Healthy Carrot Cake Oatmeal

If you love carrot cake, you are going to love this carrot cake oatmeal recipe! It’s packed with all the flavors of traditional carrot cake but in a healthy breakfast. 

There is something so deliciously comforting about carrot cake. The nuttiness of pecans, the sweetness of cinnamon and raisins, it’s a perfect combination of flavors. And now you can have it for breakfast with this super easy, super filling carrot cake oatmeal.

This breakfast comes together in minutes and is a great way to start the day (you even sneak in some nutrient-packed veggies and a serving of whole grains).

With 8g of fiber per serving, this recipe is sure to fill you up and delight your taste buds with real carrot cake flavor. (And may lower your cholesterol thanks to the oats!)

Ingredients for Carrot Cake Oatmeal

Use these simple and fresh ingredients packed with nutritional value to make your new oatmeal recipe. 

• Old Fashioned Oats: you could also use quick oats if you prefer, I just like the texture of old fashioned rolled oats better. Steel cut oats will also work, you’ll just need to cook it much longer or soak them overnight before cooking. Use gluten free certified oats to make a gluten free version.
• Milk: use your favorite milk of choice, both dairy or nondairy milk will work well for this recipe. I like to use almond milk.
• Shredded Carrot: I like to finely shred my fresh carrots on the smaller side of the grater. You can also shred them in a food processor if you prefer.
• Spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg): these add all the warm flavors of carrot cake but in oatmeal form. Don’t skip the pinch of salt since it helps bring out all the flavors in your oatmeal.
• Maple syrup: adds a bit of natural sweetness and the maple flavor pairs well with the spices in these oats. You can also use honey, agave, brown sugar, or a sugar free sweetener if you prefer.

Variations

Make it dairy free and vegan: use non-dairy milk like soy milk, oat milk, or almond milk.

Make it gluten free: use certified gluten free oats.

Add protein: if you want to bump up the protein in your oats, stir in 1 scoop of unsweetened vanilla protein powder when cooking. 

Use zucchini instead: don’t have carrots or maybe you don’t like them? Use shredded zucchini instead of carrots in this recipe. 

How to Make Carrot Cake Oatmeal

This carrot cake oatmeal is simple to put together in a few steps. 

Cook the Oats: To make stovetop oatmeal, add all of the carrot cake oatmeal ingredients except for the walnuts and coconut to a small pot. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat.

Garnish and Serve: Simmer oats until thickened to desired consistency (about 5 minutes). Transfer to bowl and garnish with desired toppings like a dollop of yogurt and a drizzle of maple syrup.

Storage/Meal Prep: If you want to meal prep these oats in advance, just store the cooked oatmeal in an airtight container in the fridge then reheat on the stovetop or microwave; add in a splash of milk if needed to thin it out. 

Tips for Making the Best Carrot Cake Oatmeal

Here are our expert tips on how to make the best tasting carrot cake oatmeal recipe:

• Finely grate your carrots. The smaller you shred the carrots, the softer they cook in the oats as well. Use the smallest option on your box grater. 
• Sweeten to taste. For one serving of oatmeal, I usually add about 1 tablespoon of maple syrup. Feel free to adjust the sweetener to your liking. You can also use honey, coconut sugar, or brown sugar. Sugar free sweeteners work as well, just adjust how much you add according to the package.

What are the Best Toppings to Add to Carrot Cake Oatmeal?

A secret to delicious oatmeal is toppings! Here are a few of my favorites: 

• Chopped Nuts – pecans, walnuts, or cashews
• Nut Butter – almond butter is our go-to
• Shredded Coconut or Coconut Flakes
• Raisins
• Vanilla Greek Yogurt
• Cream Cheese

Can I Make this Recipe into Carrot Cake Overnight Oats?

Yes! You can easily make this recipe into overnight oats instead of hot oats. Just add all of your ingredients to an airtight container and stir well.

Cover with a lid and let them sit at least 4 hours or overnight in the refrigerator until thickened. Top as desired with chopped nuts, raisins, or coconut flakes and serve. 

What are the Best Spices to Add to Carrot Cake Oatmeal for an Authentic Flavor?

For an authentic carrot cake flavor, we like to use cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Allspice is another common spice in carrot cake, but not everyone has that one in their pantry.