Toasted Coconut & Spiced Carrot Oatmeal For Breakfast

Too many carrots from your garden? Have them for breakfast as a Coconut Carrot Oatmeal Bake. What can I say? I love cardamom and the citrusy flavor it gives to the cinnamon, ginger, carrots & apple. Like my other oatmeal bakes, this is lightened up with   applesauce instead of butter, coconut milk and egg whites. I love the crunch from the walnuts and carrots, and sweetness from the raisins and apple. Oatmeal bake is a great meal prep and if you can use your over in the summer, you can still enjoy the end result hot or cold. Add a little yogurt and maple syrup for a deliciously easy breakfast.

Ingredients (serves 6).

• 1/2 c coconut flakes, toasted
• 3 c old-fashioned oats
• 1/2 t cinnamon
• 1 t cardamom
• 1/8 t ginger
• Pinch of sea salt
• 2 t baking powder
• 1 c shredded carrots, roughly chopped
• 1/2 c chopped walnuts
• 1/4 c raisins
• 1 c unsweetened applesauce
• 1 c canned light coconut milk (just the liquid) or milk of choice
• 2 egg whites
• 1 t vanilla extract
• 1 apple, chopped

Directions.

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. In the large 9×13 baking pan you’ll use for the oatmeal bake, toast coconut on highest rack for 3-4 min until golden. Remove from heat.
3. In a large bowl, mix oats, spices, salt and baking powder. Fold in chopped carrots, walnuts, raisins and toasted coconut.
4. Add applesauce, coconut milk, egg whites and vanilla directly over dry ingredients. Fold in apples.
5. Grease the pan you used to toast coconut. Transfer mixed oatmeal to greased pan. Bake 18-22 min or until set and firm.
6. Let cool before serving. Cut into 6 squares.
7. Add any toppings of choice. I enjoy yogurt (plain non-fat Greek or Siggi’s vanilla skyr), fresh fruit and some maple syrup (oops — added too much in photos trying to take an action shot!).
8. Enjoy!

Inspired by Real Simple‘s “Big Batch Morning Glory Baked Oatmeal,” but adapted from my Oatmeal Bake. Also try:

• Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal Bake
• Apple Walnut Oatmeal Bake.

Nutrition for 1 out of 6 squares (without toppings).

296 calories  •  14.1 g fat (39%)  •  41.8 g carbs (51%)  •  8.4 g protein (10%)  •  7.1 g fiber  •  11.7 g sugar

* These are estimates based off specific products I used and how I entered ingredients in a fitness tracker. This is completely subjective and used to give a rough nutritional estimate.