Healthy Chocolate Porridge Recipe

This healthy chocolate porridge recipe is perfect for those of you with a sweet tooth but who still like to have a healthy breakfast. Made from oats, cacao powder, milk and sweetened with maple syrup this chocolate porridge is both indulgent and filling as well as being full of nutrients.

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Jump to:

• Ingredients
• How to make chocolate porridge
• Healthy Chocolate Porridge Recipe
• Equipment
• Can I make this chocolate porridge vegan?
• Can I use cocoa powder instead of cacao powder?
• What can I do with leftover porridge?
• Is this recipe gluten free?
• Substitutions and variations
• FAQ's
• Shop this post...

Cereal and toast is the easy option of course but I do like it mix things up a bit and try to encourage the children to eat other things at times. Oatmeal is really filling and good for you, oats are full of protein and are a slow release energy. Some of my children are quite fussy with porridge though so I thought I would have a play around and make a breakfast porridge that seemed like a treat but was actually quite healthy.

So this healthy chocolate oatmeal porridge recipe was born! My eldest has this most mornings for breakfast now. Now she is a teenager it can be a struggle to get her to eat breakfast before school but this recipe never fails because she has a real sweet tooth and is a chocolate lover! It is quite a sweet recipe but the younger kids love it too and you can adjust the sweetness to suit by adjusting the amount of maple syrup that you use. They have a small portion followed by some fruit and I know they are full up for the morning and are fuelled by slow-release energy and are ready for the day because they have had a nutritious breakfast to eat. Chopped strawberries or bananas go perfectly on the side too for some extra nutrition and to count towards their 10 a day.

Ingredients

• porridge oats
• milk
• maple syrup
• cacao powder
• vanilla extract
• dark chocolate chips

Oats are a great source of fibre as well as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They are a slow burning carb so they help you to feel fuller for longer. Milk provides protein and healthy fats as well as nutrients and vitamins. You can substitute this for plant based milk such as oat milk, soya milk, coconut milk or pea milk.

Cacao powder is full of great nutrients, many more than cocoa powder, although it is a bit more bitter. It is a high source of iron, protein, magnesium, potassium and fibre. The slight bitterness of the cacao powder is balanced out in this recipe by the maple syrup which is a more natural sweetener than refined sugar.

How to make chocolate porridge

It really isn't any more difficult to make chocolate porridge than it is to make regular porridge. Put the oats in a saucepan along with the milk and warm through on a medium heat for about 5 minutes until the oats are soft and cooked through and the milk is absorbed. Make sure that you don't boil the milk.

Then stir in the maple syrup, vanilla and cacao powder. Add a splash of milk if necessary to reach the right consistency.

Serve in individual bowls and sprinkle with chocolate chips for an extra treat.

Use porridge oats for a quick cooked breakfast but if you prefer steel cut oats just remember you might need to cook it for a little longer, until the oats are soft.

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Equipment

You don't need anything fancy to make this recipe - some weighing scales, a decent saucepan, a wooden spoon and a personalised wooden cutting board for preparing fruit accompaniment.

Can I make this chocolate porridge vegan?

This recipe is vegetarian but you can easily make it vegan by using non dairy milk of your choice such as almond milk and use vegan chocolate chips.

Can I use cocoa powder instead of cacao powder?

You can replace the cacao powder with cocoa powder too, but you might want to add a little more than the recipe calls for as cocoa powder has a less strong flavour. Always use the best quality cocoa powder that you can afford. I prefer cacao porridge though.

What can I do with leftover porridge?

I turn all my porridge leftovers into baked porridge bites. Put a ½ inch layer into muffin cases and bake in the oven for 10 minutes or so, or until they are firmed up. These make a great on the go snack.

This porridge also keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store in an airtight container and re-heat either in the microwave or in a saucepan, adding a bit of extra milk to loosen it up. You can always store leftover porridge in individual portions in mason jars with a bit of extra milk and you have instant overnight oats - easy to grab in the morning for a quick make ahead breakfast on the go!

Is this recipe gluten free?

It can be gluten-free-assuming you use certified gluten-free oats and ensure that any added ingredients (like cocoa powder or sweeteners) are also gluten-free. Oats themselves are naturally gluten-free, but they're often processed in facilities that handle wheat, which can lead to cross-contamination. So as long as you choose labeled "gluten-free" oats and verify all other ingredients, this chocolate porridge recipe should be safe for a gluten-free diet.

Substitutions and variations

You can make lots of variations to this recipe to mix it up a little and keep breakfasts from getting boring. Replace one of the cups of milk with a cup of orange juice to make a healthy chocolate orange porridge - add some orange zest for an extra zing too. You can also add mashed banana or banana slices on top to make a healthy chocolate banana porridge. Looking for some added protein? Add a scoop of protein powder and you have a healthy chocolate protein porridge.

FAQ's

This chocolate porridge is the perfect weekend breakfast - and your kids will love you as they think it is a real treat! Do you have any breakfast ideas to share? I'd love to hear some as I'm always looking for new things for the children to try.

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