Steel cut oatmeal flavored with raisins, carrots, and walnuts, then cooked up so it tastes like a slice of creamy carrot cake. Sign me up for some of that goodness!
This is the start of a tasty week filled with brunch recipes. I’m kicking things off with a recipe for carrot cake steel cut oatmeal. It’s hearty and creamy, with just a touch of sweetness. Be the cool parent and serve this up for your kids. It’s so sweet and delicious, they may think they’re eating cake instead of good-for-them oatmeal!
This week, we’ll celebrate the deliciousness of brunch and prepare for Mother’s Day and the summer brunch season. We have 32 bloggers bringing you their best brunch recipes, from beverages to main dishes, and salads to desserts. There will be delicious recipes for everyone’s taste buds this week.
UPDATE: At the time of publishing, May 5, 2014, this post included details about a giveaway. After the giveaway ended, some of that information was removed from this post.
Thanks to our wonderful sponsors for their generosity in providing the Brunch Week contributors with free products to use for recipe development and for giveaway prizes for our readers.
SPONSORS
Bob’s Red Mill , OXO, California Walnuts, Grimmway Farms, Baloian Farms, Woot Froot, Dixie Crystals, Whole Foods Orlando, and Bonne Maman
I made this steel cut oatmeal using free product samples from Bob’s Red Mill, California Walnuts, and Grimmway Farms. All completely delicious components in this brunch treat!
STEEL CUT OATMEAL RECIPE COOKING TIPS
I adapted this recipe from one that my blogging friend Karen created. Normally, I include links to recipes I adapt from, but sadly, Karen’s site no longer exists.
She used 1/4 cup of shredded coconut in her version, but since I’m allergic to all forms of coconut, I left it out. I went for raisins and walnuts, and an extra dash of almond milk to top mine off.
This will keep well for a few days if you cover it well and keep it in the refrigerator. I had it on day 3 with some maple syrup drizzled over the top. It made my stomach quite happy.
I hope you love this steel cut oatmeal as much as I did!
This hearty oatmeal is creamy, decadent, and healthy all at the same time. With just a touch of sweetness from maple syrup, it's almost like eating cake for breakfast!
Ingredients
- 2 cups steel-cut oats (not quick-cooking)
- 2 cups finely grated carrots
- 3 cups almond milk or regular milk
- 3 cups tap water
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- Pinch salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- raisins and chopped walnuts for topping
Instructions
- To a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the oats, carrot, milk, water, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Bring to a boil then reduce heat. Simmer for about 20 - 25 minutes until the oatmeal is tender and creamy. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Garnish with raisins and walnuts, and a little extra almond milk or half & half, if desired.
by Becca
Recipe Notes
Slightly adapted from Kitchen Treaty
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories 261kcal Calories from fat 45 | |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat 5g | 8% |
| Saturated Fat 1g | 5% |
| Carbohydrate 48g | 16% |
| Dietary Fiber 8g | 32% |
| Sugars 15g | |
| Protein 7g | |
| Cholesterol 5 | 2% |
| Sodium 250mg | 10% |
| Transfat 0g | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | 2500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g | 80g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g | 80g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | 375g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | 30g | |
Looking for more delicious brunch recipes? How about these?
Cheesy Hash Brown “Bird Nests”
Steel cut oatmeal is only the beginning of the delicious Brunch Week recipes. Try these, too!
Brunch Eggs:
Easy and delicious Caramelized Onion Tart, Polenta Cakes with Crab & Eggs, Sausage, Spinach and Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole, or Mexican Omelete with Plantain, Avocado and Mango Hash.
I’d love a Veggie and Scalloped Potato Frittata, Apple and Sweet Potato Egg Muffin Cups, or a Loaded Veggie Frittata with Sweet Potato and Hatch Chile.
Brunch Starches and Sides:
Dutch Baby with Roasted Strawberries, Strawberry Mascarpone Stuffed French Toast, Strawberry Lemon Crepes, Carrot Cake Steel Cut Oatmeal, or Banana Bacon Pancakes.
Raspberry Oatmeal Pancakes, Mexican Chocolate French Toast with Spiced Blackberry Syrup, and Brown Butter Peanut Butter Doughnuts with Mixed Berry Jelly Icing.
Baked Chocolate Hazelnut Donuts, Banana Coconut Milk Pancakes, or Pumpernickel Bagels.
Main Brunch Dishes:
Are Muscat-Glazed Lamb Lollipops with Roasted Grapes, Spinach and Mushroom Quiche, or Paleo Chicken Waffles up your alley?
