Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal – Gemma’s Greater Bolder Baking

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Hello Daring Bakers!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE: My comforting Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal is as sweetly spiced and moist as the unique dessert.  This wholesome, sliceable bake that appears like dessert is a game-changer for busy mornings!

• Healthful: Splendidly fiber-rich rolled oats—not flour—present the construction right here, and maple sugar provides the right delicate sweetness.
• Scrumptious meal prep: Having every week’s value of do-ahead, moveable meals or snacks is really easy with my carrot cake baked oats.
• Household favourite: Youngsters and youths make this on their very own, and my elevated oatmeal makes the excellent brunch bake for a crowd.
• Comes collectively in 10 minutes: You may combine this no-fuss recipe up in one bowl.
• Anytime deal with! You’ll love a sq. of carrot cake oatmeal for breakfast, lunch, or as a snack.

Carrot cake is a favourite any time of the 12 months! Though it’s a pure at Easter (carrots are historically a spring vegetable and there’s the Easter Bunny connection, after all!), it really works all 12 months. I can’t be consuming cake on a regular basis, although, and that’s the place this genius recipe is available in: splendidly chewy oatmeal is blended with candy, finely grated carrots, maple syrup, and spices for a wholesome, healthful model of the beloved cake.

I examined this recipe 5 occasions to get it excellent. The primary batch was too dry, so I adjusted the ingredient ratio. Subsequent, I altered the spices and switched to unrefined sugar (as a bonus, the maple syrup deepened the flavour). And I used to be aware of constructing this recipe straightforward for the house baker, so I added extra liquid so you may make it up the evening earlier than, let it come collectively within the fridge in a single day, after which bake it off very first thing. For one of the best texture, grate the carrots actually nice in order that they aren’t chunky and can simply disappear into the oatmeal.

Desk of Contents

What’s Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal?

Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal is a sliceable oat-based dish that includes grated carrots, heat spices, toasted nuts, and candy raisins. Utilizing hearty rolled oats and maple syrup makes this a wholesome, fiber-rich, crowd-pleasing bake that’s simply as welcome for breakfast and brunch as it’s for a snack or dessert. Whereas baked oatmeal may really feel like a contemporary pattern, oatcakes have deep roots in European cooking. This homey, casserole-style model provides that custom a sweeter, cake-like twist.

Key Elements and Substitutes

Eggs

• Eggs convey the substances collectively right into a cohesive combination and provides the baked carrot cake oatmeal construction, which helps it set into sliceable servings.
• Moreover, eggs present some raise.
• Substitute: Notice that utilizing these substitutes will make the baked oatmeal barely softer (so it is perhaps tougher to make clear slices).
  • Flax eggs: Exchange every egg with 1 tablespoon of floor flaxseed blended with 3 tablespoons of water (for this recipe, use 2 tablespoons of flaxseed and 6 tablespoons of water). Let the combination sit for 5 minutes earlier than including it to the opposite substances.
  • Use 1/4 cup of yogurt rather than every egg. For this recipe, use 1/2 cup (4 oz/115 g) yogurt.

Complete milk

• Complete milk hydrates the oats, giving the combination a custard-like texture.
• Moreover, complete milk provides richness.
• Substitutes: Use 2% milk for a lighter texture. Don’t use fat-free milk—it is going to make the combination too skinny.
  • Use the identical quantity of a non-dairy milk, corresponding to coconut, oat, or almond milk.

Maple syrup

• Maple syrup sweetens the carrot cake baked oats.
• Importantly, maple syrup provides moisture.
• Substitutes: Should you desire, use the identical quantity of honey.
  • You need to use 1/4 cup (1 1/2 oz/43 g) of brown sugar as an alternative, however the oatmeal will likely be drier.

Vanilla extract

• Vanilla extract enhances the sweetness.
• Substitute: Use the identical quantity of Vanilla Bean Paste

Baking powder

• Baking powder provides the baked oatmeal raise, which retains it from being dense and heavy.

Cinnamon

Salt

• Salt enhances the flavors and retains the carrot cake oatmeal from tasting bland.

Rolled oats

• Utilizing rolled oats ensures a chewy, hearty texture.
• Substitutes: I don’t advocate fast oats—the baked oatmeal will likely be too mushy.
  • Please don’t use steel-cut oats, as a result of they gained’t soften sufficient.

Carrots

• Finely grated carrots add pure sweetness and moisture.
• You’ll want to use finely grated carrots right here in order that they mix in completely with no chunkiness.
• For one of the best taste and texture, use freshly grated carrots for this recipe. Bagged, pre-grated carrots are too dry.

