Carrot Cake Oatmeal Recipe
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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!
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
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.
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 â…› teaspoon ground ginger (as garnish)
- Frosting – If you don’t mind the refined sugar
Ingredient Checklist
â…” 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
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.
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
Click on the image to be taken to that product on Amazon. (Affiliate links)
More Healthy Oatmeal Recipes
Carrot Cake Oatmeal Recipe Card + Video
Recipe contributed by Sheri Hyman (Brooklyn, NY)
Carrot Cake Oatmeal Recipe
CLICK TO WATCH THIS RECIPE IN ACTION!
Ingredients
- â…” 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)
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.
- When oats are fully cooked, remove from heat and pour into a bowl. Top with any toppings you enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe from the Gracious Pantry archives, originally posted 2/12/11.
Who me?
I'm Tiffany, a cookbook author, food lover, mom, and writer for MSN and the AP Newswire.
  Â
Looking to stock your freezer for busy weeknights?
I wrote the book! Grab a copy of my book, Clean Eating Freezer Meals on Amazon here, or at select bookstores nationwide! Â Â
Did you make one of my recipes?
Tag @graciouspantry on Instagram or post your pic on Facebook! I love to see my recipes in action!
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
Mel – Yum! Love your “icing” idea!
OOOOHHHHHH this came through while I was debating what to have for breakfast! Heading into the kitchen now!
Paulissa – Glad I could help!
I love anything carrot cake! It is a wonderful combination of flavors, especially in oatmeal. 🙂
Kelsey – Definitely! I really like the spice flavor. One of my favorite combinations!
Great idea.. I’ll have to try this!
Melissa – Hope you enjoy it!
This sounds so good! I have all the ingredients except steel cut oats. Do you think I could use rolled oats instead?
Ericka – Yes, any type of oats will work fine. Enjoy!
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 (:
Moriah – Fantastic! Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Brandy – It should! Let me know how it turns out!
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
Jen – Fabulous! Healthy cooking does NOT have to be difficult. I’m glad you’re enjoying my recipes!
HW – That’s great! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I just made it this morning for the first time. I added a little bit of honey and some flax seed. Absolutely delicious!!!
Trudy – Fantastic! I’m happy you enjoyed it!
I cooked to package directions using the ingredients listed in my recipe.
Jaynelein – Fantastic! I hope you enjoy them both!
Sally – That’s awesome!!
Could you cook this in a slow cooker?
You could, but you would have to adjust the liquid content to accommodate the longer cooking time.
You can try it, but I think you would need more liquid.
I have always wanted to try to make carrot oatmeal. I’m definitely going to have to try this recipe!
I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
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
My pleasure!
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.
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?
Caroann – You have to cook the oats until they are cooked through.
Can you use regular oatmeal.
Maryann – You mean Traditional Oats? Sure!
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?
Shab – Most oatmeal will last a few days. But it freezes really well too.
Hi made this for breakfast. I added a pinch of turmeric becase im a spice girl. .. thanks for all idea.
Pascale – My pleasure!
Does it go like a cake or like porrige consistency?
Tegan – I’m not sure what you mean. It’s definitely oatmeal. It just tastes like carrot cake.