Happy birthday, blog.
Today, you turn three. You’re a toddler, but better because you don’t need to be potty trained. You don’t need to be watched. I never have to worry about you coloring the walls. That’s pretty cool.
To celebrate the birth of my baby, I went with a recipe that uses all my favorite ingredients: chocolate, coffee, banana (which is optional), almond butter, and happiness. Yes, happiness.*
*not available at Whole Foods
I could have just topped the baked oatmeal with almond butter, but I decided to try something a little bit different. I tucked the almond butter inside. Feel free to make your own choices, but this is a fun and easy way to switch it up.
Want a little history of The Oatmeal Artist?
- First recipe (April 15, 2012)
- First birthday
- Second birthday
Mocha Baked Oatmeal (with Almond Butter Center)
What you'll need:
- 1 ripe banana (or 1/2 cup's worth of zucchini + 1 tbsp maple syrup)
- 1/3 cup milk of choice, or water
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp instant coffee granules
- 1 heaping tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- pinch of salt
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (I use Country Choice Organic)
- almond butter
How to make it:
- Preheat the oven to 350 F and spray a single-serving ramekin with non-stick spray.
- Mash banana (or puree zucchini) and mix with milk, vanilla extract, coffee granules, cocoa powder, and salt by either pureeing in a mini food processor or mashing thoroughly with a fork (lengthy process, but gets the job done).
- Stir in baking powder and oats.
- Transfer half the batter to the ramekin. Add almond butter to the center (as much as you want). You could keep it in a dollop at the center, or you could spread it as a full layer. Your choice.
- Top with remaining oatmeal batter and bake for 20-25 minutes. Enjoy!
