Carrot Cake Overnight Oats (Print Version)

Creamy oats blended with carrot, warm spices, and yogurt for a wholesome, make-ahead morning meal.

# 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

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a medium bowl or jar, mix oats, milk, plain Greek yogurt, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until well blended.
02 - Fold in grated carrot, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, chopped walnuts or pecans, and raisins, ensuring even distribution.
03 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours to soften oats and meld flavors.
04 - Whisk together softened cream cheese, milk, and maple syrup in a small bowl until smooth.
05 - Stir oats before serving and top with cream cheese drizzle and any combination of extra nuts, shredded coconut, or grated carrot as desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes exactly like carrot cake for breakfast, minus the guilt.
  • Zero morning cooking means you can actually sit down and enjoy breakfast instead of rushing.
  • The cream cheese frosting drizzle turns something healthy into something that feels a little indulgent.
  • It stays creamy and delicious for days, so one batch covers multiple mornings.
02 -
  • Grate your carrot finely and don't use shredded carrot from a bag—the texture matters, and the fine pieces blend into the oats instead of staying chewy and strange.
  • If your overnight oats seem too thick in the morning, add a splash of milk or yogurt to loosen them up; every oat brand and milk type absorbs differently, so you might need to adjust.
03 -
  • If you want the nuts to stay crispy instead of softening overnight, toast them lightly in a dry pan for a few minutes first, then add them—they'll stay textured and snappy.
  • Use full-fat Greek yogurt, not the nonfat version, because it's the tang and richness that actually makes these taste like carrot cake frosting and not just oats with yogurt in them.
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