Carrot Cake Overnight Oats

Jump To Recipe by Liz Thomson February 5, 2024 This post may contain affiliate links.

These carrot cake overnight oats are a tasty, healthy, make-ahead breakfast! It’s an easy way to add some veggies to your morning routine — and these oats taste like dessert!

I love overnight oats because they’re a great meal-prep option for busy mornings. You can make them the night before and then grab them on your way out the morning! I normally go for these peanut butter overnight oats, but lately I’ve been loving the flavors of carrot cake in my bowl of oats. I love that I can add some veggies to my breakfast easily! This is the perfect recipe if you need something extra filling for a meal-prep breakfast.

Overnight Oats Ingredients

Oats: Rolled oats are the main ingredient in overnight oats, providing a hearty and nutritious base. They absorb the liquids and flavors, becoming soft and easy to eat after soaking overnight. Rolled oats offer a good source of fiber and complex carbohydrates. If needed, a substitution can be made with quick oats; it will just have a softer, less chewy texture.
Carrots: Grated carrots add sweetness, texture, and a boost of vitamins to overnight oats. They provide a hint of natural sweetness and contribute to the overall nutritional profile.
Milk: Almond milk or dairy milk can be used to help to soften and soak the oats. It adds creaminess and a subtle flavor. For a lactose-free or vegan alternative, you can substitute almond milk with soy milk, coconut milk, or any other non-dairy milk of your choice.
Protein Powder: Vanilla protein powder is an optional ingredient that boosts the protein content of the oats. Feel free to skip it if you don’t like using protein powder.
Yogurt: Greek yogurt adds creaminess, thickness, and a dose of protein to the overnight oats. It also imparts a tangy flavor. If you don’t like Greek yogurt, you can use regular yogurt or a dairy-free yogurt alternative.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon adds warmth and a comforting spice to the overnight oats. It complements the sweetness of the carrots and gives it more of a “carrot cake” type of flavor.
Vanilla: Vanilla extract contributes a sweet flavor that also helps add a carrot cake flavor to the oats.
Salt: A pinch of salt helps balance the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor profile of the oats. It’s a subtle yet crucial ingredient.
Maple Syrup: Maple syrup or honey can be added for additional sweetness, depending on personal preference. Alternatively, you can use agave syrup or a sweetener of your choice.
Toppings: Shredded coconut, raisins, or nuts can be added as optional toppings, adding texture and additional flavors to the overnight oats. You can customize the toppings based on your preferences or omit them if desired. Other options include fresh fruit, chia seeds, or granola.

The Best Toppings for Overnight Oats

I like to add a little crunch to my oats, so I sprinkled on some pecans. But these carrot cake oats are also delicious with a drizzle of almond butter, a pinch of toasted coconut or unsweetened coconut flakes, or a hearty sprinkle of granola. You could also stir in plump raisins to add a little sweetness or add extra carrots on top!

How to Make High-Protein Overnight Oats

This oatmeal recipe has a decent amount of protein thanks to the Greek yogurt, but if you want to add even more protein, I recommend adding 1/2 scoop of vanilla protein powder. Combine the protein powder with the milk first to ensure the protein powder dissolves completely. Then combine the remaining ingredients. You can also make overnight oats with cottage cheese, which is another great high-protein option for a healthy breakfast!

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best container for overnight oats? I like any small, glass container. You could use a mason jar or one of these jars with a lid that I got from Amazon! I like one that is around 12-16 ounces so that I have room to stir everything up.
Do I have to let them soak overnight? No, this overnight oats recipe will be ready in just a few hours, so you don’t necessarily have to wait until the next morning to enjoy them.
Can I heat up overnight oats? You can heat up overnight oats, but if you’re adding yogurt I don’t recommend heating it.
Can I make this vegan? You could skip the Greek yogurt and add a little extra almond milk with one tablespoon of chia seeds. That will help create a thick and creamy consistency.
Can I use quick oats? Yep! I like the texture of rolled oats (also called old-fashioned oats) because they’re a little heartier and chewier, but quick oats work or instant oats works just fine. Do not use steel cut oats, as these take much longer to soften.
Can I use a different type of milk? Yes. This recipe works great with any plant milk like coconut milk, almond milk, oat milk, or soy milk — but dairy milk works fine too! I like using unsweetened almond milk or plain soymilk.

More Overnight Oat Recipes

If you enjoy this recipe, be sure to try my strawberry overnight oats, peanut butter overnight oats, banana bread overnight oats, and blueberry overnight oats! If you prefer baking your oats, try my pumpkin steel cut oats or blueberry baked oatmeal.