The Obsession Continues: Chocolate Cherry Pudding Overnight Oats with Roasted Almonds

  gluten-free, stevia sweetened

 So last night before I fell into bed (after a long day of searching for a car - let us not speak of it - an hour of sweaty power yoga and cleaning), I mixed up a few ingredients in a bowl, placed said bowl into the fridge, skyped my intended (who's currently working in Iowa), and passed out.

And what did I find in the fridge this morning? A big bowl of what tasted like chocolate pudding :)

I used OhSheGlows' recipe for Chocolate Cake Batter Overnight Oats as inspiration for my Chocolate Cherry Pudding Overnight Oats with Roasted Almonds - long enough title? I loved them, mom loved them - and the great thing about them is that they keep you full for so long! I'm usually scrounging around for a snack by 10am, but these kept me full till lunch, thanks to the chia seeds and the nuts.

Chocolate Cherry Pudding Overnight Oats with Roasted Almonds
Serves 2-3

Ingredients:

• 1 cup frozen unsweetened cherries (or fresh, chopped), defrosted and broken apart with a fork
• 3/4 cup regular oats, or gluten-free oats (not instant)
• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk - or non-dairy milk of choice - coconut milk would probably be good!
• 2 TBS chia seeds
• 2 TBS cocoa powder
• 6 drops liquid stevia, or 1TBS maple syrup or agave nectar
• 1/8 tsp salt

• 2 TBS roasted, unsalted almonds (or raw almonds, walnuts, etc.)

Directions: In a medium sized bowl, defrost the cherries in the microwave for 1 minute (or just set them out at room temperature for a few hours). Mash with a fork. Add the oats, cocoa powder, salt, and chia seeds - mix together. Whisk in the almond milk and stevia, until no lumps of cocoa powder remain, and the mixture is starting to thicken (due to the chia seeds, this should happen fairly quickly).  Cover the bowl and place in the fridge. Let set for two hours, or overnight.

In the morning, remove the covering, give them a stir - you can add more sweetener if you like - and top with roasted almonds. Savor, as you revel in the feeling of eating pudding for breakfast :)

I like a lotta nuts