Carrot Cake Overnight Oats (Printable Version)

Creamy overnight oats with grated carrots, warm spices, and crunchy nuts for a convenient breakfast ready when you wake up.

# What You Need:

→ Oat Mixture

01 - 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup unsweetened milk (dairy or plant-based)
03 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (or non-dairy yogurt)
04 - 2/3 cup freshly grated carrots
05 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
10 - Pinch of salt

→ Add-ins & Toppings

11 - 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts or pecans
12 - 2 tablespoons raisins
13 - 2 tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut (optional)
14 - Additional grated carrots, yogurt, nuts, or maple syrup for serving

# How To Make:

01 - In a medium bowl or large jar, combine oats, milk, yogurt, grated carrots, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Stir thoroughly until evenly distributed.
02 - Fold in chopped walnuts or pecans, raisins, and shredded coconut if using. Mix gently to incorporate.
03 - Cover container tightly and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight to allow flavors to meld and oats to soften.
04 - In the morning, stir oats thoroughly. Add a splash more milk if a thinner consistency is preferred.
05 - Divide between two bowls or jars. Top with extra grated carrot, yogurt, nuts, or additional maple syrup as desired. Serve chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Tastes like dessert but fuels you through a 10 AM meeting without the sugar crash
  • The spices bloom overnight, turning plain oats into something that feels like a treat
02 -
  • Grating carrots the night before makes everything feel like more work than it is—try grating a whole bunch on Sunday and storing them
  • The texture thickens significantly overnight, so if you prefer looser oats, increase the milk by about 1/4 cup
03 -
  • Use the finer side of your box grater for carrots so they practically disappear into the oats
  • Toast the nuts in a dry pan for 2 minutes before adding them for deeper flavor

Go Back