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? :)
Leigh 07.24.2013
First congrats on your little guy about to arrive. If you want to make some vegan cookie dough I love this website. Her butternut squash risotto and Brussel Sprout Mac & Cheese is divine. The cupcakes are also so good!
http://www.loveandoliveoil.com/2009/03/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-cupcakes.html
Congrats again,
Leigh
Jamie @lifelovelemons 07.24.2013
Im drooling… this looks so delicious!
Jan @ Sprouts n Squats 07.24.2013
I’ve already pinned this to Pinterest! It looks and sounds delicious.
jodea @ chillichocolatelove.com 07.24.2013
That is soooo weird. I was just wondering this morning if you’d do a breakfast recipe soon!
Kristin 07.24.2013
This looks amazing!! And your pictures are to die for! It makes me feel like I am right there getting ready to eat!
Ashley 07.23.2013
This looks delicious and I love that you are blogging again about oatmeal. I learned how to make perfect oatmeal from you about 3 years ago. YUM!
Elizabeth @ Confessions of a Baking Queen 07.23.2013
I’ve never been a fan of cherries but your photographs make me want to try cherries again, like now!! What a great breakfast :)
Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch 07.23.2013
This looks so Yummy!!! Almost sinfully delicious!!!
Georgie 07.23.2013
What kind of camera lens do you use, if you don’t mind sharing? Your pictures are always so crisp and phenomenal!!! Like your dreamy food concoction is right in front of me :)
Monique Bartley 07.23.2013
Cherry season is happy season.
Ali @ WHOLEistically Fit 07.23.2013
Can you please pass a napkin because I’m drooling! ;) Pinning this and can’t wait to try it. And best wishes for your new baby boy when he arrives. So exciting!
Lindsay 07.23.2013
I share your love of cookie dough, and I make small amounts to eat in 1 sitting by just leaving out the eggs and baking soda. I do about 1/4 of the recipe on the chocolate chip bag (you can easily do smaller amounts when you’re not using eggs!) and just add a little bit of milk if the dough is too thick. I usually don’t even have to do that though. It’s the best and worst information to have…
Melissa 07.23.2013
Remember that eggless single-serve cookie dough you posted about forever ago (I do because I eat it um, frequently)? Make yourself some of that! So yum.
Erika 07.23.2013
You had me at cherry-almond! This sounds so good. I’m taking it as a sign since I also just bought a bottle of cherry-almond hand soap :)
I miss seeing your breakfast posts/recipes so thanks for sharing.
Tracy 07.23.2013
Bings are good but I’m seriously obsessed with Rainier cherries right now!!
Julie 07.23.2013
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!
Jess 07.23.2013
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!!!!
Nina @ Too Hottie For That Body 07.23.2013
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!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking 07.23.2013
Such a great idea for a yummy, protein-packed breakfast!
Dana 07.23.2013
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!