Oatmeal Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
A wholesome and delicious Oatmeal Carrot Cake made with rolled oats, shredded carrots, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup and applesauce. This cake features a moist texture with warm cinnamon flavor, topped with a healthy cream cheese frosting and optional walnuts for added crunch. Perfect for a nutritious breakfast or a guilt-free dessert.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 3 six-inch cakes, serves 8-10 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 4 cups old fashioned rolled oats (divided)
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ¾ cup pulp-free orange juice
- ¾ cup applesauce
- ¾ cup maple syrup
- 2 large eggs
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Additional Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup shredded carrots
- ¾ cup raisins
For Frosting and Topping
- Healthy cream cheese frosting
- Chopped walnuts for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray three 6-inch cake pans with cooking spray or coconut oil and set aside to prepare for baking.
- Blend: Add 2 ½ cups of rolled oats, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, orange juice, applesauce, maple syrup, eggs, oil, and vanilla extract to a high-powered blender. Blend the mixture until smooth, using a tamper as needed to ensure an even texture.
- Add: Gently fold in the remaining 1 ½ cups of rolled oats, shredded carrots, and raisins to the blended batter, combining thoroughly but carefully to maintain some texture.
- Bake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until the cake tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for about 10 minutes before removing them. Transfer the cakes to a wire rack and let them cool completely to room temperature.
- Frost: Once the cakes have cooled, frost them with the healthy cream cheese frosting. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts if desired for added texture and flavor.
- Serve: Cut the cake into slices and serve as a nutritious and flavorful treat for breakfast or dessert.
Notes
- Use pulp-free orange juice to avoid lumps in the batter.
- For a nut-free option, skip the walnuts topping.
- If you prefer a vegan version, substitute eggs with flax eggs and use a dairy-free cream cheese frosting.
- Ensure the cake is completely cool before frosting to prevent melting.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Keywords: Oatmeal carrot cake, healthy carrot cake, cream cheese frosting, baked oatmeal cake, maple syrup cake, breakfast cake, gluten free oats
