Creamy Vanilla Steel-Cut Oats with Cherry & Chocolate Topping
Ingredients
Steel-cut Oats
- 1 cup high-quality steel-cut oats
- 3 cups water (or a mix of water and milk for a creamier texture)
- a pinch of salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Toppings
- ¾ cup fresh or frozen cherries
- 2 tbsp dark chocolate chips
- 4 tbsp hazelnut butter
- 2 tbsp slightly crushed hazelnuts
Instructions
- Boil: In a medium saucepan, bring the water or water-milk mixture to a boil.
- Add Oats and Salt: Once boiling, gently stir in the steel-cut oats and a pinch of salt.
- Simmer: Reduce the heat to maintain a low simmer. Stir in the vanilla extract. Cook the oats for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent them from sticking to the bottom.
- Check Consistency: The oatmeal is ready when it has absorbed most of the liquid and has a creamy yet slightly chewy consistency.
- Rest: Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the oatmeal sit for a few minutes to thicken.
- Cherry & Chocolate Assembly: Stir half of the cherries and chocolate chips into the warm oats, along with a dollop of hazelnut butter. Then, top the oatmeal with the remaining cherries, a sprinkle of crushed hazelnuts, and more chocolate chips.
- Serve: Garnish each serving with a spoonful of hazelnut butter, allowing its richness to meld with the warm, creamy oats, tart cherries, and melting chocolate chips.