When you want a filling and nutritious breakfast that tastes like dessert, make Cocoa Steel Cut Oatmeal! Tender oats are combined with almond milk, cocoa powder, brown sugar and bananas for a sweet, yet healthy way to start your day.

Another healthy and delicious chocolate twist on oats is our Brownie Baked Oatmeal!

Healthy Cocoa Steel Cut Oats Recipe

If you’re not a big fan of oatmeal, this steel cut oats recipe might change your mind. And if you do love oatmeal, put this one on your breakfast menu asap!

My family loves oatmeal – cold overnight oats, baked oatmeal, and even oatmeal cake! Typically we include dried fruit in the mixture like my oatmeal brûlée (which is amazing), but this chocolate-y steel cut oatmeal is simply a mixture of oats, almond milk, unsweetened cocoa powder, brown sugar, and some warm seasonings. Then it’s topped with naturally sweetened banana, toasted almonds, a bit of chopped chocolate and a drizzle of heavy cream (which is optional if you need this dish to be dairy free.)

So, a healthier dessert oatmeal if there ever was such a thing! It’s so delicious, while being incredibly quick and easy to make.

What is Steel Cut Oatmeal?

Oats are a complex carbohydrate, loaded with soluble fiber and protein, and low in calories, so they’ll keep you feeling full longer than simple carbs. They’re basically a power food.

Steel-Cut Oats, also sometimes called Irish oatmeal or Scottish Oats, are the groat stone-ground, leaving a lot of coarse bits. They have the nuttiest and sweetest flavor of all the oats, with a slightly chewy, slightly creamy texture and cook in about 15-20 minutes on the stove. The recipe that we’re sharing today uses quick cooking steel cut Irish oatmeal, which cooks in half the time.

Ingredients Needed

You only need a handful of pantry items and a few toppings to make this steel cut oats recipe.
(Scroll to the bottom for our easy printable recipe with the complete measurements and directions.)

For the Oatmeal

• Oats – Make sure to purchase quick-cooking steel cut Irish oatmeal for this recipe.
• Water
• Almond milk – This, along with the water, is what cooks the oatmeal. The almond milk adds great flavor while also making it creamy, but still keeping this breakfast dairy free.
• Unsweetened cocoa powder – The ingredient that makes the oatmeal chocolate-y!
• Brown sugar – Lends sweetness with notes of molasses.
• Cinnamon – For a lovely warm flavor.
• Kosher salt – For flavor.

For the Toppings

• Banana – Slices of ripe banana provide nutrition and natural sweetness.
• Sliced almonds – Almonds adds a nice nutty flavor and textural crunch.
• Chocolate – Chopped up bits of semisweet chocolate are sprinkled on top.
• Heavy cream (or vanilla almond milk) – We like to drizzle a bit of heavy cream on each portion. It’s a really nice finishing touch. You can use vanilla almond milk instead if you need this oatmeal to remain dairy free.

How to Make Steel Cut Oatmeal

This steel cut oatmeal recipe makes a quick and easy, filling breakfast in about 15 minutes.
(Scroll down to the printable recipe card for details and measurements, and don’t miss the video below.)

1. Cook the oats. In a medium pot, bring the almond milk and water to a boil. Add oats and salt; reduce heat to a gentle simmer, cover and cook for 6 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until desired doneness is achieved.
2. Stir in other ingredients. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in cocoa powder, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
3. Add toppings. Divide in bowls, topped with some sliced banana, almonds, chocolate pieces, and a couple tablespoons heavy cream (or more almond milk.)

Video: Chocolate-Almond Steel Cut Oatmeal

Proper Storage

• Storing leftovers. Store any leftover oatmeal, without the toppings, in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• To reheat. Just pop it in the microwave with a splash of cream or almond milk and heat until hot.

More Oatmeal Recipes

• Carrot Cake Oatmeal
• Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
• Brownie Baked Oatmeal
• Overnight Oats
• Instant Pot Peaches and Cream Oatmeal

I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!