The Pursuit of Running

Recipe: Tiramisu Protein Overnight Oat Parfait

Tiramisu, in and of itself, is nothing short of extraordinary. It’s an intermingling of all the best textures and flavors in one, sending all of your senses on an orgasmic ride. While drumming up ideas for my next dessert-inspired breakfast, I could have kicked myself for not thinking of pursuing this flavor sooner. My mind then immediately jumped to the best tiramisu on the planet: Mama’s! When it comes to the classic Italian dessert, there is no recipe better than my mother’s, which is why I based this oat parfait on the recipe to her rich, chocolatey, creamy and downright luscious masterpiece. Of course, mom’s tiramisu is nothing short of a diabetic’s (and clean eater’s) nightmare. Lady fingers, sugar, marscarpone cheese, whipped cream, sweetened cocoa powder= fat and sugar, no bueno. Time to healthify! Let your oats be your lady finger cookies, Greek yogurt be the silky cream and your mind be the vessel to this slow, easy, decadently indulgent road down to tiramisu breakfast heaven. 

Tiramisu Protein Overnight Oat Parfait

1/3 cup GF rolled oats

1/2 tsp cocoa powder

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/8 tsp almond extract

2/3 cup water

2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk (or regular, or other non-dairy milk) 

1 tbsp chia seed

1/4 cup brewed, cooled espresso coffee 

3/4 cup or one serving of plain Greek yogurt 

1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder 

dash cinnamon 

Cocoa powder —> maybe 1tsp or so more, depending on your own tastes and whether you’d like to use it or not. 

stevia - about 2-3 packets, depending on your tastes 

For the topping: 1/3 of a banana, 1 tsp cocoa powder, stevia, pinch cinnamon, cooking spray 

(1)The night before, combine the oats, cocoa powder, stevia, pinch of cinnamon, vanilla and water in a bowl and microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until the liquid is mostly, if not all, absorbed. Then add the almond extract, chia seed, 2 tbsp of almond milk and espresso. Stir to combine, cover and place in the fridge overnight. 

(2) Heat your oven to 375*. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Cut 1/3 of a banana into coins. In a bowl, combine cocoa powder, stevia and a pinch of cinnamon. Plop the coins in to coat, place on the baking sheet and bake for about 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove from the oven and set aside. 

(3) In a bowl, combine the yogurt with vanilla protein powder and a couple drops of vanilla. Stir with a fork until well combined. Time to assemble! In a cup, place a spoonful of espresso-infused oats, a spoonful of yogurt, then a dusting of cocoa powder. Repeat the process - oats+yogurt/’cream’+cocoa powder - until you’re out of things to layer! Then top with baked banana coins. 

(4) FEAST! But take it slow. Trust me. 

And the saddest part of my morning…

Now, I have to ask: Do you want some tiramisu for breakfast?