Cherry-Almond Cookie Dough Oatmeal is decadent-tasting yet healthy way to start your morning. Each bite tastes like cookie dough!

Can we talk about how excited I am to eat cookie dough after the little man arrives?
That and see my feet, independently tie my shoes, wear normal pants, feel the fingertips on my right hand, walk more than a mile, and be able to stroll instead of roll out of a horizontal position?
SO EXCITED!
Our little boy is welcome to arrive any day and until that time I’m keeping a lid on my raw cookie dough cravings with Cherry-Almond Cookie Dough Oatmeal.

Healthy Oatmeal with a Cookie Dough Spin
Obviously I’m a cookie dough fiend and, coupled with my summer cherry obsession, this Cherry-Almond Cookie Dough Oatmeal totally and completely hits the spot.
The base is my go-to 3-minute stove top oatmeal combined with not only vanilla but almond extract, which I always add to my sugar cookie dough to give it a little extra oomph. Topped with fresh cherries and crunchy almonds, I literally felt like I was eating a decadent bowl of cherry-topped sugar cookie dough for breakfast!
(In a non-gaggy actually eating a bowl of sugar cookie dough for breakfast sort of way. You understand.)

The star of the bowl are fresh, summer cherries which are as sweet and delicious as they are gorgeous.

Wash 1/2 cup fresh cherries then use a cherry pitter to pit them. If you don’t have a cherry pitter you can slice the cherries like a mini piece of stone fruit then pop the pit out with your fingers.

Once they’re pitted, slice them in half and set aside. Out of sight, preferably, or there won’t be much left for topping your oatmeal!
Ask me how I know…

Next get the oatmeal cooking. Start with 1/2 cup old fashioned oats.

Add the oats to a small saucepan then add 1/2 cup each water and milk as well as 1 small banana sliced thin.
Turn the heat to medium then when the mixture starts to bubble, cook for about 3 minutes or until the oats are thick and creamy, using a spatula to help mash the bananas.

Remove the pot from the heat then stir in 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract. Almond extract is very potent so a little goes a long way. Almond is such a deliciously classic pairing with cherries though – so good!

Spoon the oatmeal into a bowl then top with the pitted, halved cherries, and a sprinkling of crunchy sliced almonds.

I am telling you – so ridiculously delicious! You will love the combo of almond and fresh cherry with a cookie dough flavor, and the contrast of creamy oatmeal with crunchy almonds is just fabulous.

Cherry-Almond Cookie Dough Oatmeal feels like you’re eating dessert for breakfast. Enjoy every last drop!


Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup certified gluten free old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup milk, any kind
- 1 small ripe banana, thinly sliced
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 cup fresh sweet cherries, pitted then sliced in half
- 1 Tablespoon sliced almonds
Directions
- Combine oats, water, milk, and banana slices in a saucepan over medium heat. Once simmering, stir and cook until oats are creamy, about 3 minutes, using a spatula to mash banana slices.
- Remove pan from heat then stir in brown sugar, vanilla, and almond extract. Pour into a bowl then top with cherries and almonds.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.













I need me a cherry pitter!! This sounds like a fab breakfast to spice things up – mine have been so boring lately!
How exciting that he’s almost here! I can’t imagine being 39 weeks preggo in the middle of summer, I feel for you girl. I’m sure you can’t wait to meet him!
And of course, this oatmeal looks perfect. Love the use of fresh cherries!
Pretty sure after I had my baby one thing on my grocery list was a package of cookie dough, might have eaten most of it…
This looks so good! I’m always looking for new ways to eat oatmeal. The addition of almond extract will be new to me. I will try this soon!
Those pictures are gorgeous … the cherries are so deep red! Our cherries don’t look quite as delicious :). Pinning this now!
Cookie dough for breakfast?! Yes, please! Can’t wait to meet your little guy!
Oh yum! This looks so good!
Happy Due Date! Love all your recipes and I’m especially looking forward to some baby/toddler recipes :-)
I’m heading over to buy that cherry pitter that you have! I’ve been wanting to get one all summer and this bowl of oats looks absolutely gorgeous! There is a new Dairy Queen going up about 5 minutes from my house and you better believe that I will be trying out the S’mores blizzard!
What a beautiful breakfast. Oatmeal never looked better.
Can I tell you how upset I am that I just finished breakfast before reading this? It looks delicious. Guess I will wait for tomorrow!
I went to DQ this weekend for a S’mores Blizzard. I had one a few weeks ago and fell in love. Anyway, they said they were out. OUT! How can you be out? I was so upset.
Never had the S’mores Blizzard I assume it is good given all the discussion. How does DQ run out? That is no good.
Looks delicious! I live in a Dairy Queen desert at the moment and oh how I miss blizzards :)
I feel for you! We are now 73 miles from the nearest DQ…. Not that I am counting. Probably better for my waistline, though.