Can you taste the carrot in carrot cake overnight oats?

Not much. Finely shredded carrot blends in and adds sweetness. The cinnamon and raisins carry most of the flavour.

Do I need to cook the carrot first?

No. Finely shredded raw carrot softens in the oats overnight.

How do I make carrot cake overnight oats taste like frosting?

Add a spoon of thick Greek yogurt or hung curd on top with a drizzle of honey. It's not cream cheese frosting, but it's close enough at 8am.

DessertsContinental

Carrot Cake

Get your veggies in the most delicious way possible. This recipe is perfect for anyone who struggles to eat vegetables or wants to sneak nutrition into their kids' breakfast. The carrots add moisture, natural sweetness, and beta-carotene. Great for eye health and immune support.

Time: 365 min
Method: Mix
Serves: 1
Energy: 640 kcal
Protein: 19 g

Go to the method

Glass jar of carrot cake overnight oats topped with shredded carrots, raisins, walnuts and cinnamon

Method

Step 1: Shred fresh carrots finely and mix them directly into your DIY Oats base along with cinnamon.
Step 2: Add raisins and chopped walnuts, then mix everything together thoroughly.
Step 3: The carrots will soften overnight and create that authentic carrot cake texture.
Step 4: The combination of sweet raisins and crunchy walnuts perfectly mimics the real dessert.

Notes from the Department

Add carrots to base

Nutrition

1 serving

640 cal | 19g protein | 17g fiber

2 servings

1280 cal | 38g protein | 34g fiber

Estimates. Not medical advice.

Why it works

Carrot cake has always been a vegetable in a good disguise. Here the disguise is cinnamon, raisins and walnuts. The carrot is shredded finely and mixed straight into the oats, where it softens overnight and adds moisture and a gentle sweetness. The raisins plump up, the walnuts add crunch, and the cinnamon makes it smell like dessert.

Shred it fine

Use the fine side of the grater. Thick shreds stay crunchy and taste like salad. Fine shreds melt into the oats and taste like cake. Squeeze out a little juice if your carrots are very wet, or just add a touch less milk.

Make it yours

A pinch of nutmeg or ginger makes it taste more like the bakery version. A spoon of thick yogurt on top stands in for frosting. Swap raisins for chopped dates and walnuts for pecans. Add honey if you like it sweeter. If you don't have a DIY Oats jar, soak rolled oats overnight in milk with chia and a few almonds, then mix in the carrot.

Storage

Keeps covered in the fridge for a day. The flavour gets better as the spices settle in, so the second serving might be the best one.

Questions people ask

Can you taste the carrot in carrot cake overnight oats?: Not much. Finely shredded carrot blends in and adds sweetness. The cinnamon and raisins carry most of the flavour.
Do I need to cook the carrot first?: No. Finely shredded raw carrot softens in the oats overnight.
How do I make carrot cake overnight oats taste like frosting?: Add a spoon of thick Greek yogurt or hung curd on top with a drizzle of honey. It's not cream cheese frosting, but it's close enough at 8am.