Made with steel-cut oats, shredded carrots, walnuts, and crushed pineapple, Carrot Cake Oatmeal mimics the flavors of a decadent carrot cake, yet is suitable for a wholesome breakfast!
When you can eat cake for breakfast, you know it is going to be a good day! And while Carrot Cake Oatmeal is not exactly cake, this recipe for baked oatmeal features the classic flavors of classic carrot cake or carrot cake muffins, baked into wholesome, hearty oatmeal.
Reasons to Love Carrot Cake Oatmeal
- Wholesome Ingredients. Thanks to the steel-cut oats, carrots, eggs, and nuts, this oatmeal is packed with protein, fiber, and nutrients to power you through your day!
- Amazing Flavor. Made with warming spices, rich coconut milk, and maple syrup, Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal is rich and decadent!
- Simple Prep. Just like my recipes for Banana Baked Oatmeal, Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal, and Baked Sweet Potato Oatmeal, Carrot Cake Oatmeal is a dump-and-bake oatmeal recipe that bakes up into a cake-like consistency.
Notes on Ingredients
- Steel-Cut Oats: This recipe uses 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.
- 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 recipe.
- Carrots: For the best consistency, grate large carrots using a box grater. Bagged shredded carrots can be used, but are much thicker and won't soften as easily when baked into the oatmeal.
- 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.
- Coconut Oil: A little bit of coconut oil adds to the luxuriousness of this oatmeal.
Recipe Modifications
- Replace Coconut Milk: If you don't have coconut milk or don't care for it, any other variety of milk or non-dairy milk can be used in its place.
- No Coconut Oil? Use melted butter in its place or to keep it lower in fat, use unsweetened applesauce.
- Egg-Free: Simply omit the egg from the recipe. The egg helps the oatmeal fluff up a bit and hold together, like a cake, but it is completely unnecessary.
- Nut-Free: Omit the walnuts and be sure to use coconut milk or regular milk, not almond milk.
- Vegan-Friendly: Be sure to use non-dairy milk, and coconut oil, and omit the egg for a vegan-friendly Carrot Cake Oatmeal.
Kristen's Tip: If you have leftover pineapple and coconut milk, use it to make a Pina Colada Smoothie or cook Instant Pot Chicken Breast.
How to Make Carrot Cake Oatmeal
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Combine Ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, mix oats, coconut milk, pineapple juice, additional coconut milk or water, eggs, vanilla, crushed pineapple, walnuts, maple syrup, coconut oil, carrots, ginger, salt, and cinnamon.
Bake Oatmeal. Bake the carrot cake oatmeal in a greased baking dish until set. dish.
- Serve. I love serving baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal warm with a dollop of yogurt, a drizzle of maple syrup, and crushed nuts.
Slow Cooker Instructions
Instead of baking Carrot Cake Oatmeal, you can opt to prepare this recipe using a slow cooker. To do so, combine the ingredients as the recipe states, and then pour the oat mixture into a greased 6-quart slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-7 hours, or until the oats are tender.
Storage
- Refrigerate: After cooling slightly, store any leftover oatmeal in a sealed container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
- Reheat: Reheat individual servings as desired in heat-safe bowls in the microwave.
More Delicious Oatmeal Recipes
- Chocolate Oatmeal
- Slow Cooker Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal
- Strawberries and Cream Oatmeal
- Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
- Peanut Butter & Jelly Baked Oatmeal Cups
- Instant Pot Oatmeal
If you tried this Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal, be sure to leave a comment and review.
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 additional coconut milk
- 2 large 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 ℉. 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 the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake the oatmeal for 45-50 minutes, or until set.
- Serve oatmeal warm with a dollop of yogurt, nuts, and additional maple syrup if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally shared in 2015 but updated in 2021 and 2022 with new tips and photos.
