I made the mistake of walking outside yesterday.
And then immediately turned right back around.
No.
Just… no.
I love how they feel the need to write “very cold” under the temperature. As if seeing –12 didn’t already make that abundantly clear.
There’s something about abysmally-cold weather that screams comfort food. And this healthy breakfast recipe, which combines spicy chai tea, dark chocolate, and creamy oatmeal is pure comfort food in a bowl. Feel free to triple up on the chocolate by adding chocolate chips and Healthy Chocolate Sauce.
Chocolate Chai Oatmeal
(serves 1)
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (40g)
- 1 cup water or milk of choice (240g)
- 1/2 cup milk of choice (120g)
- 2 chai tea bags (decaf or regular)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tsp cocoa powder (4g)
- sweetener of choice, to taste
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract (2g)
- 1/2 tbsp melted coconut oil or peanut butter (optional, but much richer if added)
- mini chocolate chips, optional
If using the microwave: heat the water and milk, then add the teabags and let sit for no less than 15 minutes. Right before removing the teabags, smush the tea bags a little with a fork so more of the flavor goes into the milk. Combine the liquid with the oats and salt, then microwave 3 minutes. (If it starts to boil over, you may stop the microwave and keep heating in ten-second increments until the time is up. But don’t open the microwave door.) Let oatmeal sit in the closed microwave 5 minutes, then transfer–uncovered—to the refrigerator. It gets thicker as it sits, but if you want to eat it immediately simply use a little less water and cook longer. Right before eating, add all remaining ingredients and stir well.
If you wish to use the stovetop: after soaking the tea bags in warm liquid, simply heat the oats, salt, and tea soaking liquid until oatmeal is thick and fluffy. Then stir in all remaining ingredients.
Click for: Oatmeal Nutrition Facts
Question of the Day:
Was it freezing cold yesterday for you too?
Apparently every single state—even Hawaii!—dipped below freezing at some point during the day. However, maybe I shouldn’t complain about our weather here in Washington… To people in Minnesota and Chicago, it probably sounds like a tropical vacation.
-20 c is a norm for me in north british columbia. Everyday for our 6 onmonths of winter we reach below zero. Its reaches -40 occasionaly too. Love your site tjou! Keep up the good wor
If it makes you feel any better, it was LITERALLY -21 here the other day – not including wind chill. Brrrrrrrrr!
I have some instant chai latte mix. You think I could simply make the appropriate amount of chai and then proceed with the recipe?
Just finished eating this for breakfast. My husband, who doesn’t normally like chai, loved it, and my picky 3yr old enjoyed it. Thanks for the great recipe Katie! 🙂
I live in Los Angeles and yesterday was warm! I feel my city has been spoiling me with this great weather after going to Texas a week ago and seeing the numbing temperatures Texas has to offer…
Hello! Love your blog!
Welcome to a typical Alberta, Canada winter. Just last night we were talking about how -14C was practically bikini weather compared to what we typically have. But it is hard to get used to. Remember layers!
I just made this! (And ate it!) I didn’t have any chai tea but I did have a bag of vanilla caramel tea so I used that with a dash of cinnamon instead. ^_^
I like my oatmeal more oat-y so I halved the water/almond milk portion of the recipe and used only 1 tea bag. After allowing the tea to seep for 15 mins I returned the mixture to the microwave for another minute to bring it to boil then poured it over my oats. Mixed all ingredients together, returned to microwave for 30 seconds then finished with chocolate chips. The result is now in my tummy.
Ooo did you use the bigelow brand tea? I don’t have any chai so i’m probably going to try your idea- there’s a big box sitting in the cabinet!
Yep, I used Bigelow with a few shakes of cinnamon. ^_^
God, it’s cold here in Virginia, isn’t it? I live in Williamsburg and it was super cold in the morning. I had to wear like five pairs of pants just to walk myself to work, and I was still freezing.
Alas, no snow. The cold weather feels like such a waste without it.
I wish it was snowing here! And I wish I had a bowl of this oatmeal, it looks wonderful.
In Canada we were in the -30 to -40 range !
We’ve had wind chill warnings all week lol
anything with chocolate and oatmeal and I am in! I know what you mean about the cold – it was -40 with the windchill in the Toronto area yesterday …. :O Time to stay in and sip warm hot chocolate if you ask me!
I love the idea of chai-seasoned oatmeal! I’ve been eating so much oatmeal lately (with the polar vortex and whatnot) that I could use a new version. Thanks!
Hi Katie:) Thank you so much for this idea, I can’t wait for tomorrow morning to try this! I looove oatmeal so much at the moment (I generally do but right now I’m craving for it!)
Here in France it’s not cold AT ALL, very weird for january and I’m afraid that we won’t have any spring this year either… but for now I have to say that I enjoy the sun and mild weather:)
Me as well! I live in Geneva, and the weather is sooo warm now! I’m really enjoying it!
It’s not that cold in London, but when I lived in Ukraine the winters were quite cold. I went on a few runs at “7 degrees feels like minus-something.”
I live in Alaska, and we’ve actually been having ABOVE freezing temps (which is not normal for this time of year AT ALL). I would be happy to switch back, warmer temps here just mean that snow and ice melt and cause the nastiest, most dangerous road conditions, which no one is happy about! Here’s a good article for some quick tips. And thanks for the comfort food ideas, keep em coming! We could all use them in the cold, dark months. 😉
http://news.msn.com/us/alaskans-offer-tips-on-surviving-below-zero-temps
Same with Northern British Columbia, Canada. It’s usually like -30°C right now but it was at least 0°C yesterday! Soo warm! Really bad roads though!
Yum chocolate chai oatmeal! Sounds amazing!
To the qotd: when I woke up this morning it was -15. The high yesterday was 2 degrees! But I live near Chicago so it was to be expected, I guess. 😛