Vegan Chunky Monkey Oatmeal Bowl

This vegan chunky monkey oatmeal bowl is a dreamy combination of chocolate, banana, and nuts, all in a healthy, satisfying breakfast bowl!

Happy Monday, friends! Today is the first morning that Joe and I are waking up together after his 11 day trip to the Philippines for his Master’s program, and I literally cannot put into words how happy I am to have him home. Joe and I do everything together, and when I’m alone for that long I miss him so much that I get really anxious and SO sad. I do my best to stay positive and keep myself busy, and we’ve dealt with trips like this before, but I’ve been going through some weird stuff lately and having him away felt extra difficult this time.

A simple, seemingly little thing that I treasure is when we get to eat breakfast together on the weekends. It depends on what we’re in the mood for, but I usually go with a smoothie, pancakes, or some version of my favorite oatmeal bowl. I especially love oats on the weekends, because I don’t have to rush to eat them before work.

I made a chocolate strawberry version last month and it was pretty divine, so now I’m experimenting with tons of other fun flavors and toppings. Which is how this cute little vegan chunky monkey oatmeal bowl came to be!

Oats are a huge part of my diet. I eat them every day! During the week I take overnight oats to work for lunch, and on weekends I usually have a some type of oatmeal bowl with almond butter for breakfast. So good. If you don’t eat oats regularly, what the heck are you doing?! If you had a bad experience with bland, mushy oats in the past, give them another chance. First of all, because oats are AMAZING for health. Also, I find that they digest easily, keep me satiated for hours, and give me tons of energy.

I go into detail on how to prep the oats in my original oatmeal bowl post and in the recipe below, so I’ll keep it simple here. We’re not cooking on the stove or in the microwave, rather heating up the water and pouring the hot water over the oats. This allows the oats to absorb the water completely, so they get really thick and fluffy rather than mushy. It’s pretty magical, and of course I have my husband to thank for discovering it. He’s the best.

Ingredients for a vegan chunky monkey oatmeal bowl

• Rolled oats: I always use old-fashioned, whole grain rolled oats because they have the best texture and chew.
• Ground flaxseed: ground flax provides a lot of nutrition, including omega-3s. It helps to give the oats a nice thick texture.
• Cocoa powder: cocoa gives the oats rich chocolate flavor.
• Hot water: you’ll soak the oats in hot water, which makes for super easy prep and no cooking necessary.
• Banana + walnuts: you’ll add these toppings for the classic chunky monkey flavor combo!

Tips for making a vegan chunky monkey oatmeal bowl

• Add a splash of water before serving to get a texture you like. I typically don’t add more liquid at this stage because I like my oats VERY thick, but feel free to add a bit more water to get the texture you prefer.

This vegan chunky monkey oatmeal bowl is so satisfying and full of chocolatey, nutty, banana-y flavor! I seriously love the combination of the thick, soft oats and banana with the super crunchy walnuts. It’s breakfast perfection.

Xo,

Sara