Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
in Recipes
Cake for breakfast was always a thrilling idea growing up. So naughty and exciting! Yet, even on the day after my birthday when the remains of the frosted layer cake sat crumbling in the refrigerator, I was never, ever allowed to enjoy the lingering sugary confection for breakfast. Oh no, breakfast had to be wholesome and nutritious. Cereal. Oatmeal. Boring old toast. No cake allowed. At the time I deemed this idea just crazy…I just want my birthday cake!
Isn’t it funny how moms are always right in their breakfast ‘no you can not have cake for breakfast’ knowledge? (And all other knowledge, let’s be real.)
So with my mom’s advice in mind, I made you cake for breakfast! Not just any cake, carrot cake – the crème de la crème of all cakes. But as opposed to eating the actual cake, we’re eating it in oatmeal version. Yay!
Carrot cake for breakfast! Let’s do it! This why I want you to eat carrot cake overnight oats as opposed to actual carrot cake:
1. Overnight oats are a delicious, creamy, and easy way to enjoy a hearty and nutritious breakfast that’s ready to go when you wake up. The fact that this one has carrots, chia, dates, banana, & warming spices in it just puts the icing right on the cake. Ahem.
2. Why can’t you just eat real carrot cake for breakfast? You may think that because a food has the word carrot in it, it’s a free pass. Not so fast, carrot cake is loooooaded with sugar, oils, regular white flour, and fat. Ick. These carrot cake overnight oats are filled with good things to make your morning super. What are these good things you may wonder?
3. These oats are packin’ in the fiber. Oats contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, the later of which cannot be digested and instead is passed from the body quickly. As it moves through the digestive system, fiber grabs on to toxins and cholesterol, which would have ended up in the bloodstream later on. A diet rich in fiber has been linked to lowered risk of hemorrhoids, intestinal ulcers, colon cancer, constipation, heart disease, and stroke.
4. Consuming oats stabilizes blood sugar levels, instead of spiking it like said carrot cake. The natural sugars in this recipe are slowly processed and utilized thanks to all that fiber. This means that you’re energized and ready-to-go, without a huge sugar crash soon after.
5. Carrots make a delicious addition to breakfast. Who would have thought? Carrots are delicious, naturally sweet, and filled with health supporting nutrients and plant-powered antioxidants. These antioxidants are incredibly important in keeping our insides and outsides glowing. Our cells can’t get enough!
6. Other superstar ingredients like chia seeds, banana, and dates add more vitamins, nutrients, healthy fats, fiber, and protein to your delicious diet too.
Carrot cake (oats) for breakfast! Yay!
Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
Serves 1
1 ripe banana
2 medjool dates, pits removed
1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
¾ cup rolled oats
1 T chia seeds
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp dried ginger
¼ tsp nutmeg
¼ tsp sea salt
2 T coconut yogurt (optional)
In a blender combine banana, dates, carrot, and milk until blended.
In a jar or bowl combine oats, chia seeds, and spices. Add liquid to oats and stir thoroughly until oats have been soaked.
Let sit in fridge overnight and enjoy in the morning. Eat cold & top with coconut yogurt, unsweetened coconut flakes, walnuts, or raisins if desired. Devour!
This looks so good! I’ve only tried overnight oats once, but now that I’m working full-time I’m gonna start making them more for quick mornings! Gonna try this recipe this week :)
Enjoy Caroline! They’re so delicious :)
Yum! I am going to try this recipe over the Christmas Vacation. My family will enjoy this warm and cozy blend of flavors.
Where do you get over night oats?
Do you have the nutrition info?
Hi Amber – I don’t count calories or nutritional info. Sorry!
Hi Kate,
Looks great thank you!
Hi Kate! Great recipe! Will it affect the taste of the oats if I use honey or syrup to replace the dates as a sweetener? I don’t have any dates at the moment and would really like to make this flavor of overnight oats!
Hi Colette- sure, I think swapping dates for a natural sugar will be great! I would do about a tablespoon of honey or maple syrup instead.
Do the carrots add too much texture since they are raw? Have you tried this with cooked carrots? I wonder if cooked carrots would add extra sweetness.
Do the carrots add too much texture since they are raw? Have you tried this with cooked carrots? I wonder if cooked carrots would add extra sweetness.
A perfect recipe for this fall time of year!
Warming spices at breakfast with hearty oats and it can be eaten hot or cold? That beats any breakfast box cereal hands down. To the commentor wondering if the carrot added too much texture since it was raw, if your blender blades are sharp enough, it turns everything to a smooth liquid in step 1. But, the entire thing can also be made smooth by following all the steps here, and, in the morning once the oats/chia seed mixture is soaked, throwing the whole thing into the blender. It makes a ‘soft serve’ type consistency for anyone who didn’t want ‘oatmeal’ texture. The sprinkle of nuts & yogurt on top of this is excellent too. (Raisins are great too, some of the best carrot cakes have them baked in)