Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal (Printable)
Warm spiced oatmeal baked with carrots, raisins, and nuts for a comforting breakfast.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
03 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
04 - 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
05 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 2 cups milk (dairy or plant-based)
09 - 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 - 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
12 - 1/4 cup melted coconut oil or unsalted butter
→ Add-ins
13 - 1 1/2 cups finely grated carrots (about 2 medium carrots)
14 - 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
15 - 1/2 cup raisins
16 - 2 tablespoons shredded unsweetened coconut (optional)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x9 inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, stir together the rolled oats, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, applesauce, and melted coconut oil 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 until evenly dispersed throughout the batter.
06 - Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Smooth the surface with a spatula for uniform baking.
07 - Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is firm and set. A toothpick inserted in the middle should come out clean.
08 - Let cool in the dish for 10 minutes before slicing into portions. Serve warm or at room temperature.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It tastes like carrot cake but you can eat it for breakfast without a single guilty thought.
- Everything gets mixed in one bowl and then the oven does all the work while you sip your coffee.
02 -
- Do not skip the ten minute resting period or your slices will fall apart into a steamy mess.
- Finely grating the carrots rather than coarsely shredding them makes a huge difference in how the texture turns out.
03 -
- Grate your carrots on the finest holes of the box grater so they practically disappear into the oatmeal.
- Let the wet mixture cool slightly if your coconut oil is very warm, otherwise the eggs can start to scramble before you even get things into the oven.