Over the past week, Iâve been lacking a little in the sleep department. The sun starts streaming in through our window at a fairly early hour, turning the bedroom into a sauna, and my internal alarm clock jolts me awake at about the same time. (Note to self: Research DIY blackout curtains on PinterestâŚ)
As a morning person, I usually make it through to mid-afternoon on natural energy and adrenalin, but around the time our little pup starts begging for a walk, the need for caffeine sets in. After escorting her through the park yesterday, I headed in the opposite direction to the Starbucks inside of Safeway just down the street. The grocery store offered me an unlimited coupon for April: buy any Grande espresso beverage for just $2! Itâs practically impossible to resist⌠Thatâs over 50% off!
Being a short person with a low sugar and caffeine tolerance, I usually customize my order a little more than the other customers. When I reached the counter yesterday and the barista inquired what Iâd like, I replied with my favorite drink: âA Grande half-caf skinny caramel latte, please!â
On autopilot, she grabbed a clear plastic cup for iced beverages. Before she started scribbling in Sharpie, I politely interrupted. âWould you mind making that hot? Itâs actually a little windy today!â
âOh! Sure!â she responded, and I smiled.
âIâm probably the only person to ask for that!â (Living in sunny northern California, spring weather hits around the end of Februaryâweâve been wearing shorts and flip flops for two months!)
With a nervous laugh, she agreed before self-consciously repeating, âThat was a Grande half-caf?âŚâŚâ
I kindly filled in the blank. âSkinny caramel latte. Too many words this late in the afternoon!â
To which she finally relaxed, reassured I wasnât an angry and demanding customer, and chuckled again. âYou got that right! Iâll have it right up.â
While most people think of coffee as a comforting start to the day, it isnât the only thing thatâll get you out of bed in the morning! A quick and easy breakfast does the trick⌠Especially one that tastes like dessert!
Enter my latest obsession: Skinny Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Oatmeal. A thick and creamy bowl of cozy oats flavored like your favorite dessert from the Cheesecake Factory, including the slightly melty decadent chocolate bits. It requires just 4 ingredients and is ready in less than 5 minutes, but itâs still secretly low fat and low calorie. With a big protein punch and lots of filling fiber, breakfast really doesnât get much better than this!
Besides the stereotypical old-fashioned oats, milk, and chocolate chips, youâll need a secret ingredient: instant cheesecake pudding mix. Just use 1 serving of the sugar-free, fat-free powder. It provides the characteristic cheesecake flavor without lots of excess fat and calories from the usual slice of dessert!
Because oatmeal naturally thickens as it cooks, you donât need to prepare the pudding mix according to the package directions. Weâre only using it for the flavor, not the thickening properties! Add the oats, milk, and pudding mix to a bowl for the microwaveâor a pot for the stoveâand cook, stirring occasionally, until itâs soft, thick, and creamy.
You must wait to add the chocolate chips! Once the oatmeal finishes cooking, itâs extremely hot, and the chocolate chips would instantly melt if you mixed them in. Even after waiting 2-3 minutes for the oatmeal to continue thickening, theyâll still melt. But at least that means sweet swirls of chocolate in every bite!
If you prefer un-melted chocolate chips, make overnight oats instead! Add the oats, milk, and pudding mix to a bowl, and stir thoroughly to combine everything together. Refrigerate overnight (or for at least 8 hours) until it thickens. Then stir in the chocolate chips and youâre ready to eat!
Sweet and creamy, this Skinny Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Oatmeal tastes sinfully indulgent, but itâs still a secretly healthy morning meal! The hearty oats add lots of fiber to keep you full, while the milk provides energizing protein fuel. And those decadent chocolate chips? Basically a necessity in my book.
After one bite of this, youâll never want to skip breakfast again!
This thick and creamy oatmeal tastes like a slice of your favorite cheesecake! The recipe is easily doubled, tripled, or even quadrupled if youâre feeling extra hungry or feeding a crowd.
- Add the oats, milk, and pudding mix to a large microwave-safe bowl. Stir to dissolve the pudding mix. Microwave on HIGH for 1 minute 45 seconds. Stir, and microwave again for 1 minute, stirring every 15 seconds to prevent the oatmeal from bubbling over. Let the oatmeal rest for 2 minutes before topping with the chocolate chips.
Notes: Just use the dry pudding mix! Do not prepare it according to the package directions.
Alternative cooking method: Add oats, milk, and pudding mix to a small pot and cook for 4-5 minutes over low heat, stirring frequently, on the stove.
For overnight oats: Combine the oats, milk, and pudding mix in a bowl or Tupperware. Cover and refrigerated for 8 hours or overnight until thickened. Stir in the chocolate chips.
I think that the instant pudding mix does not contain gluten or dairy products, so if you use gluten-free oats or non-dairy milk, the entire recipe is gluten-free and vegan. If somebody knows otherwise, please let me know!
What a great idea to use the pudding mix!! I’ve always just used cream cheese to do a cheesecake oatmeal but this could turn out better. Will be definitely trying this in the next day or two.
I can’t wait to hear what you think of this oatmeal Rob! đ
Specifically searched for a recipe like this and canât wait to try it!!!
That means so much to me Julie!! I’m really excited to hear what you think of this oatmeal! đ
Can you use quick oats in the skinny chocolate chip oatmeal; this is the one my family likes?