Carrot Cake Oatmeal Bars

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Carrot cake oatmeal bars are the perfect quick breakfast with classic carrot cake flavor. Made with wholesome ingredients, this baked oatmeal is a healthy breakfast, quick snack, or delicious treat!

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carrot cake oatmeal bars drizzled with a protein glaze and sliced into 9 squares. a knife and bowl of glaze are around the bars.

These healthy carrot cake bars are made with whole grains and pair so well with Greek yogurt (as do banana nut protein muffins, double chocolate zucchini bread, espresso chocolate chip protein muffins, and easy healthier banana bread!). They have a cake-like texture and are topped with a protein powder cream cheese frosting glaze for extra protein that resemble traditional carrot cake flavors.

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Equipment
Ingredients
How to Make Healthy Carrot Cake Bars
Variations & Substitutions
Storage & Reheating
Recipe FAQ
Other Recipes You May Like
Carrot Cake Oatmeal Bars

Equipment

For the carrot cake oatmeal bars

Large mixing bowl - I recommend mixing the wet ingredients in a large 3- or 5-qt mixing bowl and adding the dry ingredients to it after they've been mixed.
Small bowl - I like to mix the dry ingredients in a smaller bowl since there's less volume than the wet!
Whisk - this will allow for even mixing of the batter.
8x8" baking dish - this is the perfect size to make these carrot cake breakfast bars!
Parchment paper - I'm a big fan of lining the baking dish with parchment paper and spraying with nonstick cooking spray before pouring the batter in. This makes it easy to take the carrot oatmeal bars out of the dish. I love using pre-cut sheets and simply cutting them to fit the dish!

For the cream cheese protein powder icing

Medium bowl - to mix all of the ingredients!
Whisk - also to mix all of the ingredients! You can use a standard spoon or fork as well.

a sliced of carrot cake baked oatmeal on a plate next to coffee mugs.

Ingredients

Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

For the healthy carrot cake bars

Old-fashioned oats - packed with complex carbs that keep our blood sugar steady due to the fiber content, oats are a great addition to any healthy snack or sweet breakfast. Be sure to use rolled oats (or old-fashioned; they're the same thing!) instead of steel cut oats or quick oats. These may alter the texture!
White whole wheat flour - it is a bit more nutrient-dense than regular all-purpose flour. However, AP flour will also work!
Milk - oatmeal absorbs quite a bit of liquid so milk is important to have here. Plus it adds protein, vitamin D, and calcium (assuming you use cow's milk). You can substitute for almond, oat, coconut, or cashew milk if you'd like!
Olive oil - using olive oil will give you more healthy fats than saturated fats. This will add moisture but has such a light flavor, you won't taste it! You can substitute another neutral oil like avocado or walnut.
Pure maple syrup - while this is still an added sugar, it adds a more natural sweetness to these oatmeal breakfast bars. I always recommend using pure maple syrup as regular maple syrup is actually made with primarily corn syrup!
Pure vanilla extract - a staple ingredient in baking! Like with the maple syrup, I recommend using pure vanilla extract, just to limit any unnecessary ingredients.
Eggs - it's best to use room temperature eggs to allow for easy mixing. Eggs will add protein to these bars and help to bind them together. I haven't tried this recipe with flax eggs.
Spices - warm spices like ground cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg make this carrot cake oatmeal bake taste like the real thing!
Mix-ins - ingredients like fresh carrots, walnuts, unsweetened shredded coconut (I like to use unsweetened because it has less sugar), and golden raisins give the classic taste of carrot cake but in oatmeal form.

For the cream cheese protein powder icing

ingredients for cream cheese protein powder icing

Powdered sugar - a main component to any sweet glaze!
Vanilla protein powder - always look for third-party tested protein powders to know what you're actually consuming! Supplements aren't regulated so companies can put whatever they want in supplements.
Milk or water - a little bit of liquid is needed to make the glaze. Start small and add a couple of splashes until the desired consistency is reached. I like to use milk because it's creamier than water. Use any type of milk!
Cream cheese extract - this is what adds the cream cheese flavor without actual cream cheese! Vanilla extract would work as well.

carrot cake oatmeal bars drizzled with a protein powder icing.

How to Make Healthy Carrot Cake Bars

For the Oatmeal Bars

dry ingredients for carrot cake oatmeal bars

1: First, whisk dry ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.

wet ingredients for carrot cake oatmeal bars

2: Next, in a large mixing bowl, whisk wet ingredients.

carrot cake oatmeal bars batter in a bowl with a rubber spatula

3: Fold in mix-ins (shredded carrots, chopped walnuts, golden raisins, and unsweetened shredded coconut).

carrot cake oatmeal bars batter poured into an 8x8" prepared baking dish

4: Pour batter into an 8x8" baking dish lined with parchment paper and sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

carrot cake oatmeal bars cooling in an 8x8" baking dish

5: Then bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

For the Protein Powder Icing

protein powder icing with a small whisk in a measuring cup

1: Whisk all ingredients in a small bowl.

Variations & Substitutions

I love pairing these carrot cake oatmeal bars with a dollop of yogurt (plain or vanilla low-fat Greek yogurt), drizzle of maple syrup, sprinkle of pumpkin seeds, and dash of cinnamon on top! A tablespoon or two of peanut butter or almond butter on top is delicious too.
You can add ½ cup of your favorite chocolate chips to the oatmeal recipe before baking!

Storage & Reheating

Store these carrot cake oatmeal bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The protein powder icing may dissolve into the bars but I honestly think it makes them taste even better!
You can freeze these oatmeal bars for up to 2 months.
To reheat, simply pop in the microwave for 30-60 seconds, or until warm in the center, or bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, or until warm in the center!

carrot cake oatmeal bars on two plates with coffee mugs and a linen in the background.

Recipe FAQ

How do you make protein powder icing?

Simply mix powdered sugar, vanilla protein powder (I use whey isolate protein), and milk or water in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth and then pour over the oatmeal!

How do you store carrot cake oatmeal bars?

Store these carrot cake breakfast bars in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Freeze (with or without the protein glaze) for up to 3 months in an air-tight container!

What do you eat with carrot cake oatmeal bars?

I love pairing this bars with plain or vanilla Greek yogurt. This will add protein and natural probiotics, making it a well balanced breakfast. The tart creaminess from the yogurt resembles cream cheese, like in a cream cheese frosting!

Other Recipes You May Like

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