Chocolate Chao(at)s

If you like oats and chocolate, put the two together and you have a party in a bowl.

Before I created this bowl of goodness, I never knew how to feel about chocolate and oats. I didn't think they'd taste very nice. Boy was I wrong.

These chocolate oats are a fantastic brunch meal as they're quite filling!

One thing to note about this recipe – be sure not to get confused with cocoa powder and cacao powder. Cacao powder is very bitter compared to cocoa. You don't want bitter oats!!

Check out the simple recipe below!

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INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup rolled oats

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tbsp cocoa powder

2 tsp runny honey (1 tsp for oats, and 1 tsp for the caramelised banana)

1 cup any milk of your choice (I use Alpro unsweetened almond milk)

1 tbsp flaked almonds

Fresh strawberries (as many as you like!)

1 banana, sliced in half lengthways

1/2 tbsp butter

2 squares of milk chocolate, or 7 Cadbury milk chocolate buttons, melted

1 Lindt dark chocolate square (optional)

METHOD

1. In a microwavable bowl, mix together oats, cinnamon, and cocoa powder. Mix the dry ingredients together until well combined, then add in the milk and 1 tsp of runny honey.

2. Place your oats to one side for now. Grab a small bowl for the milk chocolate, and microwave in 30-second bursts until chocolate has melted. Once melted, put to one side. TIP: It helps to cut the chocolate into small pieces – they melt a little faster.

3. For the caramelised banana, heat up a non-stick frying pan on medium heat and place butter and remaining honey into the. pan. Allow the butter and honey to melt and bubble, then place your banana slices in with the flat sides facing down. Cook these until they are golden brown and glistening. Flip them over and smother the butter and honey juices all over the banana.

4. Begin warming up your oats. Microwave for 2.5-3 minutes on medium power (my microwave's standard power is 600W).

5. Remove oats from the microwave, and take bananas off the pan and into your bowl of oats, along with the melted milk chocolate, flaked almonds, strawberries, and dark chocolate square. Enjoy!