Brunch Fruit and Vegetables:
Honeycrisp and & Carrot Waldorf or Hazelnut Crepes with Rum Peaches sound delicious!
Brunch Desserts:
Maybe you’d enjoy Raspberry Lemon Explosion Cake , Greek Yogurt Chocolate Cake , or Simple Oatmeal Cookie Jam Bars.
Beverages:
How about a Frozen Peach Bellini, Raspberry Tequila Sunrise, Pineapple Peach Mimosa, and a Rosemary-Orange Mocktail.
Hearty, healthy, heavenly. My boring oatmeal is about to get a yummi wake up call.
I hope you enjoy the recipe, Libby. It’s obviously not as sweet as carrot cake, but it definitely feels indulgent to eat it. 🙂
Do you think coconut milk instead of almond milk would taste good?
Kelley, I’m allergic to coconut products, so I can’t say how coconut milk would taste as a substitute for almond milk in this dish. However, coconut milk is thick and creamy, so I imagine that it will add a wonderful richness and creaminess to the oatmeal. I hope you enjoy it!
Wow, this looks amazing… I wonder if it could be done overnight in a crock pot?
Thank you! Yes, you can definitely make it overnight, but I would suggest using water instead of almond milk if you’re going to do that, and then just add some almond milk to it when you serve it.
My favorite brunch dish is a western omelet with ham and cheese.
Good old eggs Benedict! Can’t help it, I love them!!
I can understand why, Katie!
Love so many, but the carrot cake steel cut oatmeal is the best 🙂
Favorite brunch dish is a brie and avocado omelet!
My favorite brunch item is an omelet – so versatile!
I eat oatmeal quite often in the mornings…but I’ve never thought about adding these fun flavors, Becca! Carrot cake is pretty high up there on my list of deliciousness, so I definitely need to try this recipe out soon. Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks, Dave! I don’t fix fancy breakfast at my house, so this is as close as it gets. It fits the sweet & savory combo craving really well 🙂
There are so many brunch choices! As much as I love oatmeal, granola and pancakes, my favorite brunch option is a French Toast Sandwich! I love making a peanut butter sandwich, letting it soak in french toast mixture, and then cooking it in a skillet.
The oatmeal looks amazing, by the way!
Oh my word, Claudia…that peanut butter French toast sandwich sounds ahhhhmazing!
Thanks for stopping by!
My mom’s carrot cake is the best so this carrot cake oatmeal sounds devine! Wow, I never thought of stuffed french toast! I must make it soon!
I usually don’t take the time to make oatmeal, usually just quick oats with cinnamon and sugar, but now I want to make this for breakfast this weekend.
I usually don’t spend much time on it either, Carla, but this recipe is SO worth the effort!
scrambled eggs and french toast!
I love steel cut oatmeal – great recipe! My favorite brunch digs is pumpkin scones!
I have been thinking of ways to use up all of those Grimmway Farms carrots… this is a must! 🙂 It looks lovely, Becca. Thanks for sharing!
Those carrots were DELISH, Dianna! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed using them in this. Thanks for stopping by!
I don’t know if I’ve ever craved oatmeal this much. This is calling my name!
Haha! That’s exactly how I feel about brunch cocktails after seeing so many this week, Courtney…and I don’t even drink alcohol!
That’s a tough question. Hmmm, I think my favorite brunch item is dutch babies or pancakes with fruit on top with a nice fruit/protein smoothie.
What fabulous prizes, Becca! I wouldn’t mind winning any one of those! My favorite brunch dish would have to be anything with smoked salmon. I could eat that stuff every which way!
Aren’t they just amazing, Stacy?! I wish you the best of luck winning!
what a great, delicious way to serve oatmeal . . love this!!
Thanks, Alice!
I love steel cut oatmeal, this looks awesome. I really like sweet brunch food. My favorite is probably oatmeal, apple pancakes.
Love French toast!
You had me at “carrot cake”. I would love this. I don’t eat breakfast but there are a few days a week when I’m on my own for dinner and I can see this as a great option for one of those nights!
It’s definitely hearty enough to eat for “brinner”, Karen! Hope you enjoy it 🙂
Awesome giveaway! Pinning 🙂 I love French toast with hot sausage! But will eat just about anything. I can’t wait to try this carrot oatmeal recipe! Sounds like it will be great for a pack to work breakfast!
So thats what you did with the carrots….genius!!
Fun with food, right Samantha? 🙂
Quiche is definitely my favorite brunch, pretty much any kind! I wish I knew about this week, I would have been excited to join!
