Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal (Printable version)

Warm baked oats with grated carrot, cinnamon, raisins and walnuts - a wholesome, easy breakfast or brunch option.

# What you need:

→ Dry Base

01 - 2 cups rolled oats
02 - 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
03 - ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
04 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
05 - ¼ teaspoon salt

→ Fruits, Vegetables & Nuts

06 - 1½ cups finely grated carrots (about 3 medium carrots)
07 - ½ cup raisins (or chopped dates)
08 - ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

→ Wet Ingredients

09 - 2 cups milk (dairy or unsweetened plant-based)
10 - 2 large eggs
11 - ⅓ cup pure maple syrup or honey
12 - 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil or unsalted butter
13 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

# How To:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish with butter or coconut oil.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, baking powder, and salt. Stir until evenly distributed.
03 - Add the finely grated carrots, raisins, and chopped walnuts to the dry mixture. Toss gently to coat everything evenly.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully incorporated.
05 - Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
06 - Spread the oatmeal mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish, pressing it into an even layer.
07 - Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the center is set and the top is lightly golden brown.
08 - Allow the baked oatmeal to cool for 10 minutes before slicing into squares. Serve warm on its own or topped with a dollop of yogurt.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It captures everything you crave about carrot cake but works as a legitimate breakfast you can feel good about.
  • You can prep it the night before and just pop it in the oven, which makes lazy weekends even sweeter.
02 -
  • If your grated carrots are too coarse, they will not soften properly during baking and you will get chewy shreds instead of that melting tenderness.
  • Letting the baked oatmeal rest the full 10 minutes is not optional, because it continues to set as it cools and slices much cleaner.
03 -
  • Grate the carrots on the finest holes of your box grater, or pulse them in a food processor, because the finer the shred the more seamlessly they blend into the bake.
  • A drizzle of warm maple syrup over each serving right before eating takes this from really good to completely irresistible.

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