Carrot Cake Oatmeal

If you’ve ever wished you could eat cake for breakfast this Carrot Cake Oatmeal will make your morning a little bit sweeter. Just imagine a bowl of oats laced with apple, shredded carrots, raisens and cozy spices topped with a dollop of Greek yogurt and toasted sweet walnuts. This oatmeal is made with steel cut oats, which give you more texture than mushy plain oatmeal. You just might become a fan. The best part is it’s a hearty and healthy way to start your day. Plus, you can easily customize by using golden raisens or swapping pecans for the walnuts. A little maple syrup drizzled on top would be lovely. Start your day with a breakfast that feels like your favorite dessert without the guilt.

Ingredients for carrot cake oatmeal:

For the carrot cake oatmeal:
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup regular steel cut oats
- 1/2 cup apple, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 cup carrot, peeled and grated
- 1/2 cup raisens (you can use regular or golden raisens)
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
For the toasted walnut topping:
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
Optional ingredient for topping:
- 3 heaping tablespoons (dollop) plain or vanilla flavored Greek yogurt
How to make carrot cake oatmeal:

- Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan.
- Stir 1/2 cup steel cut oats into the water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the oats until they begin to thicken, about 10 minutes. Stir the oats a few times while they are cooking.
- Add apple, carrot, raisens, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt to the oats and stir.
- Let the oats simmer on medium to low heat until tender about 15-20 minutes. Stir frequently and scrape bottom of pan so the oats don’t stick.

- While the oats are simmering melt 1 tbsp butter in a small frying pan over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp brown sugar and stir mixture until sugar and butter are combined. Toss the nuts in the butter and brown sugar mixture until lightly brown for 2-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- Add vanilla extract to oats and stir.
- Serve oatmeal in bowls and top each serving with 1/3 of the walnuts and a dollop of plain or vanilla flavored Greek yogurt (optional).
- This recipe makes about 3 servings. It can easily be doubled to make 6 servings.


Notes:
- Store any leftover oatmeal in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
- Store the nut topping in a plastic storage bag or covered container.
- Pecans can be used in place of the walnuts. Feel free to add or delete any of the add-in ingredients.
- Add milk instead of the yogurt if preferred.
- Try topping with a drizzle of maple syrup.
Other breakfast recipes to try:
Baked Blueberry Coconut Oatmeal

Carrot Cake Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup steel cut oats
- 1/2 medium apple, peeled and chopped
- 1/4 cup carrot, peeled and grated
- 1/4 cup raisens, regular or golden
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Toasted Walnuts:
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
Optional topping:
- 1 dollop plain or vanilla Greek yogurt
Instructions
- Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir 1/2 cup steel cut oats into the water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the oats until they begin to thicken, about 10 minutes. Stir the oats a few times while they are cooking.
- Add apple, carrot, raisens, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and salt to the oats and stir.
- Let the oats simmer on medium to low heat until tender 15-20 minutes until oats are tender and water is evaporated. Stir frequently and scrape bottom of pan so oats don't stick.
- While the oats are simmering melt butter in a small frying pan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and stir to combine. Toss the nuts in the butter and brown sugar mixture until lightly brown for 2-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- Stir vanilla extract into the oats.
- Serve oats in bowls and top each serving with 1/3 of the toasted walnuts and a dollop of plain or vanilla flavored Greek yogurt (optional).
- This recipe makes about 3 servings. It can easily be doubled to make 6 servings.
- NOTES: *Store any leftover oatmeal in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to five days. *Store the nut topping in a plastic storage bag or covered container. *Pecans can be used in place of the walnuts. Feel free to add or delete any of the add-in ingredients. Add milk instead of the yogurt if preferred. *Try topping with a drizzle of maple syrup.
Nutrition
Carrot cake oatmeal post updated on 8-3-25.