It’s right to have breakfast at any time of day, Bernadette!
I want to know how to get in on some of those big blogger events that you’ve been a part of…maybe we should write a book! 😉
Poached eggs w mushrooms and onions
Quiche
I want to eat this for breakfast every day! Yum.
Haha! I can relate, Stephie!
My favorite brunch dish is hash browns with sausage gravy and poached eggs on the side.
Yum! You have to love this flavor combination! The oatmeal look great!
You said my favorite words! I will definitely be trying this.
Awesome! Thanks, Camilla 🙂
Steak and eggs with a side of pancakes or french toast!
What a fabulous giveaway! Brunch week sure does make me hungry 🙂 Your recipe sounds extra delicious, Becca!
Thanks, Renee! Good luck with the giveaway 🙂
I actually will be trying this for my men–they all love oatmeal, especially when it tastes like dessert! Nice one!
Warm banana bread with honey butter!
Oh this looks so great! I got to “Spar for the Spurtle” a few years back and am obsessed everything Bob’s Red Mill. You MUST enter this year, you clearly know your Steel Cut Oats! Delicious!~
I just gigglesnorted at “Spar for the Spurtle”! That sounds like too much fun, Lanie!
Waffles with fruit and whipped cream!
Carrot Cake Steel Cut Oatmeal recipe sounds so “Yummi!” Pinned and will try soon. I love waffles smothered with blueberries and strawberries, topped with a little fresh maple syrup…..scrumptious! Thanks so much for this opportunity. Have a great evening 🙂
It’s been too long since I had waffles… time to make some up! Good luck in the giveaway, Deb!
Carrot cake has some amazing flavor…oatmeal is the perfect vessel for it!
Indeed it does, Shaina! Thanks for coming over to say hi 🙂
We love waffles with peaches & whip cream & bacon!!
I love baked french toast for brunches!
As always Becca your recipe looks awesome!! I will defiantly have to print it so I can try it later. 🙂
Thanks so much, Tammy! I hope you have a chance to try and love it 🙂
We love waffles!!
My favorite brunch dish is my Mom’s “Egg Bake” which is eggs, cheese and cooked, crumbled bacon, all baked together in a casserole dish. We have it at every holiday and it not only brings wonderful memories but it is delicious! Thanks for an amazing giveaway!!!
My mom made an amazing brunch dish that sounds very much like the one you described. Thanks for stopping by…and good luck in the giveaway!
This looks so good! I really need to start cooking oats.
Thanks, Anita! The steel cut oatmeal is much different than traditional rolled oats, but just as delicious 🙂
I can see kids going crazy for this, but seriously – adults too! Such a creative recipe and a great way to shake up my boring oatmeal routine 🙂
Thanks, Lori!
The grown up kid that lives here (a/k/a, my husband!) asked if I’d serve it with cream cheese so that he could say he had a COMPLETE slice of carrot cake! LOL
Um yep, that sounds EXACTLY like what my husband would do, too 🙂
Haha! Men can be a bit predictable at times 😉
We love overnight crockpot oatmeal – could this recipe be done that way?
Hi Brad! This recipe can easily be adapted for a slow cooker, but you’ll want to substitute water for the almond milk when you cook it. Just stir some of the milk in right before you eat it instead. Although almond milk is non-dairy, I’ve had horrible failure trying to use any sort of refrigerated products in a slow cooker overnight. They end up curdling, and/or tasting sour due to lack of refrigeration. I would hate to see that happen with this recipe!
I love a good omelet or egg casserole-type dish. The Mexican Omelet recipe that’s posted just might be our Cinco de Mayo dinner tonight!
I thought that Mexican omelet looked amazing!
Favorite Brunch? Any kind of waffle!
My fave brunch dish is usually Overnight French Toast. But this might be second. My kids would LOVE carrot cake for breakfast!
Oooo, overnight French toast is a big favorite of mine, too!
Cake for breakfast is always a plus in my book!
How can it possibly be wrong, Terri? 🙂
This oatmeal looks great! I also made a carrot cake-inspired recipe this week. Thank you Grimmway!
Thanks, Erin… and I’m headed over to check out yours shortly. We can never have enough delicious Grimmway carrots in our lives! YUM!
Oh, yeah, who wouldn’t love this???? It’s my favorite dessert rolled into a healthy breakfast! Totally delish!!!
Thanks, Lizzy! I think eating cake for breakfast might be the start of world peace. Let’s try it every day! 🙂