Can we talk about how excited I am to eat cookie dough after the little gentleman arrives?!
That and see my feet, independently tie my shoes, wear normal jeans, feel the fingertips on my right hand, walk more than a mile, and be able to simply stroll instead of roll out of a horizontal position?
SO EXCITED!!!
Ahem. That is to say, our little boy is welcome to arrive any day now. Aaany day! Until that day arrives, I’m keeping a lid on my raw cookie dough cravings with Cherry-Almond Cookie Dough Oatmeal.
S’mores blizzards with cookie dough, which I ordered on Sunday night while doing my part to celebrate National Ice Cream Day, is helping too. Ummm, S’mores Blizzards are my new jam. Have you tried? Ben ordered plain cookie dough and was so depressed after tasting mine. The graham cracker crunch in there really seals the deal.
Anyway, 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 standard 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.Â
The star of the bowl are fresh, summer cherries, which are ev-er-y-where right now. Right? Bing cherries are my fave.
Wash 1/2 cup fresh cherries then use a cherry pitter to pit ’em (here’s the one I have >)Â If you don’t have a cherry pitter you can just cut the cherries like a mini piece of stone fruit then pop the pit out with your fingers.
Once they’re pitted, slice ’em in half and set aside. Out of sight, preferably, or there won’t be much left for topping your oatmeal! Trust me on this one.
Next get the oatmeal cookin’. Start with 1/2 cup old fashioned oats – certified gluten-free if you need it.
Add the oats to a small saucepan then add 1/2 cup each water and milk (I used almond 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.
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Cherry-Almond Cookie Dough Oatmeal
Description
Cherry-Almond Cookie Dough Oatmeal is decadent yet healthy and tastes just like cookie dough!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup certified gluten free old fashioned oats (not steel cut nor instant)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup milk, any kind (I used unsweetened vanilla almond breeze)
- 1 small ripe banana, sliced thin
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 cup 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 bubbling, 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.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
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 – how bad could that be? :)
kiley -a Sequin Dress at Breakfast 07.23.2013
oooh cookie dough + cherries + almond flavored anything has my heart!
Elizabeth 07.23.2013
I am going to have to make this. I love oatmeal and eat it all kinds of ways, but normally I use dried cherries because I am lazy. haha This is going on my list of things to try. I hope you get to see your little guy soon! So exciting.
FitBritt@MyOwnBalance 07.23.2013
Yay! I’m so excited for your little arrival!
Allison 07.23.2013
I live a block from a DQ…. Dangerous!!! I’m 12 wks pregnant…. I don’t miss cookie dough too much (yet), but I do already miss eggs with runny/undercooked yolks and sushi.
This oatmeal looks GOOD. Got to get some cherries while they are in season!!
Sophia @ NY Foodgasm 07.23.2013
WOW this sounds soooo hearty AND healthy! I LOVE it! You have inspired me to make some amazing oatmeal!
Emily 07.23.2013
So im just 14 weeks pregnant, but I thought I would have to go the whole 9 (10) months without cookie dough! Are you saying store bought – like in your blizzard – is ok???
Iowa Girl Eats 07.23.2013
The cookie dough pieces from DQ (and in other ice cream) is fine to eat “raw”, but I wouldn’t eat the tubes of cookie dough that are meant to be baked!
Melissa 07.23.2013
Um, WOW! I cannot even begin to tell you how incredible this looks! After reading through the recipe and the ingredients, it looks pretty simple, too! It combines all of my favorite flavors and is something I definitely need to try ASAP!
char eats greens 07.23.2013
I need me a cherry pitter!! This sounds like a fab breakfast to spice things up – mine have been so boring lately!
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health 07.23.2013
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!
Carrie 07.23.2013
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…
Jess @ The Dreaming Foodie 07.23.2013
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!
Megan (The Lyons' Share) 07.23.2013
Those pictures are gorgeous … the cherries are so deep red! Our cherries don’t look quite as delicious :). Pinning this now!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction 07.23.2013
Cookie dough for breakfast?! Yes, please! Can’t wait to meet your little guy!
Tieghan 07.23.2013
Oh yum! This looks so good!
Karla 07.23.2013
Happy Due Date! Love all your recipes and I’m especially looking forward to some baby/toddler recipes :-)
Kim @ Hungry Healthy Girl 07.23.2013
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!
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes 07.23.2013
What a beautiful breakfast. Oatmeal never looked better.
Catherine VW 07.23.2013
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!
Emily @ Life on Food 07.23.2013
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.
Tom T 07.24.2013
Never had the S’mores Blizzard I assume it is good given all the discussion. How does DQ run out? That is no good.
sally 07.23.2013
Looks delicious! I live in a Dairy Queen desert at the moment and oh how I miss blizzards :)
Catherine VW 07.23.2013
I feel for you! We are now 73 miles from the nearest DQ…. Not that I am counting. Probably better for my waistline, though.