Carrot Cake Overnight Oats (Printable)

Creamy oats with carrots, warm spices, yogurt, and nuts make a wholesome overnight treat.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Oats Base

01 - 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
03 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
04 - 2 tbsp maple syrup or honey
05 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

→ Carrot Cake Mix-Ins

06 - 3/4 cup finely grated carrot (about 1 medium carrot)
07 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
08 - 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
09 - 1/8 tsp ground ginger
10 - Pinch of salt
11 - 2 tbsp chopped walnuts or pecans
12 - 2 tbsp raisins

→ Optional Toppings

13 - 2 tbsp cream cheese, softened
14 - 1 tbsp milk
15 - 2 tsp maple syrup
16 - Additional nuts, shredded coconut, or grated carrot

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl or jar, mix rolled oats, milk, Greek yogurt, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until fully blended.
02 - Gently fold in grated carrot, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, chopped nuts, and raisins until evenly combined.
03 - Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours to allow flavors to meld and oats to soften.
04 - Whisk cream cheese, milk, and maple syrup together in a small bowl until smooth and creamy.
05 - Stir the oat mixture, then serve topped with the cream cheese drizzle and optional additional nuts, shredded coconut, or grated carrot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes genuinely like carrot cake but keeps you satisfied until lunch without the sugar crash.
  • You literally just mix everything and sleep—no morning cooking required.
  • The spices smell incredible as they soften into the oats overnight.
02 -
  • Grate your carrot as finely as you can; chunky pieces won't soften properly overnight and will stick out awkwardly.
  • The yogurt is essential—it's what gives this tanginess that balances the sweetness and keeps it from tasting like cake for breakfast.
03 -
  • Use a fine-toothed grater or microplane for your carrot—the finer it is, the more evenly it distributes and the better it softens overnight.
  • If you're making the cream cheese frosting, whip it for just a few extra seconds until it's light and fluffy; it'll taste less heavy and more like actual frosting.
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