Carrot Cake Oatmeal Recipe

Ready to have carrot cake for breakfast? Carrot Cake Oatmeal that is…

If you love carrot cake, then this Carrot Cake Oatmeal may very well be the best bowl of oatmeal you’ll ever enjoy. It’s all that carrot cake goodness in your breakfast bowl!

A white bowl sitting on a white plate and filled with this Carrot Cake Oatmeal Recipe.

While it’s not exactly cake, it definitely delivers that “spice” you expect from carrot cake. It’s tasty, and a really great way to work some veggies into your breakfast!

What Is Carrot Cake Oatmeal?

Carrot cake oatmeal is oatmeal that has the flavor and seasoning of carrot cake! Only it’s healthy on top of being delicious.

Best Types of Oats for Carrot Cake Oatmeal

  • Steel-cut Oats – These are the healthiest oats you can use and will give you a chewier oatmeal. Only use these for stovetop cooking.
  • Traditional Oats – A.K.A. Old Fashioned or rolled oats. You can use these for stovetop cooking or for overnight oats. You can use these for stovetop cooking or for overnight oats.

Sweeteners To Use With This Carrot Cake Oatmeal

This recipe doesn’t call for sweeteners. This is on purpose because it has a certain amount of natural sweetness. You can sweeten this or not, depending on your tastes. If you choose to use a sweetener, sweeten to taste, but use caution. This recipe doesn’t require a lot of sweetener. A little goes a long way.

Liquid Sweeteners

  • Liquid stevia
  • Honey
  • Maple syrup

Dry Sweeteners

  • Coconut sugar
  • Sucanat
  • Monk fruit
A side view of a white bowl filled with this Carrot Cake Oatmeal and garnished with grated carrots and pecans.

How To Make This Carrot Cake Oatmeal for One Person

This recipe makes enough for 2 people. If you are cooking for one and don’t want leftovers, simply cut this recipe in half.

How To Make Carrot Cake Overnight Oats

To make overnight oats, only use traditional oats. Never use steel-cut oats or quick-oats.

Place traditional oats in a container with a lid (canning jars work great!). Add all the other ingredients to the dry oats, including the milk, and put the lid on. Set in the fridge overnight, and you’ll have carrot cake oatmeal ready to go in the morning! Just give it a good shake to get everything properly mixed. Sweeten to taste.

Dietary Changes

Gluten-Free – If you are gluten-free, simply use gluten-free oats.

Dairy-Free – Use non-dairy milk. Unsweetened almond milk works great.

Vegan – Use non-dairy milk.

A front view of a white bowl filled with Carrot Cake Oatmeal.

Topping Ideas

  • Chopped walnuts or pecans
  • Toasted, sweetened coconut flakes
  • Raisins – 2 tbsp. up to a ¼ cup per serving is about right.
  • Fresh grated ginger
  • Fresh grated carrots
  • Coconut flakes
  • Flaxseed – Hint: If this ends up too thin, you can thicken it again with a “flax egg”.
  • Chia seeds
  • Cream cheese
  • Fresh fruit
  • Greek yogurt
  • Coconut milk – Just a little for flavor
  • A ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (as garnish)
  • An ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger (as garnish)
  • Frosting – If you don’t mind the refined sugar

Ingredient Checklist

⅔ cup steel-cut oats (dry)

2½ cups milk of choice

½ cup shredded carrots

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp. nutmeg

1 pinch salt

extra grated carrots for garnish (optional)

nuts for garnish (optional – pecans and walnuts are really good)

How To Make Carrot Cake Oatmeal

A pot filled with all the Carrot Cake Oatmeal Recipe ingredients, ready to cook.

Bring milk, vanilla extract, carrots, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt to a boil, then add oats and simmer. Finish cooking to package directions. Watch carefully because milk boils over quickly and easily. Adjust your temperature as needed.

Carrot Cake Oatmeal poured into a white bowl and garnished with fresh grated carrots and chopped pecans.

When oats are fully cooked, remove from heat and pour into a bowl. Top with any toppings you enjoy.

How To Store Leftovers

Keep this in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to 3 days.

Freezing Carrot Cake Oatmeal

If you want to freeze this, place it in a freezer-safe container with an airtight lid and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.

How To Reheat Carrot Cake Oatmeal

  • From fridge – Reheat in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes, depending on how much is in the bowl. Or reheat over medium to high heat, in a pot on the stovetop by adding a little extra milk to loosen it up. Stir well as it heats.  You could potentially reheat this in the oven in a baking dish, but it’s not the best choice in this case.
  • From freezer – Thaw in the fridge overnight. Once thawed, follow the above directions.

Recipe Supplies

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More Healthy Oatmeal Recipes

Carrot Cake Oatmeal Recipe Card + Video

Recipe contributed by Sheri Hyman (Brooklyn, NY)

Copyright Information For The Gracious Pantry
A white bowl sitting on a white plate and filled with this Carrot Cake Oatmeal Recipe.

