Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal (Print View)
Cozy and wholesome baked oatmeal with carrots, raisins, and warm spices.
# What You Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
03 - ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
04 - ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
05 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
06 - ¼ teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 2 cups milk (dairy or plant-based)
09 - ⅓ cup maple syrup or honey
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 - ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
12 - ¼ cup melted coconut oil or unsalted butter
→ Add-ins
13 - 1 ½ cups finely grated carrots (about 2 medium carrots)
14 - ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
15 - ½ cup raisins
16 - 2 tablespoons shredded unsweetened coconut (optional)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×9 inch baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, stir together the rolled oats, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, maple syrup or honey, vanilla extract, unsweetened applesauce, and melted coconut oil until smooth and well blended.
04 - Pour the wet ingredient 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 fully set. A toothpick inserted in the middle should come out clean.
08 - Allow the baked oatmeal to cool in the dish for 10 minutes before slicing into portions. Serve warm or at room temperature.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- It honestly tastes like carrot cake but you can eat it on a Tuesday morning without any guilt.
- Everything gets mixed in one bowl and the oven does the real work while you sip coffee.
02 -
- Grate the carrots as finely as possible because coarse shreds stay crunchy even after baking and that texture catches people off guard.
- Letting the baked oatmeal cool fully before refrigerating helps the squares firm up and makes reheating much easier.
03 -
- Toast the nuts in a dry skillet for three minutes before adding them because that one small step makes a huge difference in flavor.
- Squeeze the grated carrots in a clean towel before adding them to remove excess moisture and prevent a soggy center.