Rocky Road Oatmeal

Published February 2, 2012. Updated December 21, 2023

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Rocky Road Oatmeal will make you forget all about those boring oatmeal packets. Oats, nuts, cocoa, milk, and the sweetness of the marshmallows will have you jumping out of bed (especially on a cold winter morning!). 

Nutritious indulgence.  You might think those words don’t go together, but that’s just what this oatmeal is.  It’s anti-oxidant rich from the oats, nuts and cocoa, full of calcium from the milk, packed with fiber from the oats, then you get a bit of protein from the nuts.  The indulgence obviously comes from the chocolate chips, marshmallows, and sugar (an extra indulgence would be to top it with half and half… mmm).

Rocky Road Oatmeal

I won’t lie, it’s hard to make oatmeal look appealing but I think once you top it with the right amount of goodness this oatmeal will make your mouth water.  You could delight a loved one this upcoming Valentine’s Day by serving up this decadent oatmeal (and they’ll never know how simple it was to make).

I know I’ve posted quite a few oatmeal recipes lately.  I just can’t get enough of it for cold winter mornings, and I love that it keeps me full all the way to lunch.  I love how simple it is to mix things up and create new flavors, not to mention how easy it is to prepare.  This recipe is dedicated to my mom—my entire life she’d eat a bowl of oatmeal every morning.

Healthy Rocky Road Oatmeal

If you want to take this delicious oatmeal to the next level, there are a few swaps you can make for an even healthier oatmeal breakfast.

  • Use dark chocolate or cacao nibs in place of regular chocolate chips for more antioxidants and less sugar
  • Mix a whipped egg white or two into your oatmeal mixture before cooking for more protein
  • Try a milk option with additional protein or health benefits, such as Fairlife, almond milk, or soy milk
  • Stir a scoop of your favorite protein powder into your oatmeal mixture
  • Skip the sugar and marshmallows, choosing options like agave or Stevia
  • Increase the ratio of nuts to get more protein and healthy fats

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Rocky Road Oatmeal

Chocolate for breakfast, yes please! This is such a tempting way to prepare oatmeal.
Servings: 1
Prep5 minutes
Cook3 minutes
Ready in: 8 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup oats
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 Tbsp packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 Tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1/8 tsp vanilla
  • 1 Tbsp chopped walnuts , pecans or almonds
  • 10-14 mini marshmallows (about 1/4 cup)
  • 1 Tbsp milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips (which ever you prefer)
  • Additional milk or half and half for drizzling if desired

Instructions

  • In a large microwave safe bowl, combine oats, milk, brown sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Microwave on high for 3 1/2 minutes. Allow to rest 2 minutes then remove from microwave and stir in vanilla. Top with nuts, marshmallows and chocolate chips, serve warm.