Carrot Cake Oatmeal Recipe

Have carrot cake for breakfast! In your morning bowl of oats, that is…
5 from 8 votes
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 132kcal

CLICK TO WATCH THIS RECIPE IN ACTION!

Ingredients

  • cup steel-cut oats (dry)
  • cups milk of choice
  • ½ cup shredded carrots
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp. nutmeg
  • 1 pinch salt
  • extra grated carrots for garnish (optional)
  • nuts for garnish (optional – pecans and walnuts are really good)

Instructions

  • Bring milk, vanilla extract, carrots, nutmeg, and cinnamon to a boil, then add oats. Finish cooking to package directions. Watch carefully because milk boils over quickly and easily. Adjust your temperature as needed.
    A pot filled with all the Carrot Cake Oatmeal Recipe ingredients, ready to cook.
  • When oats are fully cooked, remove from heat and pour into a bowl. Top with any toppings you enjoy.
    Carrot Cake Oatmeal poured into a white bowl and garnished with fresh grated carrots and chopped pecans.

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible. Data below does not include optional toppings listed at the end of the directions.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25the recipe | Calories: 132kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 174mg | Potassium: 56mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2675IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 174mg | Iron: 1mg

Recipe from the Gracious Pantry archives, originally posted 2/12/11.

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39 Comments

  1. I make something very similar except I add walnuts. Sometimes i also add “icing” which is really just plain Greek yogurt that I’ve sweetened and added vanilla to

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Mel – Yum! Love your “icing” idea!

  2. OOOOHHHHHH this came through while I was debating what to have for breakfast! Heading into the kitchen now!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Paulissa – Glad I could help!

  3. Kelsey @ Clean Teen Kelsey says:

    5 stars
    I love anything carrot cake! It is a wonderful combination of flavors, especially in oatmeal. 🙂

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Kelsey – Definitely! I really like the spice flavor. One of my favorite combinations!

  4. Great idea.. I’ll have to try this!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Melissa – Hope you enjoy it!

  5. This sounds so good! I have all the ingredients except steel cut oats. Do you think I could use rolled oats instead?

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Ericka – Yes, any type of oats will work fine. Enjoy!

  6. 5 stars
    Oh my gosh! I had this this morning for breakfast and topped it with non-dairy cream cheese (sweetened with stevia), walnuts, and unsweetened shredded coconut and it was SO good! Thank you so much for the recipe (:

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Moriah – Fantastic! Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂

  7. Anonymous says:

    Brandy – It should! Let me know how it turns out!

  8. Jen Kuhni says:

    Thank you so much! I just found your website and am in LOVE with it! You do such a great job, I’ve tried two recipes now, this and your alfredo sauce, the ease and the tastiness are amazing. Thank you!
    -Jenny Kuhni
    Ozark, AL

    1. Anonymous says:

      Jen – Fabulous! Healthy cooking does NOT have to be difficult. I’m glad you’re enjoying my recipes!

  9. Anonymous says:

    HW – That’s great! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

  10. 5 stars
    I just made it this morning for the first time. I added a little bit of honey and some flax seed. Absolutely delicious!!!

    1. Anonymous says:

      Trudy – Fantastic! I’m happy you enjoyed it!

  11. Anonymous says:

    I cooked to package directions using the ingredients listed in my recipe.

  12. graciouspantry says:

    Jaynelein – Fantastic! I hope you enjoy them both!

  13. graciouspantry says:

    Sally – That’s awesome!!

  14. Taylorlemay77 says:

    Could you cook this in a slow cooker?

    1. graciouspantry says:

      You could, but you would have to adjust the liquid content to accommodate the longer cooking time.

  15. graciouspantry says:

    You can try it, but I think you would need more liquid.

  16. I have always wanted to try to make carrot oatmeal. I’m definitely going to have to try this recipe!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      I hope you enjoy it. 🙂

  17. yetpraiser says:

    I added unswettened coconut and raisins. I think next time I would go easy on the nutmeg. i think it gave the oatmeal a bitter taste. Otherwise I enjoyed it. Thanks for the recipe

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      My pleasure!

  18. 5 stars
    I made this today and it was fantastic! I topped mine with just a little bit of honey and it was perfect! My husband ate this and he NEVER eats oatmeal.

  19. i’e never cooked steel cut oatmeal before. The recipe says to add oats to boiling mixture…. do you leave it simmer for a little, or a lot, or serve immediately?

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Caroann – You have to cook the oats until they are cooked through.

  20. Maryann Fiel says:

    Can you use regular oatmeal.

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Maryann – You mean Traditional Oats? Sure!

  21. I’m so excited to find this! My hubbs will love it. Just wondering how well it keeps. If I make a double batch of it, how long can it stay in the fridge?

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Shab – Most oatmeal will last a few days. But it freezes really well too.

  22. Pascale Devalet says:

    Hi made this for breakfast. I added a pinch of turmeric becase im a spice girl. .. thanks for all idea.

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Pascale – My pleasure!

  23. Does it go like a cake or like porrige consistency?

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Tegan – I’m not sure what you mean. It’s definitely oatmeal. It just tastes like carrot cake.