Cherry Almond Oatmeal

This wholesome bowl of oatmeal makes for a nourishing, plant-based breakfast on chilly mornings. This recipe starts with the most creamy oats - lightly sweetened with maple syrup and flavored with almond extract - and features warm bursts of juicy cherries and creamy, nutty almond butter. Almond and cherry were made for each other. Many people describe almond extract as tasting like cherries, so they are a natural combination.

Oats are a great source of fiber, so combined with the healthy fats of the almond butter and the volume that the cherries provide, this is a very filling and satiating meal, and a great way to start the day!

*This recipe is vegan if you use non-dairy milk and gluten-free as long as your oats are certified gluten-free.

INGREDIENTS & SUBSTITUTIONS

• ORGANIC ROLLED OATS

  • a great source of fiber and other health benefits that come with whole grains

  • opt for organic if possible since oats are one of the crops most heavily sprayed with pesticides

• CHIA SEEDS

  • chia seeds help thicken the oats and make them extra creamy!

• OAT MILK

  • since the oatmeal is flavored and sweetened with almond extract and maple syrup, opt for plain, unsweetened oat milk or other non-dairy milk

• COCONUT CREAM

  • adds luscious creaminess and healthy fats

  • you can replace this with a little bit more oat milk, but I highly recommend including it!

• ALMOND EXTRACT

  • adds a delicious flavor - some say it tastes like cherry, hence why it goes so well with cherries! Substitute vanilla extract if you don’t have almond

• MAPLE SYRUP

  • adds a subtle, natural sweetness

• FROZEN DARK SWEET CHERRIES

  • warm and bursting with sweet juice

  • high in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and are known to be anti-inflammatory

  • also known to improve sleep quality and speed up muscle recovery

• ALMOND BUTTER

  • another creamy element! (and a nutty flavor that compliments the sweet cherries)

  • adds a dose of healthy fat which will help slow down the digestion of the oats to keep you fuller for longer

  • if you don’t have almond butter, peanut butter is delicious as well

• SLICED ALMONDS

  • optional, but adds a nice crunch

• GROUND FLAX

  • optional, but adds additional nutrition

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how to make the cherry almond oats

1. Combine the rolled oats, chia seeds, and liquid ingredients in a pot. Simmer until thickened. It should look like the photo below. Add more milk if you like runnier oatmeal.

2. Cook the frozen cherries in a separate pot so that they release their juice.

3. Top the oatmeal with the cooked cherries, almond butter, and optional sliced almonds and ground flax.

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the recipe

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Cherry Almond Oatmeal

Yield: 2

Author: MADELINE APPEL

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 15 MinTotal time: 20 Min

Ingredients

Oatmeal Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 TBS chia seeds
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup plain, unsweetened oat milk + more for runnier oatmeal
• 2 TBS coconut cream (optional, but recommended)
• 1/4-1/2 tsp almond extract
• 1.5 TBS maple syrup

Toppings

• 8oz frozen dark, sweet cherries
• almond butter
• sliced almonds (optional)
• ground flax (optional)

Instructions

1. Combine oats, chia seeds, water, oat milk, and coconut cream in a pot over medium heat.
2. Once it has come to a boil, stir often and simmer for 10-15 minutes until the oats have broken down and the mixture has thickened and reached your desired consistency. Add extra oat milk if you like a runnier consistency.
3. In the meantime, heat the frozen cherries in a small saucepan over low heat until they're hot and have released their juice.
4. At the end of cooking the oats, add the almond extract and maple syrup.
5. Divide the oats into two bowls, then top with the cherries and cherry juice, a spoonful of almond butter, and optional sliced almonds and flax meal.