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    Hummusapien » Recipes » Breakfast » Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal

    Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal

    Published Apr 13, 2020 · Modified Dec 2, 2021 · by Alexis Joseph · 73 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Easy, moist Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal studded with walnuts and topped with healthy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for breakfast but good enough for dessert!

    carrot cake baked oatmeal bite on small plate

    Spring is upon us!

    I adore this recipe because it feels like such a fun snack. Why don't we frost our snacks more often?! It feels so dang special. And now I don't know how I lived without a bowl of cream cheese frosting in my fridge at all times.

    We've got plenty of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg for classic carrot cake flavor but the orange juice is the real kicker, here. It lends not only natural sweetness, but also a splendid brightness and acidity that gives major life to this oatmeal.

    And with a luscious whipped cream cheese frosting made with Greek yogurt and sweetened with maple syrup, we are in serious carrot cake business. Bring on the tang!

    How to Make Baked Oatmeal

    Be sure to jump to the full recipe below for complete instructions. If you're cooking with kids, I urge you to have them help grate the carrot!

    up close gold fork with frosted baked oatmeal

    The ingredients:

    • Old fashioned (or rolled) oats are the base. Use certified gluten free oats to make this recipe gluten free. Don't use steel cut (save those for my Overnight Steel Cut Oatmeal).
    • Coconut sugar is my favorite naturally-derived dry sweetener, but organic brown sugar is great as well.
    • Ground flaxseed is great for a boost of fiber and brain-boosting omega-3 fats. Always store flax in the fridge to protect those fats! If you don't have any, you can use more oats or some chia seeds.
    • Walnuts are another excellent addition for omega-3 fats while adding crunch. You can use pecans, too. Toast them for even more flavor.
    • Spices + salt: A mix of Saigon cinnamon, ground ginger, and nutmeg for classic carrot cake vibes. You can also add a pinch of cloves. Salt is important for flavor and helps bring out the sweetness.
    • Egg helps bind everything together.
    • Orange juice is key for lending natural sweetness, tang, and brightness. Don't skip it!
    • Milk: any kind works...the richer the milk, the richer the oatmeal will be. I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk.
    • Butter adds flavor and richness. Salted or unsalted melted butter both work. You can also use vegan butter or coconut oil.
    • Grated carrot because....carrot cake! I use large, peeled carrots that are freshly grated versus the store-bought kind which tend to be less moist.

    bowl of dry ingredients

    How to Serve Baked Oatmeal

    My favorite way to serve this is cold out of the refrigerator topped with cream cheese frosting, but below are a couple more suggestions. Don't miss these Healthy Oatmeal Recipes for more inspiration, too!

    • Serve with nut butter. If cream cheese frosting isn't your jam, try topping with a smear of almond or peanut butter. So satisfying!
    • Serve with yogurt. I love this idea for a hearty breakfast where the cool, creamy yogurt complements the hearty baked oatmeal perfectly.
    • Enjoy on the go. Slice into bars and wrap individually as needed for portable snacking anytime!

    glass bowl of cream cheese frosting

    How to Store Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal

    Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. I like to keep the frosting in a separate container in the fridge so I can frost right before I eat the bar, and also so I can smear the frosting on other things (like pancakes!).

    You can also portion the oatmeal into slices, place on a lined baking sheet so there is space between each piece, and freeze. Once frozen, store in a freezer baggie. Another option is to freeze each piece individually wrapped in plastic wrap.

    Craving more oatmeal goodness? Don't miss these other amazing oatmeal recipes:

    • Chocolate Almond Butter Oatmeal Bars
    • Salted Chocolate Covered Oatmeal Bites
    • Blueberry Banana Nut Baked Oatmeal
    • Healthy Blueberry Oatmeal Snack Bars
    • Banana Zucchini Oatmeal Cups

    up close carrot cake baked oatmeal bar hand held

    Now get your healthy carrot cake on, spring chicken!

    Print
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    carrot cake baked oatmeal bite on small plate

    Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal Recipe

    ★★★★★ 5 from 30 reviews
    • Author: Alexis Joseph | Hummusapien
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 45 minutes
    • Total Time: 1 hour
    • Yield: 9 bars 1x
    • Category: Breakfast/Snack
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Easy, moist Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal studded with walnuts and topped with healthy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for breakfast but good enough for dessert!


