Carrot Cake Oatmeal (Stovetop or Microwave)

This Carrot Cake Oatmeal recipe takes all the flavors of a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and then made into a nutritious and delicious breakfast!. It is like having dessert for breakfast (stove top and microwave instructions included).

Carrot Cake Oatmeal

We took all the elements of a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and made into an oatmeal. How awesome is that? Oatmeals are certainly one of our family favorite go-to breakfast on a weekday.

Though overnight oats are delicious in summer, hot oatmeals are cozy, comforting and warms you on a cold, winter day and our new favorite method is to make oatmeal in the air fryer or quinoa porridge.

Carrots are one of our favorite vegetables for its sweet taste and power house of nutrition like vitamin A, K, beta carotene, potassium and eye health. Who knew getting them in at breakfast would be so easy?

These oats porridge are made on your stovetop but don’t worry, we have included microwave instructions too. It perfect balanced breakfast that will leave you feeling content.

All the flavors of traditional cake — cinnamon, brown sugar, walnuts and carrots, make this a whole new way to dig into breakfast. It's a tasty way to get an entire serving of vegetables in at the beginning of the day. 

This porridge not only will satisfy your sweet tooth, but also keep you full until lunch. Plus, it requires just a handful of easy pantry ingredients and is made without pineapple.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS RECIPE?

1. Nutritious - With the combination of oats, carrots, and nuts – this recipe is jam-packed with nutrients too. With gut healthy fiber, several vitamins, minerals and iron, this is great way to kick start a day.
2. Dessert for Breakfast - All the elements of the classic cake in the form of a healthy porridge.
3. Make in Stove Top, Microwave or Instant Pot.
4. Cozy and comforting textures with chewy oats and crunchy nuts.

HOW TO MAKE IN MICROWAVE?

Place grated carrot, milk, water, salt and oats into a large microwavable bowl and stir together. Heat in the microwave (uncovered) on high for 3 minutes and 30 seconds and then add 15-second increments, until oatmeal is puffed and softened. Remove from microwave, stir in all remaining ingredients and let stand for few minutes, until thickened, before serving.

HOW TO MAKE IN INSTANT POT?

1. Using a pastry brush, spread room temperature butter all around the bottom of the stainless steel inner pot.
2. Add 2 cups water, 1 cup oats, 2 pinches salt and 1 cup finely grated veggie. Stir to combine.
3. Pour 1 cup milk on top, but DO NOT STIR.
4. Close and lock lid (making sure that valve is set to seal), cook on manual for 7 minutes. When cooking time is done, let instant pot be in warm mode for 10 minutes (13 to 14 minutes if using a 3-quart pot).
5. Release pressure (by turning valve to vent), open, add all remaining ingredients and mix to combine. (ADJUST CONSISTENCY with additional water or milk)
6. Ladle into bowls topped with yogurt.

INGREDIENTS

1. Oats : Old fashioned oats or rolled oats
2. Dairy : We used full fat milk, but we recommend staying from fat free
3. Carrot : Freshly grated carrot grated in a fine grater
4. Sweetener: Brown sugar
5. Nuts and Raisins : Chopped walnuts and golden raisins
6. Flavorings : Cinnamon, vanilla extract and salt
7. Yogurt topping - Greek yogurt and regular sugar

PRO TIPS FOR SUCCESS

• Grate carrots in the finer side of your box grater. This helps to cook it faster.
• Use greek yogurt - Only greek yogurt along with plain sugar gives the traditional cream cheese frosting taste.
• To make it gluten free, use gluten free oats
• If you are using Quaker oats, old fashioned oats is same as rolled oats.
• Old fashioned oats offer the best consistency. Steel cuts are much harder and will benefit from a different cooking procedure whereas quick cooking will yield a mushy texture.
• Do not use store-bought vanilla yogurt instead.
• Use golden raisins instead of black raisins for the classic taste.

Topping Ideas

This taste great, but the toppings just elevates the taste.  Some great additions include:

• Nuts - Walnuts or toasted pecans.
• Sweetened Greek yogurt
• Shredded coconut
• Flaxseed - Adds more benefits.
• Spices - Freshly grated nutmeg or ground ginger

How to make?

(Keep scrolling to the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients and recipe instructions)

1. Cook - Add grated carrot, milk, water and salt into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir in oats and reduce heat to medium and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until oats has absorbed most of the liquid.
2. Finish - Take off heat, stir in brown sugar, chopped walnuts, raisins, ground cinnamon and vanilla extract. Cover and let sit for about 5 minutes.
3. Serve - Ladle hot oats into a serving bowl and top with sweetened greek yogurt.

HOW TO STORE?

Refrigerate cooled oats and sweetened yogurt in two seperate containers, for up to 4 days. When ready to eat, warm oatmeal in microwave and top with yogurt.

Frequently asked questions:

The recipe for basic oatmeal is from Feelgoodfoodie.

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