Made with steel-cut oats, shredded carrots, walnuts, and crushed pineapple, this Carrot Cake Oatmeal mimics the flavors of decadent carrot cake, made healthy enough for breakfast.
Looking for more baked oatmeal recipes? You will love my recipes for Banana Baked Oatmeal, Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal, Sweet Potato Oatmeal, and Peanut Butter & Jelly Baked Oatmeal Cups.
When you can eat cake for breakfast, you know it's going to be a good day!
And while Carrot Cake Baked 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.
From the shredded carrots to the warming spices, Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal is rich and decadent, yet this baked oatmeal is full of protein, fiber, and nutrients to power you through the day.
Baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal is a delicious and healthy way to start any day!
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 recipe.
- 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. But feel free to omit, with minimal change, if you need an egg-free 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.
Kristen's Tip
If you have leftover pineapple and coconut milk, use it to make a Pina Colada Smoothie.
Recipe Modifications
- Dairy-Free: This recipe is already naturally dairy-free as written, as long as you opt to use coconut oil and coconut milk, instead of subbing them out with melted butter or regular milk.
- 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 (not butter), and omit the egg for a vegan-friendly Carrot Cake Oatmeal.
Slow Cooker Carrot Cake Oatmeal
Instead of baking Carrot Cake Oatmeal, you can also prepare it 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
After cooling slightly, store any leftover oatmeal in a sealed container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Reheat individual servings as desired in heat-safe bowls in the microwave.
More Oatmeal Recipes
- Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
- Slow Cooker Maple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- Banana Baked Oatmeal
- Baked Sweet Potato Oatmeal
- Healthy Overnight Oats
- 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.
Ashlee
Hi! Could this be frozen??
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Ashlee! Yes, this can be frozen. I would recommend slicing the oatmeal, wrapping in parchment paper, and then freezing in a large freezer-bag. You can unwrap each slice and place in heat-safe bowl. Reheat it in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until warmed through. Add milk to thin if desired.
Sam
This oatmeal was delicious and so easy to make. Loved it!