Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal (Print Page)
Warm spiced baked oats with grated carrots, raisins and walnuts — nourishing breakfast for six.
# What You Need:
→ Grains & Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups rolled oats
02 - 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
03 - ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
04 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
05 - ¼ teaspoon salt
→ Fruits, Vegetables & Nuts
06 - 1½ cups finely grated carrots (about 3 medium carrots)
07 - ½ cup raisins (or chopped dates)
08 - ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
→ Wet Ingredients
09 - 2 cups milk (dairy or unsweetened plant-based)
10 - 2 large eggs
11 - ⅓ cup pure maple syrup or honey
12 - 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil or unsalted butter
13 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the rolled oats, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - Add the finely grated carrots, raisins, and chopped walnuts to the dry mixture. Stir until the add-ins are evenly coated.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract until smooth and well blended.
05 - Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and fold gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
06 - Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish, smoothing the top with a spatula.
07 - Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the center is set and the top is lightly golden. A toothpick inserted in the middle should come out clean.
08 - Let the baked oatmeal cool for 10 minutes before slicing into squares. Serve warm on its own or topped with a dollop of yogurt.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It gives you all the cozy spiced flavor of carrot cake without the sugar crash that follows a slice of the real thing.
- You can prep the whole thing in one bowl if you are lazy about dishes, which I almost always am on weekends.
02 -
- Grate the carrots as finely as you possibly can because coarse shreds will not soften enough during baking and you will end up with stringy oatmeal.
- Let the baked oatmeal rest those full ten minutes before cutting because it continues to set as it cools and slices much more cleanly.
03 -
- Pulse the carrots in a food processor instead of grating by hand if you want them extra fine and uniform without scraped knuckles.
- Toasting the walnuts in a dry pan for three minutes before adding them deepens their flavor dramatically and makes the whole dish more aromatic.