Start your day right with Carrot Cake Oatmeal. This baked oatmeal is made with steel-cut oats, shredded carrots, walnuts, crushed pineapple, and coconut milk to perfectly mimic the flavors of a decadent carrot cake--just made healthy enough for breakfast.
This Baked Steel-Cut Oatmeal was inspired by the flavors of classic Carrot Cake, like those found in my recipes for Instant Pot Carrot Cake Cheesecake and Carrot Cake Muffins. The oatmeal is rich and decadent tasting, yet is full of protein, fiber, and nutrients to power you through your day.
"Cake" for Breakfast
When you can eat cake for breakfast, you know it's going to be a good day!
And while Baked Oatmeal is not exactly cake, this recipe for baked oatmeal features the classic flavors of a carrot cake, from the shredded carrots to the sweet pineapple to the warm spices.
Baking steel-cut oats is a hands-off way to enjoy this hearty grain. It bakes up tender, while still retaining some chew and it absorbs the flavors of the additional ingredients--which in this case, that happens to be the flavors of Carrot Cake!
This healthy oatmeal recipe is a great way to enjoy cake for breakfast!
Notes on Ingredients
- Steel-Cut Oats: Use regular steel-cut oats, NOT quick cook steel-cut oats or rolled oats.
- Coconut Milk: Use canned full-fat or reduced-fat coconut milk for the best flavor in this baked oatmeal. If you don't have coconut milk or don't care for it, any other variety of milk or non-dairy milk can be substituted.
- Crushed Pineapple: For this recipe, use a 20 ounce can of crushed pineapple that is canned in 100% pineapple juice. Drain off the pineapple, using the juice and ½ cup of the crushed pineapple for the oatmeal.
- Carrots: Use bagged shredded carrots, or for finely shredded carrots, grate on a box grater yourself.
- Maple Syrup: Use only 100% pure maple syrup. Using pancake syrup will result in artificial tasting oatmeal.
- Eggs: The eggs in this recipe help the oatmeal to set up like cake. Omit them with no additional change to the recipe.
- Coconut Oil: A little bit of coconut oil adds to the luxuriousness of this oatmeal. Use melted butter in its place or to keep it lower in fat, use unsweetened applesauce.
➡️Bonus Tip: If you have leftover pineapple and coconut milk, use it to make a Pina Colada Smoothie.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Grease an oval 2-quart baking dish or 9x13 pan with melted coconut oil or cooking spray.
- Mix together oats, pineapple juice, eggs, vanilla, pineapple, walnuts, maple syrup, coconut oil, carrots, ginger, and cinnamon together.
- Pour in prepared baking dish.
- Bake oatmeal until oats have absorbed liquid and are tender.
- Dish out the warm oatmeal and top with nuts and additional maple syrup as desired. I also suggest topping with a dollop of non-dairy yogurt or regular yogurt for a tangy topping, much like a cream cheese frosting.
Slow Cooker Instructions
This baked oatmeal can also be prepared in the slow cooker. Place all ingredients into a greased slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours.
Storing Leftover Oatmeal
Store leftover oatmeal in a sealed container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Reheat as desired.
More Steel-Cut Oat Recipes
Be sure to leave a review and let everyone know how much you enjoy this healthy breakfast that tastes like carrot cake!
Baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal
Ingredients
Carrot Cake Oatmeal
- 1 cup steel cut oats NO EXCEPTIONS!
- 1 cup canned coconut milk
- 20 ounces canned crushed pineapple in 100% pineapple juice
- ½ cup water or additonal coconut milk
- 2 eggs whisked
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¾ cup grated carrots
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil or butter melted
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 2 quart or 9x13 baking dish.
- Over a large glass measuring cup, use a fine-mesh strainer to drain the can of crushed pineapple. Measure out 1 cup of liquid, adding additional water to the measuring cup if needed. Measure out ½ cup of the crushed pineapple to use in the oatmeal as well.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the oats, coconut milk, pineapple juice, additional coconut milk or water, eggs, vanilla, crushed pineapple, walnuts, maple syrup, coconut oil, carrots, ginger, salt, and cinnamon together.
- Pour into the greased pan and bake for 50 minutes, or until set.
- Serve oatmeal warm with a dollop of yogurt, nuts, and additional maple syrup if desired.
Sam
This oatmeal was delicious and so easy to make. Loved it!