Carrot Cake Overnight Oats (Printer View)

A creamy blend of oats, grated carrot, spices, and nuts, chilled overnight for a flavorful start.

# What You'll Need:

→ Oats Base

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

→ Carrot Cake Mix-Ins

06 - 3/4 cup finely grated carrot (about 1 medium carrot)
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
10 - Pinch of salt
11 - 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts or pecans
12 - 2 tablespoons raisins

→ Optional Toppings

13 - 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
14 - 1 tablespoon milk
15 - 2 teaspoons maple syrup
16 - Additional nuts, shredded coconut, or grated carrot

# Method Steps:

01 - In a medium bowl or jar, blend oats, milk, Greek yogurt, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until well mixed.
02 - Fold in grated carrot, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, walnuts or pecans, and raisins evenly into the base mixture.
03 - Cover and chill the mixture for at least 8 hours to allow flavors to meld and oats to soften.
04 - Whisk together softened cream cheese, milk, and maple syrup in a small bowl until smooth for a frosting drizzle.
05 - Stir the chilled oats before serving and top with the cream cheese drizzle, additional nuts, shredded coconut, or grated carrot as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like dessert for breakfast, which means you'll actually look forward to eating something wholesome.
  • Everything comes together in 10 minutes the night before, leaving your morning brain completely free.
  • The cream cheese drizzle is optional, but once you taste it, you'll understand why it's basically mandatory.
02 -
  • Shred your carrot fresh the night before, not days in advance—older shreds get watery and can make your oats soggy.
  • The cream cheese frosting transforms this from 'nice breakfast' to 'why does this taste like carrot cake'—don't skip it just because it seems optional.
03 -
  • Toast your nuts lightly before adding them—it only takes 3 minutes in a dry pan and deepens their flavor like nothing else.
  • Use Greek yogurt, not regular yogurt, because the thickness and tang are what make this taste like actual carrot cake frosting and not just sweetened dairy.
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