Easy, moist Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal studded with walnuts and topped with healthy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for breakfast but good enough for dessert!
Spring is upon us!
I’m ready and waiting for all things carrot cake, asparagus, and lemon. We’re commencing the spring escapades today with a delectable baked oatmeal recipe that’s a triple threat of breakfast, snack, and dessert.
I adore it 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.
Packed with healthy ingredients like whole grain oats, walnuts, and flax, they’re not overly sweet but I promise you they’re suuuuper flavorful.
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!
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.
The Directions:
1. Combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
2. Combine the wet ingredients in a liquid measuring cup.
3. Combine wet with dry. Give it all a stir and then fold in the grated carrot.
4. Bake for 45 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.
5. Make the frosting while you wait. Allow oatmeal to fully cool before topping with frosting.
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!
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
Now get your healthy carrot cake on, spring chicken!
Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 9 bars 1x
- Category: Breakfast/Snack
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
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
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup ground flax
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar or organic brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 2 tbsp melted butter or coconut oil
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup milk (I used unsweetened vanilla almond)
- 1 large egg (use flax “egg” for vegan)
- 1 cup grated carrot
- 1/2 batch of Healthy Cream Cheese Frosting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and grease an 8×8 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Stir together oats, flax, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, walnuts, and salt in a large bowl.
- 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.
- 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
Spring perfection in one dish! Easy to assemble, it makes the whole kitchen smell absolutely lovely while it bakes, & it tastes incredible. I loved baked oatmeal & need to make it more often. Absolute winner.
★★★★★
Yayyyy! You’re so kind, Kori. I agree–totally like a candle!!
This is SO GOOD! Easy to make and my family loved it.
★★★★★
Fabulous!!
Baked carrot cake Grilled oatmeal with quite attractive cream. The formula you share is quite meticulous. I will save and apply.
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So amazing and simple! We have been eating off this since yesterday, and my toddler loves it too which is a total win in my book! Love when recipes secretly contain vegetables and other healthy ingredients. xoxo
★★★★★
Yayyy, thank you so much, Melissa!
This recipe was SO good and easy to make! It’s perfect for the morning because it’s not too sweet and hearty. Loved it!
★★★★★
Love it! Thanks a ton, Jessica 🙂
Wahoo! So easy and yummy! Made 2 batches right away for my family and my coworkers – it’s a hit!
★★★★★
You rock! All star chef over there 🙂 Thanks, Emily!
The orange juice sounded weird to me but I had some so why not!? In the end it added a kick to what can sometimes be bland oatmeal. We added some raisins And honey for a little more sweetness since we didn’t have cream cheese-it tasted great without the frosting!
★★★★★
Wonderful! I love that you put your own spin on it 🙂
Okay, so um YES! I love this idea and I’m trying to figure out why it’s never been in my life. I have to try it.
Let me know if you try it, Tori!
This recipe was easy and it came out absolutely delicious! I made mine into muffins because I didn’t have the right size pan- and they are SO good. I didn’t have orange juice so I did a small splash of lemon juice and they were still amazing. Even my fiancée loved these and he’s a tough critic when it comes to my Healthy (ish) recipes.. I would definitely recommend making these!
★★★★★
Mmmm sounds so good! I love the lemon juice and almond milk sub. Did you bake them for the same amount of time? Thanks for reviewing, Erin!
Oh gosh, this sounds so perfect!! I have everything but the cream cheese. I will add it to my list and plan to make this over the weekend. Thank you!
Yayyy! Can’t wait for you to try 🙂
Easy to follow, simple, delicious recipe! My family loved it too! Came out exactly like the photo.
★★★★★
Fabulous! Thanks for letting me know you and your family loved it, Aliza.
I made these and they are sooo good! They are the perfect spring time recipe with limited effort!! I’ll definitely keep making these with all of my free time! 🙂
★★★★★
Yayy thanks so much, Barb! You made my day 🙂
Omg heaven meets earth
★★★★★
Hahahah thanks Mom!! I know you love the walnuts!!
Such a quick and easy snack idea! The frosting is such a treat too!
★★★★★
Such a treat! Thanks, Dylan 🙂
The frosting is soooo good! These are my new favorite snack. You’re right–the orange juice is key. 10/10!
★★★★★
Thanks, Joy!!