Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal

Breakfast at a Glance

• Prep Time: <15 minutes total (including cooking)
• Planning Ahead: None
• Morning Effort: Under 15 minutes
• Protein: 27g
• Fiber: 11g

Nessy's Note

High on my list of favorite candies is a peanut butter cup. The combo of PB and chocolate is hard to beat!

So when one morning I woke up craving chocolate, and didn't have a batch of brownie baked oatmeal already prepped, I figured why not channel those flavors into something nourishing for breakfast?

This peanut butter cup oatmeal features a rich, chocolate-y oatmeal exterior with a generous peanut butter filling (almost as generous as the filling in my breakfast banana split).

Yet, in Busy Morning Breakfast style, it is also packed with protein and fiber to keep you full all morning.

• Large Flake Rolled Oats- This is my go-to for any morning oatmeal (and for my chocolate banana overnight oats). While I love steel cut oats, they take a lot longer to cook (and aren't always an option for a busy morning!).
  • Substitution: If you prefer quick oats or steel cut oats, you can experiment with increasing the liquid and cook time (for steel cut oats) or decreasing the liquid and cook time (for quick oats) but I haven't personally tested it for this recipe.
• Milk- I often cook my oatmeal in dairy milk to add a bit of protein and to make it extra creamy. Note that milk boils over quite easily (more easily than water), so be sure to keep a close eye on it.
  • Substitution: Water also works or an alternative milk but the protein in the recipe will vary depending on what you use.
• Chia Seeds- I usually add some chia seeds to oatmeal (like banana chia overnight oatmeal) to up the fiber.
  • Substitution: You can use ground flaxseed or leave it out.
• Cocoa Powder- For the "peanut butter cup" flavor, we use this to make chocolate oatmeal exterior.
• Maple Syrup- Just a little for sweetness. Add more if you'd like it sweeter.
  • Substitution: You can also use your sweetener of choice such as honey or try adding half a mashed banana (like in my banana cream oatmeal).
• Sea Salt- I don't know what it is but just a pinch in oatmeal makes it taste so much better.
• Egg- You may have heard of egg white oatmeal but did you know the concept also works with just adding a whole egg? I included an egg in the recipe for extra protein and it also makes the oatmeal a bit more fluffy.
  • Substitution: You can sub ¼ cup of eggs whites or simply leave it out.
• Peanut Butter- For the "filling" in our peanut butter cup. Use your favorite- crunchy or smooth.
  • Substitution: You can use another nut or seed butter or leave it out if you just want to make a chocolate oatmeal.

Tips for Tasty Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal

• Cook in milk. This adds protein and makes the oats extra creamy. But keep a close eye on it as it can boil over.
• Enjoy it fresh. For best texture and flavor, this oatmeal is best eaten right after making.
• Don't skip the salt. A small pinch in any oatmeal really brings the flavors together.

More Oatmeal Recipes...

• Almond Butter Overnight Oats
• Chocolate Baked Oatmeal