Pecans

• Chopped pecans add crunchy texture and a wealthy style.
• Toast the pecans for one of the best taste.
• Substitutes: Use the walnuts if you happen to desire.
  • For a nut-free various, use the identical quantity of sunflower seeds.

Raisins

• Raisins add chewy sweetness.
• Substitute: Use the identical quantity of golden raisins, chopped dates, or dried cranberries.

Easy methods to Make Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal

1. Put together to bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Butter an 8-inch (20 cm) sq. baking dish. Put aside.
2. Whisk the substances: In a big bowl, whisk collectively the eggs, complete milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt till clean.

3. End the batter: Stir within the rolled oats, grated carrots, ¼ cup (1 ¼ oz / 35 g) pecans, and the raisins till evenly mixed.

4. Add to baking dish: Switch the combination to the ready baking dish and evenly sprinkle the remaining pecans excessive.

5. Bake oatmeal: Bake for 40-45 minutes, till flippantly golden brown and set within the middle.

6. Cool and serve: Enable to chill for 10 minutes, then serve heat with maple syrup and a dollop of yogurt, if desired.

FULL (PRINTABLE) RECIPE BELOW! 

Gemma’s Professional Chef Ideas

• Use contemporary carrots: For one of the best texture and taste, grate with a field grater. It takes a couple of further minutes, however imagine me, it’s value it. Pre-grated carrots from the grocery store are too dry and too giant to mix effectively within the batter. And a meals processor will chop the carrots, as an alternative of supplying you with finely grated items.
• Finely grate the carrots: Use the small holes on the field grater so the carrots virtually dissolve whereas baking.
• Measure after grating: This provides you with probably the most correct outcomes and guarantee your oatmeal has the finest texture.
• Use old school rolled oats as a result of fast oats don’t have the proper hearty texture, and steel-cut oats gained’t have time to melt.
• Strive blended spice rather than cinnamon for a deliciously advanced style.
• Don’t overbake: Take the oatmeal out of the oven when the middle is simply set. Overbaking will dry out the oats as a result of they proceed to agency up as they cool.
• Serve with a dollop of Greek yogurt or cream cheese, sweetened with just a little honey, for a real carrot cake really feel.

Storage and Make-Forward Directions

Make-Forward Ideas

• This dish might be assembled the evening earlier than, refrigerated, and baked the following morning to avoid wasting time.
• You too can bake the oatmeal, cool and canopy it, refrigerate, and reheat it the following day. Baked oats hold effectively and really enhance in texture after resting in a single day.
  • To reheat the pan of baked oatmeal the following day, cowl it with foil to forestall drying, then place it in a preheated 350°F (180°C) oven for about quarter-hour.

Easy methods to Serve Leftovers

• Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
• Reheat within the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes earlier than serving.

FAQs

Is that this baked oatmeal gluten-free?

• Oats are naturally gluten-free, however many are processed in amenities that additionally course of wheat, to allow them to additionally change into cross-contaminated. To be secure, be certain the oats you utilize are licensed gluten-free.

How do I make baked carrot oatmeal with out eggs?

• To make the baked carrot oatmeal with out eggs, you may use one of many following substitutes as an alternative:
  • Flax egg: Instead of every egg, combine 1 tablespoon floor flaxseed with 3 tablespoons water (for this recipe, use 2 tablespoons flaxseed and 6 tablespoons water). Let the combination sit for 5 minutes earlier than utilizing.
  • Use 1/4 cup of yogurt rather than every egg. For this oatmeal recipe, use 1/2 cup (4 oz/115 g) yogurt.

What mix-ins and taste variations can I exploit on this recipe?

• Add to the carrot cake vibes by masking cooled oatmeal with this luscious topping: combine 1/2 cup (4 oz/115 g) of plain, full-fat yogurt with 3 tablespoons of softened cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste.
• If you wish to add a protein enhance, Combine in 2 tablespoons of your favourite protein powder and improve the milk by 2 tablespoons to keep up the correct texture.
• Stir in 1/4 cup (3/4 oz/21 g) of shredded coconut for a candy, tropical taste.
• For a observe of fruitiness, add 3 tablespoons of crushed contemporary or canned pineapple to the combination, and lower the milk by 3 tablespoons so the oatmeal doesn’t get mushy.
• Soak the raisins in orange juice for half-hour earlier than utilizing for further taste and juiciness.

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