terrible phone photo – sorry
In households up and down the land, children are up to something. Hiding a spilt Ribena stain – perhaps; red pen marks on their homework – most assuredly. But no doubt they are also deciding what they can surprise their mum with for Mother’s Day.*
We mums can usually bank on a gorgeous homemade card (schools are good that way) as well as something fashioned from twists of paper and day-goo pipe cleaners. But breakfast, that can often be a bit, well, interesting. Why not save them – and you – the grief of attempting scrambled eggs or flipping pancakes. Why not hint that you really quite fancy this fantastically easy double(!) chocolate & cherry porridge by handing them a red pen and asking them to ring all of the speling mistackes. It is ezily doubled for the whole family.
This is of course also perfect for a chocolatey Easter breakfast, or really any time you feel a bit transgressive but still wish to cling to a notion of high nutritional ideals. The fruit makes it okay. Truly.
Justify, justify. 😉 Enjoy.
Double Chocolate & Cherry Porridge
The breakfast that thinks it’s dessert. The texture is akin to one of those gooey chocolate desserts you get in restaurants but with none of the scary amounts of fat, sugar and white flour.
Don’t fancy cherries? Sub in chopped pears, berries or even pomegranate arils.
1 cup wholegrain oats (gluten free if you need it) OR buckwheat flakes
2 & 1/4 cups milk of choice – almond is lovely
2 tbsp best cocoa/cacao
1 heaped tsp raw honey or maple syrup (I like Scottish heather honey) – optional
3 tbsp unsweetened/dark chocolate chips
½ cup pitted fresh of frozen cherries (I used defrosted, frozen tart/sour cherries I get from Real Foods in Edinburgh – love the tang)
50g/small handful of toasted pecans or other nut, roughly chopped
2 heaped tsp bee pollen – optional
What you do: Add the oats, milk, cocoa and honey to a saucepan. Gently heat, stirring frequently, until thickened to your liking. Stir in most of the chocolate chips, the cherries, and most of the pecans. Serve with reserved pecans and chocolate chips on top. A scattering of bee pollen is lovely too.
Note: I haven’t tried this but I imagine this chocolate porridge will be good reheated. You could also serve this as a simple pudding/dessert, with a bit of cream poured over to make swirling puddles of decadence. Extra whole cherries would certainly make this an elegant-ish dessert.
*The UK celebrates Mothering Sunday/Mother’s Day on the fourth Sunday of Lent in the Christian calendar.
PS the images are mainly from my terrible phone, but hopefully you get the idea.
Unusual & Innovative Porridge/Oatmeal Ideas
Porridge Nuggets – The Muffin Myth
Cinnamon-Hazelnut Quinoa Porridge – Whole Nourishment
Miso Oatmeal – Just As Delish
16 Savory Oatmeal Ideas – Shape magazine
Date, Carrot & Almond Porridge – Food To Glow
Bee-Awesome Porridge – Food To Glow
Bee Pollen Porridge – food to glow
Looks and sounds delicious… I think I’d like this for afternoon tea.
Divine, as usual! <3
Thanks so much. 🙂 I hope you try it.
yuumm!! this looks super delicious 🙂
This sounds divine!
difficulty: child’s play HAHA
Looks delicious (and the pictures are wonderful, not terrible!)! I think I’ll use strawberries instead though 🙂
Thank you so much, on both accounts. 🙂
Yum!!!
Oh my goodness….I am totally making this. I love the cherry chocolate combo and make a raw oatmeal version in the summer. But his looks so decadent and perfect for our still cool weather. Thanks for the link love, Kellie!
I’m so glad you like the look of this. Andrew and I are both much more into savoury breakfast but this is our current favourite ‘sweet’ breakfast, although we don’t make it too sweet as I use deeply dark chocolate with no added sugar in it.
I’ve been loving this porridge lately. I use cherry jam when I don’t have frozen cherries on hand. And I usually don’t add the chocolate chips because I like the raw cacao on its own. The toasted pecans are the perfect nut for this, and essential component in my opinion. 😉 I look forward to this breakfast every time I plan it. Thanks so much Kellie!
Aw, thanks so much, Katie. Your comment means a lot to me. I do like it with a sprinkle of chocolate drops to make it a bit like a gooey dessert 🙂
Your phone takes great pictures! And this porridge looks lush! Can’t wait to try this one out for a cheeky weekend breakfast soon. Just need to find some frozen cherries!
I prefer sour cherries but regular ones are easier to find. Fresh cherries won’t be in for *quite* a while…
Reblogged this on news and heart beats.
Beautiful!!!!!!
Wonderful! I know my mom would love this!
Yay! I thought it might appeal – despite the dodgy pictures. 😉
I will ask my wife to prepare this, just about to call her now. Thanks !
How have I never thought to make chocolate porridge? LOVE this idea!
Thanks Kavey. I don’t know what took me so long either!
This looks great! My mum isn’t a fan of intense flavours though so MORE FOR ME
Thats the right idea 😉
That does look nice! And far more nutritious than the chocolate ready brek I used to eat as a kid!
Oh heavens! Come make breakfast for me will you? I might just have to leave my laptop open on Sunday morning so the kids can see this recipe…. 😀
Oh it looks and sounds divine.
Just gorgeous Kellie. I’m a massive porridge fan and double chocolate porridge looks like the perfect way to start the day.
Love your imagination Kellie. Have just been gifted a huge jar of Italian bee pollen so looking for ideas of where/ how to use it.
Reblogged this on Little Miss Vegan Cakes Kitchen and commented:
I can’t wait to try this.
I don’t have children, but I love my sweets.