Carrot Cake Overnight Oats Recipe
Do you need some new tasty and quick ideas for breakfast? This carrot cake overnight oats recipe is a new take on a morning classic. It’s a healthier version of carrot cake where you can have your cake and eat it too!
Type of Oats to Use
For overnight oats, we prefer using rolled oats (or old-fashioned oats) because they keep their al dente texture whereas quick oats will get soggy after sitting in the container with the liquid awhile. You can also use steel-cut oats, but they require double the amount of liquid. Rolled oats seem like the goldilocks choice between the three varieties.
Type of Milk to Use
You can use any variety of milk for overnight oats: dairy milk, almond milk, oat milk, etc. Rolled oats have a 1:1 ratio of oats to milk. If you want a creamier consistency, you also have the option of adding or substituting part of the milk portion with yogurt. For carrot cake overnight oats, we prefer using almond milk because it’s low in fat and its neutral flavor balances the carrot and spices.
Topping Ideas
The toppings are our favorite part about this carrot cake overnight oats recipe! Here are some ideas on what to top yours with just as you’re ready to serve it:
- Greek yogurt
- Shredded unsweetened coconut
- Roasted chopped pecans
- Roasted chopped walnuts
- Shredded carrots
If you want a wider range of the best oatmeal toppings, check out our post here.
Cup Options & How to Assemble
This recipe fits into two 12 oz mason jars and is one large serving of overnight oats or four smaller servings. We like using mason jars because they’re reusable and are great for single-serving options.
Since this recipe has a lot of ingredients, we found that it was easier to mix all the ingredients in a bowl and then transfer them to a mason jar. In the morning, add your favorite toppings and eat right out of the mason jar.
Don’t just stop at carrot cake overnight oats, there is a myriad of ways to dress up your overnight oats. If you want more oat options for breakfast you can also make baked oatmeal breakfast bars, oatmeal waffles, egg white oatmeal, and more.
Are Overnight Oats a Fattening Snack?
Eating overnight oats has a lot of beneficial nutrients like fiber, zinc, iron, and many more antioxidants and vitamins. However, depending on what you add to your overnight oats can be heavy on fat. Substitute almond milk for cow’s milk for a lower fat option. Instead of using cane sugar as a sweetener, you can use maple syrup, honey, or monk fruit sweetener.
For our version of chocolate peanut butter overnight oats, yes there’s added fat from the peanut butter but it’s one we welcome in small quantities.
Why Shouldn’t You Use Quick Oats for Overnight Oats?
Quick oats do exactly what they’re named for and will quickly soak up the liquid in your overnight oats recipe. This means they will get soggy faster and can give you mushy overnight oats in the morning. If you want more texture, use rolled oats.
Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
Equipment
- peeler
- grater or food processor
- Mixing bowl
- spatula
- 2 (12 oz) mason jars (or other containers)
- measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 1 c rolled oats
- 1 c grated carrots
- 1 tsp pumpkin spice
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 ¼ c almond milk or other milk you prefer (add more if necessary)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 scoops vanilla protein powder
- 2 tbsp walnuts chopped, optional topping
- 2 tbsp shredded coconut unsweetened, optional topping
- ½ c yogurt optional topping
Instructions
- Wash your carrots and peel the skin.
- Use a box grater or food processor to grate the carrots.
- In a mixing bowl, add all the ingredients except the toppings and mix thoroughly.
- Transfer to a mason jar and close the lid. Place in the fridge overnight.
- Top with chopped walnuts, shredded coconut, and/or greek yogurt.
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