    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 2 cups old-fashioned oats
    • ¼ cup ground flax
    • ⅓ cup coconut sugar or organic brown sugar
    • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
    • 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
    • ¾ tsp ginger
    • ¼ tsp nutmeg
    • ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
    • ½ tsp fine sea salt
    • 2 tbsp melted butter or coconut oil
    • 1 cup orange juice
    • ½ cup milk (I used unsweetened vanilla almond)
    • 1 large egg (use flax "egg" for vegan)
    • 1 cup grated carrot
    • ½ batch of Healthy Cream Cheese Frosting

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350F and grease an 8x8 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
    2. Stir together oats, flax, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, walnuts, and salt in a large bowl.
    3. Melt butter in a liquid measuring cup. Add orange juice, milk, and egg and whisk to combine. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Fold in grated carrot.
    4. Bake for 45 minutes. Cool completely before slicing into bars and topping with frosting.

    Notes

    • To store: Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. I like to keep the frosting in a separate container in the fridge so I can frost right before I eat the bar, and also so I can smear the frosting on other things (like pancakes!).
    • To freeze: Portion the oatmeal into slices, place on a lined baking sheet so there is space between each piece, and freeze. Once frozen, store in a freezer baggie. Another option is to freeze each piece individually wrapped in plastic wrap.

    Keywords: carrot cake baked oatmeal, healthy breakfast

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @hummusapien on Instagram. I love sharing what you make!

    About Alexis Joseph

    Oh HEY there! I'm Alexis Joseph, food writer, blogger, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), new mama, and co-founder of local restaurant group, Alchemy. I use my passion for cooking and wellness as fuel to help others ignite a more freeing and happy relationship with food. Learn more about Alexis!

    5 Secrets to Delish, Healthy Lunches

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Maude says

      December 02, 2021 at 6:19 pm

      How much oat do I need to add to replace the ground flaxseed?
      Can't wait to try it!
      Thank you

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        December 02, 2021 at 8:01 pm

        Hi! I've never made without flax but you can try an equal portion of oats? Enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Debi Williams says

      August 10, 2021 at 5:38 pm

      What size pan for doubling the recipe? 13x9? would this be good warm from the oven for breakfast? Sounds awesome!

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        August 10, 2021 at 5:54 pm

        Yep 13x9 should work!

        Reply
    3. Lindsay says

      April 19, 2021 at 11:28 pm

      This recipe is ridiculously good! Amazing. Delicious. It’s definitely going to be a staple in my house. Yum! Thank you for the recipe!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        April 21, 2021 at 12:58 am

        Fabulous, thanks a ton Lindsay! So glad this was a winner.

        Reply
    4. Sandra says

      February 17, 2021 at 5:49 pm

      Can this be made as muffins?

      Reply
    5. Erin says

      December 02, 2020 at 5:37 pm

      delicious! Best way to use up leftover carrots. I prep this for the week for easy grab & go breakfasts. I appreciate the subtle sweetness--not too overpowering.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        December 02, 2020 at 7:51 pm

        Yayy! You must try the cream cheese topping too, so good!

        Reply
    6. Sarah says

      November 21, 2020 at 12:05 am

      This is excellent! I was in a time crunch, so I didn't wait until it cooled so I didn't cut it into bars. I just scooped it out into a bowl and placed a dollop of the icing on top. When I make again, I think I'd add a bit more coconut sugar for extra sweetness!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        November 21, 2020 at 8:57 pm

        Sounds perfect, thanks Sarah!!

        Reply
        • Nic says

          February 28, 2021 at 4:10 pm

          This is currently in the oven, smells DELISH. Quick question: the recipe shows that it yields 9 bars but the nutrition facts show 12 servings so just double-checking which is correct? Thanks!

          Reply
          • Alexis Joseph says

            February 28, 2021 at 4:27 pm

            Oops--just fixed so they both reflect 9 bars. Hope you love them. Nic!

    7. CJ says

      November 01, 2020 at 12:06 am

      I’m making this for my sweet step-Dad for his 85th birthday....he LOVES carrot cake, and eats very healthy. this recipe sounds AMAZING, but can you taste the carrots? (of course with the carrots being freshly grated). or, does anyone think a bit more carrots should be added? i only have a few days to make this before we travel, so your quick response/comments are GREATLY appreciated!! Blessings to you and thank you for your time!!

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        November 01, 2020 at 6:54 pm

        Hi there, I'd say the carrot taste is balanced here, although please note that this is very different from carrot cake 🙂 More dense and of course like oatmeal versus cake. You could try grinding a portion of the oats into oat flour for more fluff. If you add more carrots, it could throw off the moisture--I've only tried this as written. Enjoy and happy bday to your step-Dad!

        Reply
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    Well HELLO there, pal! I'm Alexis. Welcome to Hummusapien, a fantastical food blog brimming with nourishing (always delish!) recipes from a Registered Dietitian plus life tidbits to inspire you to live your most joyful, balanced life. Grab a super hot cup o' joe and let's get cookin'.

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