Carrot Cake Overnight Oats | Kara Lydon

Prepped in under 10 minutes, these carrot cake overnight oats are the perfect make-ahead breakfast for the week! Perfectly spiced and creamy, it’s a satisfying way to start the day!

Overnight oats are one of the best make-ahead breakfasts! Simply add your rolled oats, toppings, and milk to a bowl or mason jar. Give it a stir or a shake, place it in the fridge overnight, and you’ve got creamy oats in the morning without any cooking necessary!

They’re perfectly portable in a mason jar or small Tupperware for busy mornings – hellooooo grab-n-go breakfast.

I love playing around with different variations of overnight oats and dessert-inspired breakfasts (like my pumpkin pie smoothie bowl and lemon raspberry breakfast cookies) are sort of my thing.

And carrot cake is one of my favorite desserts – cream cheese frosting? ‘Nough said. While these oats are not topped with frosting, they are packed with the warming spices and flavor of carrot cake and all the essentials – grated carrot, coconut, and raisins!

Throw it together in about 5 minutes, store it overnight, and breakfast is served! 

Ingredients You’ll Need

Notes on Ingredients

Rolled oats: Make sure to buy old fashioned rolled oats, not steel cut or quick oats. Rolled oats are the best to absorb liquid and create a creamy consistency.

Carrots: You’ll need one large or two medium carrots. You can grate them with a box grater or using a food processor.

Maple syrup: Adds sweetness – feel free to use more or less depending on your taste preferences!

Cinnamon and ginger: Adds warming spice, reminiscent of carrot cake flavor.

Raisins: Adds a chewy texture and natural sweetness!

Walnuts: Adds a satisfying crunch and source of fat

Milk: I use unsweetened almond milk but you can use cow’s milk or any other non-dairy milk alternative!

Salt: not pictured and not necessary but helps enhance the flavor!

Equipment You’ll Need

Box grater or food processor (these are affiliate links – if you make a purchase I will receive a small commission)

How to Make Carrot Cake Overnight Oats

Step 1: Add oats, carrot, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, raisins, coconut, and walnuts to a medium mixing bowl. 

Step 2: Add almond milk and stir until combined.

Step 3: Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator overnight (or for at least 8 hours).

Step 4: Give it a quick stir in the morning and enjoy!

Expert Tips

Store oats in mason jars or small Tupperware containers for easy storage and travel.

Overnight oats can be enjoyed cold, warm, or hot. In the cooler months, I like to pop mine in the microwave for about a minute. In the summer, I enjoy them cold, straight out of the fridge!

Carrot Cake Overnight Oats FAQs

Can I use other oats like steel cut or quick oats to make overnight oats?

You technically can use any type of oats to make overnight oats but the results will vary significantly. Quick/instant oats are so small that they will end up getting soggy and steel cut oats will produce a very chewy and dense texture. Rolled oats are your best bet for a creamy consistency!

Are these overnight oats vegan and gluten-free?

Yes! These carrot cake overnight oats are vegan and gluten-free. Rolled oats are naturally gluten-free but they may be processed in a facility that manufactures gluten-containing products and may contain traces of gluten. If you have celiac disease (gluten allergy), make sure to look for a certified gluten-free brand of rolled oats.

Do I have to store overnight oats overnight? 

Overnight oats are best stored, you guessed it, over night. Storing them for at least 8-12 hours produces the creamiest result. That being said, they are soft enough, IMO, after just 4-6 hours, if you’re in a pinch!

Storage and Preparation

Overnight oats can be stored in an airtight container for up to five days in the refrigerator. The longer the oats soak, the softer they will become. I like storing overnight oats in a glass jar (like a mason jar) with a tight seal. This storage makes it easy for a grab-n-go breakfast.

Recipes That Pair Well

For more oatmeal inspiration, check out my other oats recipes below!

If you like this recipe, please be sure to comment and give it a 5 star rating below. If you make it, share it on Instagram and tag me @karalydonrd and I’ll re-share it with my followers! If you want to save this recipe for later, be sure to pin it on Pinterest!

This recipe was retested, reshot and revamped to bring you the most delicious (and most beautiful) dish! The original post was published March 2016.

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