Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal (Print Page)
Wholesome morning bake with carrots, warm spices, raisins, and nuts for a cozy breakfast.
# What You Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
03 - ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
04 - ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
05 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
06 - ¼ teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 2 cups milk (dairy or plant-based)
09 - ⅓ cup maple syrup or honey
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 - ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
12 - ¼ cup melted coconut oil or unsalted butter
→ Add-ins
13 - 1 ½ cups finely grated carrots (about 2 medium carrots)
14 - ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
15 - ½ cup raisins
16 - 2 tablespoons shredded unsweetened coconut (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×9-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, stir together the oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, applesauce, and melted coconut oil until smooth and well blended.
04 - Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
05 - Gently fold in the grated carrots, chopped nuts, raisins, and shredded coconut (if using) until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
06 - Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and use a spatula to spread it into an even layer, smoothing the top.
07 - Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is firmly set. A toothpick inserted in the middle should come out clean.
08 - Let the baked oatmeal cool in the dish for 10 minutes before slicing into portions. Serve warm or at room temperature.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It tastes like dessert but fuels you like a proper breakfast should, which feels like getting away with something sneaky and wonderful.
- The texture walks a perfect line between creamy oatmeal and a slice of cake, making every bite interesting and deeply comforting.
- You probably already have every single ingredient sitting in your pantry right now.
02 -
- Do not substitute quick oats because they collapse into a gummy texture that no amount of toppings can rescue, and I speak from the disappointment of a ruined Sunday morning.
- Squeeze excess moisture from your grated carrots with a clean towel if they seem very wet, because too much liquid makes the center soggy and sad instead of beautifully set.
- Leftovers keep beautifully in the fridge for up to 5 days and actually taste better the next day when the flavors have had time to mingle and deepen overnight.
03 -
- Toast your nuts in a dry pan for 3 to 4 minutes before adding them because this one small step transforms them from acceptable to absolutely irresistible.
- For a vegan version use flax eggs mixed with warm water and let them sit for 5 minutes until gloppy, because that weird gel texture is exactly what holds everything together beautifully.