Healthy hearty breakfast meets dessert with this sweet + spicy combo. Get a kickstart to your day in each bite of this bowlful of Sweet Dark Chocolate Chili Oatmeal.
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About 3 years ago, I received a fun package from my sweet wife. At the time, she was away on military duty, and we hadn’t seen each other in months. I was mostly the one sending care packages her way, so anything I received from her was a big surprise and cherished to this day.
There is just something about being away from your spouse for a long period of time that makes you reflect. At the time, it seems like the hardest thing in the entire world. You don’t know how you’re going to get through each day.
I remember struggling to know how I was going to manage a particular night where I had to make dinner, help my son with his homework, get him ready for bed, all while I could feel a massive migraine coming on.
I didn’t have my wife to lean on. She couldn’t go pick up a pizza or take over dinner for us. It was truly all on me. I didn’t know how I’d make it through the hard days.
But then you look back after it has passed and you’ve made it through.
You look back and realize how much stronger the distance made your marriage. You remember those love letters and care packages you enjoyed sending each other. You remember how much you cherish the days your family is all together and home.
So what does this have anything to do with oatmeal?
In one particular package my wife sent me, she sent an assortment of different dark chocolates. I had just started getting into the amazing-ness of super dark 75-80% chocolate, and she knew my love for all the different flavors. So of course, I was excited to try them all.
Except for one. I was a little scared.
Dark chocolate + chili?!
Yikes!
I like a little spice, but I was scared of it and had never had that combo before.
Well, as I’m sure you can assume, I absolutely loved it and now can’t get enough.
The sweetness of the dark chocolate is what hits you right away, but then there’s a teeny hint of spice that hits your tongue. Just enough to wake you up and make you slow down a bit so you don’t get hit with all the spice at once.
Now that I know my love for this combo, I want to add it to just about everything I can. And because I truly eat oatmeal every single day, it only made sense to combine two of my favorite things.
Oatmeal + Chocolate + Chili
Sure, it sounds like dessert, but that’s the best part… it’s HEALTHY!
Now I wanna know – how do you feel about the sweet + spicy combo?
Love it? Scared of it?
Take a little walk on the wild side and get your spice on with my new favorite breakfast recipe!
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1 cup water or almond milk (plus a splash for topping)
- 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp cayenne
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp chopped pecans (for topping, opt)
- 1 tsp agave or pure maple syrup
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In a microwave-safe bowl, combine oats, water (or milk), cocoa powder, cayenne, and cinnamon. Microwave for 3 minutes. Stir and let sit for another minute longer.
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Top with chopped pecans, agave or maple syrup, and a splash of your milk of choice.
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Enjoy immediately!
If you make this recipe, be sure to snap a picture, upload it to Instagram and tag me (@happyfoodholly) and use the hashtag #inspiredbyholly
Looking for more breakfast recipes? Check out my Pinterest board for more!
Hey there! My name is Holly, and I am passionate about enjoying all foods without guilt, judgement, or failure. Food shouldn’t have a “good” or a “bad” label. After years and years of dieting and having a bad relationship with food and my body, I am finally at place where food is not the enemy, and I want nothing more than to help other women get to this place with me!
I live in the beautiful state of Utah with my son and the love of my life. I’m a coffee obsessed, yoga-practicing, Zumba-rockin’ nerdy tattoo-lovin’ Air Force wife, and I’m so excited to share my story, experiences, and lessons with you.
Sherwood says
I’ve rarely partaken of the sweet and spicy combo, but I’m pretty sure I’ve enjoyed it when I did. It’s exotic, to me at least, and a little exciting. I love spicy, and I love dark chocolate.
I don’t even remember the last time I had hot (or cooked) oatmeal. I’m tempted to see if I can pull this off as overnight oats…
Sherwood says
Finally got around to converting this into overnight oat form. 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1/2 cup rolled oats, 1 Tbsp cacao, 2-2 1/2 tsp maple syrup has worked pretty well for me. It’s a little too spicy for my taste, even as someone who slathers Sriracha all over my breakfast every day, so I would probably cut back to 1/4 tsp cayenne if I come back to this recipe at some point. Thanks for the inspiration!