I'm not sure if it's the family obligations or the frenzied pace that starts to settle in this time of the year, but I find myself reacting by grabbing onto any little thing I have control over. One such example is eating whatever I please for breakfast, occasionally chocolate.
Now I know that chocolate isn't the #1 health choice for a nutritious morning meal, but there are subtle ways to work it in so that it doesn't feel quite as egregious, ways that seem to make me pretty happy lately and ways that I think you might enjoy every now and again, too.
1. The Classic: When you hear "chocolate" and "breakfast" in the same line, you likely think of Nutella. And why not? This spreadable chocolate hazelnut delicacy is wonderful spread on toast or bits of baguette, but I do shy away from the hydrogenated oils and fillers, much preferring a homemade version relying on dark chocolate. This makes for a special treat when friends come over for a weekend brunch or when you need a little pick-me up on hump Wednesday.
2. The Renegade: Maybe you just go full-on chocolate in the morning without trying to work it into a natural morning meal. In this case, small squares of a chocoalte bar nestled in between a little butter on a crusty baguette can be quite wonderful. As can chocolate breakfast sandwiches. It's the overt, nothing-to-hide choice which, truthfully, can be refreshing at times.
3. The Sneak: Much the opposite of The Renegade, sneaky morning folks feel better about eating a bit of chocolate if it's folded subtly into their pancakes, muffins or scones. It seems more like a natural fit, more like they belong this way. Delicious all the same.
4. The Baker: When you spend a great deal of time making doughs for quick breads and muffins, you start to come across innovative flavor combinations that would accomodate chocolate nicely. Raspberry and Dark Chocolate Muffins? Sure. Roasted Pear and Chocolate Chunk Scones? Yes, please.
5. The Barista: Drinking your chocolate in the morning can be a big treat in the fall and winter. This might look like a delicious, rich hot chocolate or a decadent mocha spiked with strong espresso. Not for everyday, sure, but a nice way to celebrate a work week well fought.
How do you work chocolate into your breakfast?
Related: Chocolate for Breakfast: Inviting or Overindulgent?
(Images: How Sweet it Is)
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I love drinking hot cocoa with breakfast. I use low-fat milk with unsweetened cocoa powder, and just a little bit of sugar. It ends up rich and slightly bitter (which is just how I like it), and it feels much more decadent than it actually is.
When I was growing up, my dad would make us something called chocolate toast. It is a similar concept to cinnamon toast but you mix the sugar with cocoa powder. It's more dessert like than breakfast so we loved it! :)
I sometimes drizzle melted dark chocolate over sliced strawberries and bananas in the morning... it's light and decadent at the same time!
Cocoa Krispies or Cocoa Puffs (or their generic equivalents) are darn nice, supplemented with skim milk and berries. I can't stand some of the ones out there with chunks of chocolate (there's a mutant shredded wheat with a chocolate chip in the center), as the textures are horrid. Chocolate Cap'n Crunch is pretty bad too.
Of the dozen flavors of Pop-Tart containing chocolate, the Chocolate Chip one (not Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough which has less chocolate and a grainy cookie dough texture) is pretty good: a graham-like crust and a chocolate filling.
But enough crap food: What about pan au chocolate?
That reminds me: As a child, our family visited the Wisconsin Dells and went to a pancake house. They had chocolate pancakes with chocolate chips, chocolate syrup and chocolate whipped cream. My mother drew the line at my getting chocolate milk with that, for which I never forgave her.
What is pictured and can I eat it with my face please?
My breakfast has been woefully deficient in this regard. Thank you for the inspiration! I can't believe I've lived this long without a roasted strawberry-brie-and-chocolate sandwich. :)
My breakfast has been woefully deficient in this regard. Thank you for the inspiration! I can't believe I've lived this long without a roasted strawberry-brie-and-chocolate sandwich. :)
I'm first a generation American from a Belgian father. Chocolate basically runs in my veins, however we're not that big of nutella fans. Whenever I'm home for the holidays, I wake up to a cup of black coffee with a small square of quality dark chocolate. Another favorite chocolaty breakfast is a piece of toasted french bread, lightly buttered with a few chunks of chocolate or a dark chocolate spread on top.
Today is the office potluck, so "breakfast" was a brownie and a piece of peanut butter pie. I'm not really sure that's what you were going for here...
I love all of the suggestions and can't wait to try them in a more legitimate breakfast setting! I ate a lot of chocolate cereals as a kid (the two JoelFinkle mentioned, plus Count Chocula), but haven't had those much in the past few years. Whatever is in the picture definitely tops the list of must-trys.
@kestrel125: Looks like http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/04/roasted-strawberry-brie-chocolate-grilled-cheeeeeeeese/
I love Nutella and banana sandwiches for breakfast. :)
When I was growing up I used to love it when my mom made Malt-o-Meal because I was allowed to sprinkle some chocolate chips in the cereal. Little ribbons of chocolate throughout...delicious.
Nowadays, about as sweet as I can get is french toast/pancakes with syrup or peanut butter on waffles drizzled with honey or the occasional donut or cinnamon roll (made TheKitchn's pumpkin ones just the other day). I just can't imagine anything sweeter.
Hagelslag on buttered bread.
My dad used to make us crepes filled with fruit and chocolate sauce for breakfast (or any time really) when we'd stay with him on weekends.
One of my new fave snacks is Philly Cream Cheese dark chocolate indulgence with strawberries or bananas. It's a great low cal snack when I'm craving chocolate and could be a great healthier breakfast if you want chocolate for breakfast.
I find Nutella pretty good (apart from the palm oil they use), but I followed the link to the recipe, and apparently Nutella is different in the US? There are some organic versions that are very good, but they are usually less chocolately and more hazelnutty, so they are rejected by true Nutella lovers. So Nutella it is. Just not in large quantities.
I love putting a little cocoa powder in my steel cut oats with dried cherries, coconut, and almonds!
Nutella as the first thought?? No way! Pan au chocolat is the first thing that springs to mind.
I've had chocolatey oatmeal! Okay, it was just a sachet of instant, but whatever... vanilla-and-almond-flavoured instant oatmeal, almond milk, bit of brown sugar, bit of cocoa powder, and a teeny bit of a nut butter of your choice. Top with sliced bananas. Tastes sweet and delicious and creamy.
The photo of the dessert look yummy!I love chocolate.I love drinking coco in breakfast.