Bored of chocolate oats and three recipes to try

By Pure Perks · 26 October 2026

Try mango overnight oats, warm apple cinnamon oats or a banana vanilla smoothie. Compare the prep and texture, then follow a recipe with quantities and steps.

If you are bored of chocolate oats, start with plain oats and choose a different flavour family: mango for a cold fruit bowl, apple and cinnamon for warm porridge, or banana and vanilla for a smoothie. Changing the format may help more than another topping if you are tired of drinking breakfast. You do not need to replace your whole cupboard to try one alternative.

Choose a change you will actually use

• Want a cold breakfast with fruit pieces: try mango overnight oats. Prepare them the night before and eat them with a spoon.
• Want something warm with some crunch: try apple, cinnamon, cranberry and pecan oats. You will need a saucepan rather than a blender.
• Still want a drink without cocoa: try the banana and vanilla smoothie. It needs a machine that can process ice and makes two servings.

If you still enjoy the chocolate base, changing a topping is a smaller experiment. If you want a break from the chocolate flavour itself, use plain oats rather than trying to cover it up. And if graininess is the problem, address the preparation first; a new flavour will not grind the oats.

Choose one recipe whose ingredients you will use elsewhere before buying several extracts or large flavour packs. The recipes below retain their sources' quantities and are paraphrased, not independently kitchen-tested. Follow the specified oat type, packet preparation and appliance instructions. They are recipes for ordinary oats, not a proprietary smoothie mix.

Mango overnight oats for a cold fruit bowl

This option leaves no cooking or blending for the morning, but needs at least eight hours in the fridge. For one serving of Quaker's Mango Overnight Oats, use:

• Base: 1/2 cup Quaker Old Fashioned Oats, 1/4 cup low-fat milk and 1/3 cup low-fat yogurt.
• Flavour and toppings: 1/8 teaspoon almond extract, 1/2 cup diced mango, 1 teaspoon honey and 1 teaspoon chia seeds.

1. Combine the oats, milk and yogurt in a suitable container, then stir in the almond extract.
2. Layer the mango on top and add the honey and chia seeds.
3. Refrigerate for at least eight hours at 40°F or colder, approximately 4°C. Quaker recommends eating this recipe within 24 hours.

Choose this for a spoonable bowl with fruit pieces. Keep it in a container you can comfortably eat from rather than a narrow drinking bottle.

Apple and cinnamon oats for a warm breakfast

A warm bowl changes both temperature and texture. For one serving of Quaker's Apple Cranberry Oatmeal with Pecans, use:

• Base: 1/2 cup Quaker Old Fashioned Oats and 1 cup low-fat milk.
• Toppings: 1/2 cup diced Granny Smith apple, 2 tablespoons dried cranberries, 1 tablespoon diced pecans and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.

1. Bring the milk to a boil in a saucepan.
2. Stir in the oats. Cook over medium heat for about five minutes, stirring occasionally, following Quaker's old-fashioned oat directions.
3. Stir the apple, cranberries, pecans and cinnamon into the prepared oatmeal.

The apple and pecan pieces are intentional. If those are what you dislike about breakfast, choose the blended option instead of expecting this bowl to be completely smooth.

Banana and vanilla for a blended drink

The American Heart Association's Banana Bread Smoothie combines banana, vanilla and cinnamon without cocoa. The following quantities make two servings, so check your machine's capacity before starting.

• Fruit and dairy: two medium sliced bananas, 3/4 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt and 1/4 cup fat-free milk.
• Other ingredients: 1 1/2 cups ice, 2 tablespoons rolled oats, 2 teaspoons maple syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.
• Optional garnish: 1 tablespoon chopped unsalted pecans or walnuts and a pinch of cinnamon.

1. Put the bananas, ice, yogurt, milk, oats, syrup, vanilla and measured cinnamon in a suitable blender or food processor. Follow its loading and ice instructions.
2. Blend until smooth, then divide between two glasses.
3. Add the optional garnish if wanted and serve immediately.

This recipe uses much less oats per serving than a bowl. Keep the stated quantity rather than adding extra oats and expecting the same texture.

Compare flavours after choosing your breakfast format

Try one recipe before deciding you need several new flavours. If you prefer a ready-to-mix drink, Pure Perks offers banana, mango, vanilla and coffee alongside chocolate. Prepare one whole 65 g sachet with 250 ml chilled milk in a shaker or blender.

You can compare the available Pure Perks flavours if a mix fits your routine. If you would rather keep using plain oats, choose the recipe above that matches the temperature and texture you want next.

Compare the Pure Perks flavours