Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal

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Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal is made with carrots, bananas, and oats mixed with spices and topped off with a crunchy and sweet walnut flax seed topping.   It’s an easy to make breakfast that will fill you up!

Breakfast is one of those meals that I struggle with.   For years I would just go to school and get a few pieces of toast for under a dollar but my school no longer serves toast for breakfast.  Occasionally I do still have mini cinnamon rolls or pumpkin bread at school when I eat with my students.

I’ve been on a healthy eating kick lately and that means I’ve been trying to eat a breakfast that is better for me and fills me up.  One thing I’ve been making is baked oatmeal.  I’m not a huge oatmeal fan but baking the oatmeal gives it a much better texture plus I can make it on Sunday and eat it all week long.

What is baked oatmeal?

Baked oatmeal is a delicious breakfast dish made from oats, milk, eggs, sweeteners, and various flavorings like fruits, nuts, and spices. The ingredients are mixed together and baked in the oven until set. While it’s similar to traditional oatmeal it has a firmer texture due to baking. Baked oatmeal is versatile and can be customized with a variety of different types of fruit, nuts, and spices.  It’s a hearty breakfast option that’s perfect for feeding a crowd or for meal prepping for the week ahead.

I’ve made several baked oatmeal recipes before.   The first one I ever made, Baked Oatmeal with Berries, is still my favorite.  In the fall I really like Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal.  For a sweet and tart breakfast Cranberry Orange Baked Oatmeal is a winner.

I recently bought a big box of carrots and have been trying to use them up before they go bad.  I was trying to figure out how to make carrots into a breakfast and while I love my Spiced Carrot Coffee Cake, it isn’t exactly healthy.

I got the idea to turn my favorite carrot cake into a baked oatmeal recipe.  I figured I would use carrots, bananas, and raisins along with cinnamon and cardamom.  That would give the oatmeal the same basic flavor as a carrot cake.

Can I add different spices?

You can always adjust the spices to suite your own needs.  I’ve put crystalized ginger in this oatmeal before and it gives it a lovely spiciness.  Nutmeg is another great spice that often goes into carrot cake.  Sometimes I like to add in allspice.   Experiment with what you like and add what you want!

Ingredients:

• oats (you can use old fashioned or quick oats)
• baking powder
• cinnamon
• cardamom (substitute nutmeg or ginger if you don’t have cardamom)
• sea salt
• vanilla extract
• carrots
• raisins (or you can use craisins if you prefer)
• eggs
• ripe banana
• milk (I used whole milk but you can use low fat or plant based)
• brown sugar
• honey (or you can use maple syrup)
• butter (I used salted but you can use unsalted)
• walnuts (feel free to substitute pecans)
• flax seed (you can also use chia seeds)

It might look like this recipe has a ton of ingredients in it but many of them are spices or things that are found in your pantry.  In face, I only had to by bananas.   I figure most people might need to buy flax seeds, walnuts, and honey.   The rest you probably have on hand!

To make the oatmeal heat the oven to 375 degrees.  Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with cooking spray.

In a bowl combine the oats, baking powder, cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, carrots, and raisins.  Mix well and pour into the prepared baking dish.

In a medium bowl beat the eggs. Add in the banana and milk and whisk.   Stir in 2 tablespoons of honey and mix well. Pour over top of the oat mixture in the baking dish, making sure to cover the oats completely.

In a small bowl mix together the remaining honey,  brown sugar, melted butter, walnuts, and flax seed.   Mix well and sprinkle over top of the oatmeal.

Bake the oatmeal for 30-35 minutes or until firm.   Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes before serving.   Cut into squares.

When the oatmeal came out of the oven the top was golden brown and looked amazing.   I took a bite and it was like a flavor symphony.  The actual oatmeal tasted like carrot cake but with a baked oatmeal texture.

The topping of flax seeds, nuts, and honey was sweet and crunchy and added just the right amount of both to finish off this oatmeal.   This is a breakfast that everyone will enjoy and it keeps in the refrigerator for 5 days so you can eat it all week!

How do I store Baked Oatmeal?

Baked oatmeal can be stored in the refrigerator in an air tight container for up to 5 days.   I like to cut mine into squares before putting it into the refrigerator.  When ready to eat heat in the microwave for 30-45 seconds and enjoy.   Drizzle with a bit of honey for added sweetness.