Coconut Cream Pie Oatmeal Bowls

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BringYourBestBowl #Target #CollectiveBias

In this recipe, creamy and delicious oatmeal combines with the indulgent taste of coconut cream pie for a breakfast that will transport you to a tropical vacation. 

Living in Chicago during the winter months, my daydreams typically involve beaches and frozen beverages, even though neither of those things are within reach during the long, cold months of January, February and March. On days that you wish you were poolside but the weather is better suited for cold weather comfort food, you can combine the two: coconut cream pie oatmeal.

Oatmeal is a great go-to for breakfast, especially in the winter when you crave something that will stick to your ribs during the morning commute. As it so happens, Quaker® is currently hosting their National Bring Your Best Bowl Contest, where anyone can enter a recipe for a chance to win $250,000. The winning recipe entries will be created and sold in stores for a limited time this fall  (Just keep in mind recipes should be two to five ingredients – simple!). The contest is underway and will end on March 12, 2016. Winners will be announced in November 2016.

Over the past several years,  Target stores have popped up all over Chicago and because I’m a marketer’s dream, I can’t seem to make it through their kitchen aisles without stocking up on new wine glasses, a new-to-me flavor of gelato or a new table runner for a dinner party I might have six months from now. Yeah, I won’t be retiring anytime in the next 40 years.

This weekend, I was completely seduced by the Quaker® display in Target’s grocery section. Don’t worry…I also bought about 17 Valentine’s Day cards, two cereal bowls, and a set of dish towels. I also stocked up on Quaker® Oats so that I could bring my own best bowl for this week’s breakfasts.

Because Chicago winters are a serious drag, it can be extremely difficult to wake up in the morning. It helps me to set my coffee maker the night before, but unless the promise of a great breakfast or brunch is on the horizon, coffee alone doesn’t do the trick. A great way to start the day…and escape from winter… is by adding some summery flair to your morning bowl of oats.

To me, nothing says summer like coconut, so a delicious bowl of oats based on an indulgent dessert is a great way to start the day. I used coconut milk, greek yogurt, almonds and some shredded coconut to make my oatmeal, but toasted oats, graham cracker crumbs or sliced almonds are all perfect ingredients to add some pizzazz to your bowl.

How will you “bring your best bowl?” next time you make your morning oatmeal? You can visit Quaker® online for inspiration and learn more about how to enter the “Bring Your Best Bowl” sweepstakes on the online hub.