Cathy
Yum, Yum I loved carrot cake and this would be the perfect breakfast for me! 🙂 Another great recipe! I would love for you to share this sweet creation over at my link party Making Memories Mondays going on now! 🙂
Cathy
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Cathy! I will check out the party now 🙂
Cathy
I am so so glad Kristen that you came to the party! 🙂 Love this recipe and it's been requested again in my house! I really appreciate you sharing your latest creation at Making Memories Mondays!
Cathy
Kristen Chidsey
YEA!!! That is what I love to hear Cathy. You just made my day!
Kimberly
This looks incredible! I'm drooling right now. Pinned and tweeted. We are so thrilled to have you at our party. Please stop by on Monday at 7, so we can see your amazing projects. Lou Lou Girls
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Kimberly!
Erica @ Coming Up Roses
I don't think I've seen more perfect looking oatmeal in my life. I always choke it down because "it's healthy" and I want to start my morning on a feel-good note, but MAN this would make my mornings a million times better! Who doesn't love carrot cake?!?!
cominguprosestheblog.com
Kristen Chidsey
Erica, I am so happy to give you an option that you will enjoy!! I can't wait to hear if you like this!
J @ A Hot Southern Mess
Oh this sounds too good to be true! Yum yum yum! I will have to give this recipe a go sometime very very soon! Thanks so much for sharing this with us 🙂
Join us weekly for the #CelebrateSouthern link up! You don't have to be a southerner to join! http://www.ahotsouthernmess.com
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks! I hope you try this out and love it!
Catherine
Such a cute post, Kristen. A thoughtful and very creative way of treating your mom to something she loves without the guilt! And it looks wonderful. xo, Catherine
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Catherine!
Sheryl @Lady Behind The Curtain
Can't wait to try this! Looks delicious.
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Sheryl!
heather @ divas run for bling
This looks amazing! I love oatmeal and I love carrot cake. You just can't go wrong with this 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
Well, this is the breakfast for you Heather!
Martha @ A Family Feast
This sounds delicious - almost like dessert for breakfast! (YUMMY!)
Kristen Chidsey
That gets everyone excited!!
Susan | LunaCafe
You ARE the perfect daughter. 🙂 I was originally resistant to this idea. I mean how can oatmeal possibly pawn itself off as carrot cake? But by golly, after reading the recipe, I think you nailed it. Steel cut oats are fantastic and there' just enough egg here to hold everything together. Now I really must try this out of sheer curiosity. Plus, your photos look amazing. What a wonderful birthday gift.
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Susan! I will let my mom know you think I am the PERFECT daughter as well!
I am glad I convinced you about the oatmeal--you are right, the egg binds it together. I hope you try it and like it 🙂
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free
So simple and comforting, yet baked oatmeal is still on my recipe bucket list, not on my already making list! I adore carrot cake, so this recipe may be the inspiration I need.
Kristen Chidsey
I hope it is in fact all the inspiration you need to make this Alisa!
Thriftanista in the City
Oh yum! We love steel cut oats around here. This would make a perfect easy brunch. I'll pin it for the weekend! Thanks for sharing.
Kristen Chidsey
This would be great for your weekend brunch!
Dini @ Giramuk's Kitchen
Such a great idea! 🙂 I love carrot cake so I really need to try this! It's perfect 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Dini!
Christie
What a fun breakfast. You will feel like you are eating cake but actually having a healthy breakfast.
Kristen Chidsey
That is the whole idea 🙂
Michelle
This looks delicious and my hubs would love this as carrot cake is his favorite dessert!
Kristen Chidsey
Anything that can get your husband to eat oatmeal in the morning, is a winner in my book!
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life
Breakfast that tastes like my favorite cake? I am so there for these fun oats!!!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Jocelyn. I hope you love it!
Shirley Wood
Oatmeal is one of my favorite breakfast dishes, year round. I've never tried it with this combination of ingredients. I usually add raisins, cinnamon and whatever nuts we have on hand. I'll have to give this recipe a try.
Kristen Chidsey
Shirley--this is just a fun variation on oatmeal. We eat it everyday around here, so it is nice to have variety!