Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal (Printer-Friendly)
Wholesome baked oatmeal with carrots, raisins, and warm spices reminiscent of carrot cake.
# What You'll 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 Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x9 inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, stir together the oats, 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 fold 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 smooth the surface evenly with a spatula.
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 the baked oatmeal cool in the dish for 10 minutes before slicing into portions. Serve warm or at room temperature.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It captures everything you crave about carrot cake but eats like a nourishing breakfast you can feel good about all week.
- You prep it in one bowl mentality, slide it in the oven, and go about your morning while the house fills with cinnamon and toasted walnuts.
02 -
- Squeeze excess moisture from the grated carrots with a clean towel before adding them or your baked oatmeal will turn soggy in the center.
- Check the oatmeal at the 30 minute mark because every oven runs differently and the difference between perfect and overdone is only a few minutes.
03 -
- Toast the nuts in a dry skillet for three minutes before adding them because that one extra step doubles their flavor and makes the whole dish taste more complex.
- Let the wet mixture sit for five minutes after whisking before combining it with the dry ingredients because this gives the maple syrup and vanilla time to meld into something richer.