Tasty Carrot Cake Overnight Oats (Printer-Friendly)

Creamy oats with fresh carrots, warm spices, and crunchy nuts—a wholesome make-ahead breakfast inspired by classic carrot cake flavors.

# What You'll Need:

→ Oat Mixture

01 - 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup unsweetened milk (dairy or plant-based)
03 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or non-dairy yogurt
04 - 2/3 cup freshly grated carrots
05 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
10 - Pinch of salt

→ Add-ins & Toppings

11 - 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts or pecans
12 - 2 tablespoons raisins
13 - 2 tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut (optional)
14 - Extra grated carrots, yogurt, nuts, or maple syrup for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a medium bowl or large jar, combine the oats, milk, yogurt, grated carrots, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
02 - Fold in the chopped walnuts or pecans, raisins, and shredded coconut if using. Mix gently to distribute evenly throughout the oat mixture.
03 - Cover the container tightly and refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours or overnight. This allows the oats to soften and the flavors to meld together.
04 - In the morning, stir the oats well. If the mixture appears too thick, add a splash more milk to reach your preferred consistency.
05 - Divide the mixture evenly between two bowls or jars. Top with additional grated carrot, dollop of yogurt, extra nuts, or a drizzle of maple syrup as desired.
06 - Serve chilled and enjoy immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Tastes like dessert for breakfast but packs a nutritional punch with fiber, protein, and vitamins
  • Prep it in five minutes the night before and wake up to a ready-made morning meal
02 -
  • The texture improves significantly after the full eight-hour resting period, so do not rush this step or try to shortcut the chilling time
  • Grating your own carrots instead of buying pre-shredded ones makes a noticeable difference in both flavor and texture
03 -
  • Use the finest side of your box grater for carrots that practically disappear into the oats rather than leaving obvious crunchy shreds
  • Let the oats sit at room temperature for ten minutes before eating if you find cold breakfast too jarring first thing in the morning

Go Back