Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal (Print Version)
Warm baked oats with grated carrot, cinnamon, raisins and walnuts — a simple, nourishing breakfast bake.
# Recipe Ingredients:
→ Dry Base
01 - 2 cups rolled oats
02 - 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
03 - ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
04 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
05 - ¼ teaspoon kosher 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 whole milk or unsweetened plant-based milk
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 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, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - Add the grated carrots, raisins, and chopped walnuts to the dry mixture. Toss gently to coat everything evenly.
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 stir gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
06 - Spread the oatmeal mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish, pressing lightly to create a uniform layer.
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 - Allow the baked oatmeal to cool for 10 minutes before slicing into squares. Serve warm on its own or topped with a dollop of yogurt.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It gives you all the cozy spiced warmth of carrot cake without any frosting guilt or sugar crash before noon.
- You mix everything in two bowls and the oven does the real work while you sip coffee in your slippers.
- Leftovers reheat beautifully, so one batch can fuel an entire week of mornings with almost no effort.
02 -
- Underbaking by even five minutes leaves the center wet and gummy, so always check that the middle springs back when pressed gently.
- Squeezing excess moisture from the grated carrots before adding them prevents the bake from becoming soggy at the bottom.
- This dish freezes brilliantly in individual portions wrapped tightly in foil, making it a lifesaver for rushed weekday mornings.
03 -
- Toasting the walnuts in a dry skillet for three minutes before adding them deepens their flavor exponentially and is worth the extra step.
- If you want a slightly firmer slice that holds together like a bar, let the baked oatmeal cool completely before cutting instead of serving it warm.