Carrot Cake Overnight Oats

Name: Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 485 min
Ingredients: ¼ cup cashew butter; 1 Tbsp chia seeds ((optional)); ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice; ½ tsp vanilla extract; 2 Tbsp maple syrup; 1 Tbsp orange zest; 1½ cup almond milk; 5 oz yogurt ((divided)); 1 cup rolled oats; ½ shredded carrots; ⅓ cup unsweetened shredded coconut; ¼ cup craisins; 1 Tbsp crushed walnuts

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

When you can't have carrot cake for breakfast these thick & creamy carrot cake overnight oats are the next best thing! Top them off with a scoop of this pear jam to take them to the next level!

carrot cake overnight oats in bowl with spoon beside craisins on blue placemat

I was never a fan of overnight oatmeal until I tried these carrot cake overnight oats! It tastes like dessert, minus the cream cheese frosting, but it's loaded with nutritious ingredients!

The flavors of carrot cake and the simplicity of this recipe make this the perfect grab-and-go breakfast.

🧐 Why This Recipe Works

You can whip up this carrot cake overnight oats recipe in about 5 minutes, then just leave them in the fridge overnight and enjoy them when you wake up!
Overnight oats are the perfect easy breakfast to meal prep.
Preparing them in a mason jar makes them super easy to eat on the go!
This overnight oat recipe can easily be made vegan or gluten-free, just use gluten-free oats and a plant-based yogurt.
Love carrot cake but hate the calories? These are a great alternative!
This is a recipe that can be easily customized and made to your liking by adding fresh fruits, jams, etc!

🛒 What You Need For This Recipe

🔖 Recipe Ingredients & Substitutions

Milk: I used almond milk but you can use any kind you prefer.
Oats: Make sure you're using rolled oats or certified gluten-free oats, not instant oats, as they will most likely dissolve! Steel-cut oats won't work either because they need to be cooked to soften.
Cashew butter: Almond butter or peanut butter also work.
Chia seeds: The chia seeds add protein, make the oats more filling, and give the overnight oats a pudding-like texture.
Greek yogurt: I use vanilla Greek yogurt but you can use another flavor if you prefer, or omit it.
Pumpkin pie spice: You can also make your own by adding cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg and a tiny bit of ground cloves.
Craisins: If you don't have Craisins, raisins can be substituted.
Orange zest: Lemon zest works too.
Maple syrup: You can also use honey, stevia, or your preferred sweetener to cut down on calories.
Nuts (optional): Walnuts or pecans add a great crunch!

You may also want to consider topping your oat mixture with fresh fruit such as blueberries, pineapple, or cherries. I recommend adding them just before serving so they stay fresh!

🥕 How To Make Carrot Cake Overnight Oats

Step 1: Start by adding cashew butter, chia seeds, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, maple syrup, and orange zest to a bowl, then whisk to combine.

chia seeds, oramge zest, vanilla, maple syrup, spices, cashew butter in bowl

chia seeds, oramge zest, vanilla, maple syrup, spices, cashew butter mixed together in bowl

Step 2: Add in almond milk and 2.5 oz of yogurt, then stir thoroughly until consistent.

bowl with whisk after adding milk and yogurt (unmixed)

bowl with whisk after adding milk and yogurt (mixed)

Step 3: Add oats, shredded carrots, unsweetened coconut shavings, and Craisins. Mix until smooth.

bowl after adding oats, coconut, carrots, craisins (unmixed)

bowl after adding oats, coconut, carrots, craisins (mixed)

Step 4: Pour the mixture into mason jars, cover with jar lids, then leave in the fridge overnight. When ready to serve, top with yogurt and crushed walnuts.

two mason jars with carrot cake overnight oats

mason jar with overnight oats topped with yogurt and nuts

Pro Tip: You can enjoy these carrot cake oats straight from the fridge, or microwave them if you prefer a warm bowl of oats!

carrot cake overnight oats in bowl with spoon beside craisins on blue placemat with mason jar full of oat mix in background

🤷🏻‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

What not to add in overnight oats?

When making overnight oats, it's best to avoid adding nuts, seeds, and fresh fruit into the mix as they most likely won't taste fresh by morning. However, you can add them on top of your oats just before serving!

What kind of oats do I need to make overnight oats?

Rolled oats are best for making overnight oats. Although quick oats/ instant oats can be a convenient breakfast that only takes a few minutes to prepare, you don't want to use these for overnight oats as they are much thinner and are likely to dissolve while soaking overnight.

👩🏼‍🍳 Pro Tips

Stirring the oat mix thoroughly will not only make the texture consistent, but it will also help activate the chia seeds so they don't all settle at the bottom.
Store your carrot cake overnight oats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
A pinch of salt can also be added to enhance the flavor.
A scoop of vanilla protein powder is also a great addition and can up the protein in this recipe!

If you enjoyed this overnight carrot cake recipe, be sure to try these other related recipes!

Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.

Stay in touch with me through social media @ Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and F acebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!