend with the oats, making them a little extra sweet.

This oatmeal is not overly sweet, I love it with cherries and dates, but feel free to add maple syrup or honey.

If you make this black forest oatmeal, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love to hear from you guys. And of course, if you try this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!