Carrot Cake Overnight Oats

The easiest prep-ahead breakfast, now in carrot cake form! Carrot Cake Overnight Oats are loaded with shredded carrots, walnuts, chia seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg – PLUS my not-so-secret ingredient for perfect carrot cake tasting oats: applesauce!
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Overnight oats are nothing new to the Internet – but I’ve decided that they need to keep on coming because they’re just that delicious and versatile. They’re a meal preppers dream.

A short list of great qualities about overnight oats:

• 100% prep ahead friendly! – Actually, they aren’t even good unless prepped ahead. MEAL PREP JACKPOT.
• Healthier than other options – not a bagel or pastry. Also not real cake (sadly).
• Uber customizable – if you don’t like nuts then skip ’em. Add more sweetener, or less. It’s all about what you want!
• Mason jar friendly – I like to put things in mason jars because they don’t leak and they are not plastic.
• No heat required – usually making oats requires cooking them. Not today!!

Overnight Oatmeal Trends

Have you noticed the evolution of overnight oats on the Internet in the past few years? I swear at first, it was just oats.

Then people started adding chia seeds. I’m 100% on board with that one.

Currently, it’s Greek yogurt. I haven’t tried that yet, but I’m seeing more and more recipes that either call for it as a topping, or mix it right into the recipe.

The next trend will be: APPLESAUCE. Okay, no it probably won’t. But it’s really good in this recipe. I noticed that some carrot cake recipes call for applesauce.

Indeed, any baked good I’ve ever made calling for applesauce was a total hit, so why not try it in my oats?

Verdict: It’s a YES. The applesauce made the carrot cake overnight oats a tad sweeter, without adding more maple syrup.

They also provided some additional moisture for the chia seeds to soak into. It was an all around good decision.

I also tried this recipe without chia seeds to check if they were a necessary ingredient. I’m going to have to say that’s also a yes. They absorb extra moisture and give the oats a creamy component that you just can’t understand until you try it (I was skeptical at first too).

What you need to make carrot cake overnight oats:

• old fashioned rolled oats – necessary for the overnight oats
• carrot – 1 carrot will make about 4 servings
• chia seeds – makes the oats creamier AND good for you
• vanilla, cinnamon & nutmeg – adds to the carrot cake flavor
• unsweetened applesauce – adds sweetness without more maple syrup
• unsweetened vanilla almond milk – low in calories and adds yummy flavor
• chopped walnuts – a carrot cake-y topping that adds a nice crunch

If you’ve got extra carrots or applesauce hanging around, you simply must give this recipe a try. I had everything else in my pantry already.

Mason jars not required! Lasts up to 5 days in the fridge.

More prep ahead breakfast ideas from Project Meal Plan:

• Make-Ahead Freezer Friendly Breakfast Burritos
• Best Ground Turkey Breakfast Sausage Patties
• Southwest Muffin Tin Hash Brown Egg Cups

Did you make this? I want to see how it turned out! Tag me in your social media post @projectmealplan and use #projectmealplan when you share!

Recipe

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Carrot Cake Overnight Oats

Yield: 1 serving 1x

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Prep: 5 minutesTotal: 4 hours 5 minutes

The easiest prep-ahead breakfast, now in carrot cake form! Carrot Cake Overnight Oats are loaded with shredded carrots, walnuts, chia seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg – PLUS my not-so-secret ingredient: applesauce!

Scale: 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons freshly grated carrot
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

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Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a mason jar or other container with lid and stir until well mixed.
2. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight. Store in the fridge and enjoy within 5 days.

Equipment

OXO 2-Cup Angled Measuring Cup

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Pint Sized Wide Mouth Mason Jars

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(affiliate link!)

Notes

Add more or less maple syrup depending on how sweet you like your oats. Add more almond milk if you like a thinner consistency of oats. Make additional batches of the recipe to prep breakfast for the next few days.

Nutrition information estimated with MyFitnessPal.

Nutrition Information

• Serving Size: 1
• Calories: 379
• Fat: 13g
• Carbohydrates: 57g
• Protein: 10g

© Author: Danielle

Thanks for checking out the Carrot Cake Overnight Oats! Please tag me or use #projectmealplan on social media to share your overnight oats creations!