This Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bran is a super healthy breakfast recipe that tastes like a peanut butter cup and is ready in minutes!
This post was sponsored by my friends at Healthy Aperture & Hodgson Mill as part of the #betterbowl18 campaign. I was compensated for my time. As always all opinions are my own!
Oatmeal is a go-to breakfast in our house. My kids request it at least 3 times a week, and I’m always happy to make it for them!
Well, I wanted to try to mix things up and introduce oat bran into our breakfast rotation, because it’s nutritional profile is pretty stellar {more on that later}! So I came up with this Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bran recipe to see how it would go.
Introducing new foods to young kids can be a little nerve-wracking. Even though my children are great eaters, I always get a little bit nervous when I know I’m making something they have never had before.
Well, let me tell you, they devoured every last morsel of this Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bran! I was a little concerned that texture might be an issue for Gabe, but he ate four helpings and would’ve had more if I hadn’t made him pause to let his brain catch up to his belly! 😉
I loved this Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bran just as much as they did! Because you know that I’m all about breakfasts that taste like dessert but are totally healthy! This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and has no refined sugar but it tastes like a peanut butter cup in a bowl! Totally my jam.
Why Oat Bran?
So why did I care to swap out our regular oatmeal with oat bran in this Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bran? First of all, as a family we struggle to get enough fiber in our diet.
Even though we eat lots of raw fruits & veggies and whole grains, I’m always thinking about ways to try to sneak more fiber into our lives! It decreases blood pressure and bad cholesterol, manages blood sugar and aids in digestive health…who wouldn’t want those benefits?!
Oat bran has 50% more fiber than oatmeal, including insoluble fiber which is super helpful in the digestion department! I love that enjoying a bowl of this Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bran means that we are getting as much fiber as possible with our morning serving of grains!
How to make Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bran
Here are a few notes on this recipe to help you in your oat bran-making endeavors!
- Texture. I have to take a minute and let y’all know that we do not, I repeat, do not like mushy/soupy oats in this house. So, I have created this recipe as one that firms up pretty nicely as it cools. If you like soupier oats, you can add extra milk after it’s cooked!
- Time. Oat bran only takes two minutes to cook! So this recipe is all said and done in less than 10 minutes! Woo hoo! Be careful not to over-cook!
- Amount. The yield on this Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bran is about 2 cups, which fed me and 3 of my kids with a little to spare because it’s SUPER filling. If you are feeding more people, or you would like to make a batch and eat it all week long, I recommend doubling the recipe!
- Storage. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to enjoy!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bran: Substitutions
This recipe is super versatile! Here are a few substitutions!
- Almond milk. Any milk can be used in place of almond milk! I recommend lite coconut milk for another delicious non-dairy option. Regular milk works really well too! Obviously, the higher the fat content of your milk, the creamier the oats will be!
- Maple Syrup. Honey is a great choice as a substitution for maple syrup! Really, any liquid sweetener of your choice can be used!
- Creamy peanut butter. Feel free to substitute any nut or seed butter for peanut butter! They will all work well and taste amazing!
If you make something from JoyFoodSunshine I would love to see your creations! Don’t forget to rate this recipe and leave a comment below! Also, follow along with me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter for more recipe inspiration and a glimpse into our everyday life!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bran
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- ½ cup water
- 2 TBS pure maple syrup*
- 2 TBS creamy peanut butter
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- ½ cup Hodgson Mill Oat Bran
- ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add almond milk (or milk of choice), water, 2 TBS maple syrup, peanut butter, unsweetened cocoa powder, cinnamon and salt to a 4-quart saucepan.
- Warm ingredients over medium heat until they just begin to boil, whisking until they are smooth.
- Add oat bran and vanilla and whisk to combine.
- Cook for 2 more minutes over medium heat.
- Remove saucepan from heat, cover oat bran with a lid and let sit for 5 minutes to absorb the rest of the liquid.
- Serve with a drizzle of peanut butter, an extra glug of milk, a touch of maple syrup and some crushed peanuts!
Nutrition
We used Hodgson Mill Oat Bran Cereal because I love their products! This particular variety has only one ingredient: Oat Bran! No fillers or processed ingredients! Plus it’s SUPER affordable! One box costs around $2 and contains 11 {large} servings! I’m so glad my kids loved it and can’t wait to come up with more fun ways to enjoy this hearty breakfast cereal!
Question: Have you tried oat bran?! What’s your favorite way to eat it?!
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Amy
Mega tasty. I’ll be honest and admit that the whole “serves four” definitely didn’t happen for me, but I got two very, very generous helpings to myself!
Janet
I was trying to find ways to use my oat brand. This is a winner. Thanks!
Melissa G.
I used Quaker brand oat bran and only got about 3 servings. Is there a big difference between brands?
Francine Santoro
SI would love to try this recipe. How many weight watcher smart points does it have.
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mangafox
Yummy! I can’t wait to try it!
E S
Seriously wow. These are just beautiful bowls of oats, and I can see why your children request it. You make it anything but boring! Also I love the new look of your blog.