Carrot Cake Overnight Oats (Printable View)

Creamy make-ahead oats with carrots, cinnamon, and walnuts for an effortless morning meal.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Base

01 - 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
03 - 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (plain or vanilla)
04 - 1/2 cup finely grated carrots (about 1 medium carrot)
05 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
06 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Spices & Flavor

07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
10 - Pinch of salt

→ Add-ins

11 - 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts or pecans
12 - 2 tablespoons raisins
13 - 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional, for extra thickness and nutrition)

→ Toppings (optional)

14 - Additional chopped nuts
15 - Shredded coconut
16 - A dollop of Greek yogurt
17 - Drizzle of maple syrup

# Cooking Steps:

01 - In a medium bowl or jar, combine oats, milk, Greek yogurt, grated carrots, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
02 - Add cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Stir to evenly distribute the spices throughout the mixture.
03 - Fold in chopped nuts, raisins, and chia seeds (if using) until evenly distributed.
04 - Cover the container and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 6 hours, to allow oats to soften and flavors to meld.
05 - In the morning, stir the oats thoroughly. Add additional milk if a thinner consistency is desired.
06 - Divide between two bowls or jars. Top with additional nuts, coconut, yogurt, or a drizzle of maple syrup as desired. Serve chilled.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like dessert for breakfast but will keep you full until lunch
  • The oats soften overnight while the carrots release natural sweetness, so no cooking required
  • You can prep five jars on Sunday and wake up to breakfast already made all week
02 -
  • Grating the carrots finely is non-negotiable, big shreds stay crunchy and weird in cold oats
  • The flavor actually improves on day two, so make extra and thank yourself later
  • If your jar looks separated in the morning, just stir it vigorously and it will come back together
03 -
  • Use a microplane if you have one, it creates the finest carrot texture that practically disappears into the oats
  • Toast the nuts in a dry pan for 2 minutes before adding them, it deepens the flavor

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