**This post has been updated since its original post in July 2012**
Which oatmeal do I run home to after a tough day at work? Which oatmeal is good enough to be my breakfast on my 23rd birthday? Which oatmeal do I turn to when my produce drawer is looking empty? Which oatmeal contains the best flavor trio (chocolate, banana, and peanut butter) EVER?
This recipe was originally included as an option in my Variations on Peanut Butter Oatmeal post, but a porridge this good deserves special treatment. We’re talking about my favorite recipe, you guys.
After all…it’s pretty much heaven in a bowl. Sweet and creamy bananas…salty peanut butter….fudgy chocolate…ahhhh. But it’s so simple, too! I always have cocoa powder. I always have peanut butter. I always have bananas. If I don’t have a fresh banana available, I have some frozen bananas sliced up in the freezer, waiting for me at my convenience. This recipe is as dependable and cheap as it is delicious.
And if I may, I actually would recommend trying Hershey’s Dark Chocolate cocoa powder. I used that for many of my chocolate oatmeal recipes (which is why my chocolate oatmeals are so blackish). However, I frequently make this with regular cocoa powder (like in these photos) and it’s still marvelous.
Marvelous enough to be my #1.
If you’ve tried this recipe, please let me hear your reviews in the comments section! We can fawn over this porridge together.
What you'll need:
- 1 cup milk of choice, or water
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (I use Country Choice Organic)
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 rounded tbsp. cocoa powder
- 1 or 2 tbsp peanut butter
- pinch of salt
How to make it:
- Bring milk (I use an equal mixture of almond milk and water) to a boil, add rolled oats, and reduce heat to medium.
- Mash up a ripe banana and add to the oatmeal. Stir.
- Once more of the liquid has absorbed, add cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir. If it doesn't look very chocolaty, add more cocoa powder.
- When you're pleased with the consistency of the oatmeal, drop in small clumps of peanut butter and stir in. I don't like to stir mine in completely. I like it left in clumps so I get bursts of peanut butter flavor every few bites. 🙂
- Transfer to a bowl. Serve with another splash of your milk of choice and any other additional toppings (chocolate chips, shredded coconut, nuts, etc.).
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