Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal (Printable Version)
A wholesome breakfast combining spiced carrot flavors with hearty baked oats, nuts, and raisins.
# What You Need:
→ Dry Base
01 - 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
03 - ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
04 - 1 tsp baking powder
05 - ¼ tsp salt
→ Wet Mixture
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 2 cups milk (dairy or non-dairy)
08 - ⅓ cup maple syrup or honey
09 - 2 tsp vanilla extract
→ Add-ins
10 - 1 ½ cups grated carrots (about 2 medium carrots)
11 - ½ cup walnuts or pecans, chopped
12 - ½ cup raisins
13 - 2 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut (optional)
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8x8-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together the rolled oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, maple syrup or honey, and vanilla extract 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, distributing evenly throughout the batter.
06 - Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish, pressing gently to create a uniform layer.
07 - Bake on the center rack for 35 to 40 minutes until the top is lightly golden and the center is set. A toothpick inserted in the middle should come out clean.
08 - Allow to cool in the dish for 10 minutes before slicing into squares. Serve warm with a dollop of yogurt or an extra drizzle of maple syrup.
# Helpful Hints:
01 -
- It tastes like carrot cake but you can eat it for breakfast without a single ounce of guilt.
- The whole thing comes together in one bowl and bakes while you do literally anything else.
- Leftovers reheat beautifully so you can meal prep an entire week of cozy mornings.
02 -
- Do not skip greasing the dish because baked oatmeal sticks stubbornly and you will lose half your breakfast to the pan.
- Squeeze excess moisture out of the grated carrots with a paper towel before adding them or the oatmeal can turn soggy in the center.
03 -
- Grate the carrots on the finest holes of your box grater so they practically disappear into the oatmeal and picky eaters never notice them.
- Let the baked oatmeal sit overnight in the fridge before reheating because the flavors deepen and it tastes even better the next day.