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.
Bings are good but I’m seriously obsessed with Rainier cherries right now!!
I made this for breakfast this morning as I happened to have all the ingredients on hand (minus almond extract). It was super delicious!!! I love the fresh cherries and crunchy almonds on top and I especially liked this method of making oatmeal with 1/2 water and 1/2 milk and the banana. It comes out really creamy and slightly sweet even before adding the brown sugar! I will definitely be making again! Thank you!
My fingers were numb for like the last 2 months of my pregnancy…so annoying! The feeling didn’t come back right away but it did within a few weeks. Maybe it has something to do with boys…my little boy is 7 months :) Good Luck!!!!
This is what I’ve been craving only I didn’t even know it until now. I’ve been trying to clean things up a bit lately. So this should make my mornings super tasty!
Such a great idea for a yummy, protein-packed breakfast!
o-m-g i love love love this idea for oatmeal! I just got a cherry pitter too, I think the same one, my mom thinks i am silly for buying it because she doesn’t think I will use it, little does she know, I will be making some amazing cherry almond oatmeal! Mmm Mmmmmm thanks Kristin!
oooh cookie dough + cherries + almond flavored anything has my heart!
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.
Yay! I’m so excited for your little arrival!
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!!
WOW this sounds soooo hearty AND healthy! I LOVE it! You have inspired me to make some amazing oatmeal!
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???
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!
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!