The inspiration for this recipe comes from my mom’s Carrot Cake recipe. It’s one of the first recipes I remember using to bake something in the kitchen. It called for crushed pineapple, nuts and golden raisins, all of which have found their way into this recipe, and taste reminiscent of Carrot Cake in Cape Town for me. 

How do we achieve the flavor of carrot cake in overnight oats? The sweetness of the pineapple, carrots, and raisins mimic the sweetness of a cake, and the vanilla extract lends a familiar flavor found in most baked goods. I chose to steam the carrots, as they are slightly sweeter when lightly cooked. Once blended, they add a silky smooth purée to this healthy treat. The frozen pineapple blends into something sorbet-like and gives a tropical sweetness to the overnight oats. The oats and chia seeds absorb the liquid ingredients, and adopt their sweet flavor.

Chia seeds also help thicken the mix, and act as fuel for your day. The soft raisins burst with sweetness, and the nuts add a crunch to the overnight oats. Finally, the yogurt contributes a cheesecake frosting quality with its tart tanginess. When left to refrigerate overnight, the flavors marry, leaving the overnight oats with a Carrot Cake impression that you’re going to love.

Ingredients for Carrot Cake Overnight Oats: 

• Rolled Oats: I use gluten-free sprouted rolled oats, as quick cook oats become too mushy and don’t stand up to the liquid ingredients well. Steel cut oats do not work well in overnight oats (or granola) as they must be cooked for 20-30 mins.
• Chia Seeds: High in fiber, Omega-3 fatty acids and protein, these little seeds pack a punch of nutrition into these overnight oats. They also help to thicken the texture of the overnight oats. 
• Golden Raisins: These will plump up and add bursts of sweetness into the mix.
• Salt: Just a little will bring out the flavor of all the ingredients.
• Spices and Nuts: Warming spices and crunchy nuts mimic the flavors found in carrot cake.
• Almond Milk: Use any kind of milk you like. I prefer nut milks like almond milk or cashew milk.
• Plain Yogurt: Whole milk yogurt (full fat) is a much creamier, tastier and healthier option than fat free or low fat versions. The flavor is in the fat, and low fat yogurts typically have high doses of sugars added to make up for the poor taste. 
• Maple Syrup: Not a lot of maple syrup is needed, and you can leave this out if you wish, as the pineapple, nut milk and raisins will all add sweetness.
• Vanilla Extract: This ingredient is what gives the recipe a cake-like flavor.
• Pureéd Carrots: Steam or boil the carrots in water on the stovetop, then blend them until smooth.
• Blended Pineapple: Blending frozen pineapple will give a creamier consistency, but fresh pineapple will work too. 

How to Make Carrot Cake Overnight Oats:

STEP 1:

Incorporate dry ingredients: Place rolled oats, chia seeds, golden raisins, salt and spices into a mason jar.

STEP 2:

Incorporate wet ingredients: Add the almond milk, yogurt, maple syrup, vanilla extract, carrots, and pineapple and stir well until all the ingredients are evenly distributed. The mixture will be runny at this point, but will thicken up overnight as the oats and chia seeds absorb all the wet ingredients.

STEP 3:

Seal and Refrigerate: Seal with an airtight lid and refrigerate overnight. Toast some walnuts and pecans and set aside for topping the overnight oats when serving.

Simple Overnight Oats Recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

• ½ cup rolled oats
• 1 tbsp Chia seeds
• ½ cup nut milk (or milk)
• ¼ cup whole milk yogurt
• 1 tsp maple syrup (or honey)

METHOD:

1. In a mason jar, combine all ingredients in the order listed, and stir together until incorporated. 
2. Place into a mason jar, seal and leave in the fridge overnight.
3. Enjoy with your favorite fruit and toppings.

Overnight Oats Options and Toppings:

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE OVERNIGHT OATS: Add ¼ cup of chopped strawberries and substitute the yogurt with ¼ cup smoothly blended cottage cheese.

BANANA BREAD OVERNIGHT OATS: Add ½ a chopped banana, ½ tsp vanilla extract, ½ tsp cinnamon and 1 tbsp toasted pecans. 

NUTTY BLUEBERRY OVERNIGHT OATS: Add ½ cup of blueberries, 1 tbsp almond butter, and use almond milk in place of yogurt.

CHOCOLATE OVERNIGHT OATS: Add ½ chopped banana, 1 tsp cocoa powder, 1 tsp honey (in place of maple syrup) and a sprinkling of grated chocolate.

PUMPKIN PIE OVERNIGHT OATS: Add ½ cup cooked, puréed butternut squash, ½ tsp vanilla extract, ¼ tsp cinnamon and ¼ tsp cardamom. Top with toasted pecans.

APPLE PIE OVERNIGHT OATS: Add ½ cup chopped apples, ½ tsp cinnamon, ⅛ tsp cloves and top with toasted walnuts.

CHAI OVERNIGHT OATS: Add ½ cup chopped pear, ¼ tsp cinnamon, ⅛ tsp cardamom and ⅛ tsp ground ginger. Top with toasted cashew nuts.