Winter Quarter Isla Vista is still warm by most standards (does it really ever drop below 50?), but those 7:50 a.m. bike rides to campus can make it feel like you’re cycling across Alaska. When the temperature drops and the rain clouds roll in, the best way to prepare yourself for a brisk bike ride to class is with a delicious, hot bowl of oatmeal. Here are three takes on this breakfast classic to keep you nice and warm for the winter months to come.

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Oats
½ cup rolled oats
1 cup water
2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tbsp peanut butter
1 banana, sliced
Honey (as much as desired)

In a small pot, bring 1 cup of water and ½ cup rolled oats to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cover until the oats absorb all of the liquid. Stir in cocoa powder and transfer to a bowl. Top with peanut butter, sliced banana and drizzled honey.

Sautéd Apple and Cinnamon Oatmeal
½ cup rolled oats
1 cup water
1 apple, diced
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp butter
Chia seeds

In a small pot, bring 1 cup of water and ½ cup rolled oats to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cover until the oats absorb all of the liquid. Melt the butter in a pan and sauté the diced apples over medium heat until soft. Stir in the maple syrup and cinnamon to the oatmeal and transfer to a bowl. Top with cooked apples and chia seeds.

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Steel Cut Oats with Berry Compote
½ cup steel cut oats
1½ cup water
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp honey
Handful blueberries
Handful blackberries
Chia seeds

In a small pot, bring 1½ cup water and ½ cup steel cut oats to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover until all the liquid is absorbed. In a saucepan, cook lemon juice, honey and berries over medium heat until they have reduced down to a jam-like consistency. Pour berry compote over oats and top with chia seeds.

Helpful Tips:
If you want your oatmeal a bit richer, make it with ½ cup water and ½ cup milk. Also, you’ll want to make sure you turn the temperature pretty low while you’re cooking the oats, they’ll turn out far better than if you blast them on a high temperature.

All three of these takes on oatmeal are perfect for gloomy mornings. Not only will they keep you nice and warm, but they’ll provide you with the perfect amount of energy to make it through these cold and dreary Winter Quarter days.