High Protein Carrot Cake Overnight Oats {Two Ways}
These High Protein Carrot Cake Overnight Oats are a great way to start your morning with a healthier sweet treat. These protein overnight oats can be made two ways with Greek yogurt or protein powder. No matter which method you choose, they are incredibly delicious!
Protein-packed overnight oats are a nutritious breakfast that is best assembled the night before. What better way to start the day than with a cool and refreshing grab-and-go breakfast?
This easy overnight oats recipe combines Greek yogurt and milk (regular or dairy-free) with whole-grain oats and a sweetener of your choice to make a satiating and delicious breakfast.
As is, these overnight oats are great for you but you can also use a protein powder base instead of Greek yogurt as a protein base alternative. It’s a hearty and healthy breakfast that will keep you feeling full until lunchtime!
The best part about protein overnight oats? The toppings! With mix-ins like carrots, dates, walnuts, and raisins, you can make overnight oats taste like classic carrot cake! They are one of my favorite meal prep recipes!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Oats are great for you! Oats are high in fiber which keep you feeling full longer. Oats have also been proven to help lower cholesterol.
- No cooking necessary! Simply add the ingredients to a jar, stir, store in the fridge, and grab on your way out the door in the morning.
- Cake-inspired topping options. Carrot cake is one of my favorites! YUM.
- Enjoy warm or cold. Overnight oats are great served cold on a hot day or they can be quickly heated through in the microwave if you prefer them warm.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Carrot Cake Overnight Oats with Yogurt Base:
- Milk or Dairy-Free Milk – You can use regular milk or dairy-free milk like almond, coconut, or oat.
- Greek Yogurt – good quality Greek yogurt will add about 15 grams of protein per serving. See below for how to use protein powder instead of yogurt.
- Oats – Be sure to use old-fashioned rolled oats for a smooth, creamy texture. Instant oats will turn to mush if left to soak overnight.
- Sweetener – For a sugar-free option, I typically use Walden Farms Maple Syrup or 1 to 2 packets of Stevia. Hold the added sweetener if you are using flavored Greek yogurt with added sugar. You can also use real maple syrup or honey.
Carrot Cake Overnight oats with a protein powder base:
- Milk or Dairy-Free Milk – You can use regular milk or dairy-free milk like almond, coconut, or oat.
- Protein Powder – To make these oats truly taste like dessert for breakfast, use a vanilla-flavored protein powder.
- Chia Seeds – absorb some of the liquid creating a thicker consistency. They also add more fiber and protein.
To give your protein overnight oats all of the crave-worthy flavors and textures of a delicious slice of carrot cake simply mix in the ingredients below:
- Finely Grated Carrot – Adding carrot to your overnight oats gives you a great boost of beta-carotene, fiber, and potassium.
- Sugar-Free Maple Syrup – I use Walden Farms Sugar-Free Maple Syrup. If you prefer a natural sweetener, feel free to use real maple syrup, honey, date syrup, etc.
- Vanilla Extract – For the best tasting end result, use pure vanilla extract.
- Golden Raisins – are juicier and sweeter than raisins. They add great flavor and texture.
- Walnuts – add crunch and satiating healthy fats.
- Cinnamon, Nutmeg & Ginger – warming spices that give this oatmeal that classic carrot cake flavor.
How To Make Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
Step 1. Mix ingredients: In a large bowl, mix Greek yogurt (or protein powder base), milk, oats, sweetener (if using plain yogurt), and any optional add-ins.
Step 2. Soak overnight: Pour into a glass jar and leave in the fridge overnight to let oats soak and soften.
Step 3. Garnish and serve: Remove from fridge, top with a dollop of whipped cream cheese (or whipped cream), a drizzle of real maple syrup, and chopped walnuts.
NOTE: To make overnight oats with a protein powder base instead of Greek yogurt, mix a scoop of your favorite protein powder with milk and chia seeds. Shake or stir until the mixture thickens. Use in place of Greek yogurt in this recipe.
Recipe Tips
- You can adjust how sweet your oats are by adding more or less sweetener. You can also enhance the sweetness by using vanilla Greek yogurt instead of plain.
- Chia seeds help thicken the protein powder base while adding fiber and nutrients. Feel free to add 1-2 teaspoons (I add 2 teaspoons) of chia seeds for the added nutrition even if you’re using Greek yogurt.
- Be sure to use a protein powder that tastes great and you actually enjoy.
- Add any soft fruits and toppings right before serving so they don’t get mushy overnight.
More Overnight Oats Recipes
Storing & Freezing
I love to use Mason jars to store protein overnight oats. They are cute and the perfect size for this recipe. For the best tasting results let oats soak in the fridge for at least 2 hours and enjoy within 4 days. If the next morning, your oats seem a bit dry, simply stir in a splash of milk.
Do not freeze.
Recipe FAQ
Absolutely. A half-cup of oats has about 5 grams of protein and Greek yogurt adds an additional protein boost. You can add even more protein by adding protein powder and nut butter.
Old-fashioned rolled oats are the best for making overnight oats. The oats soak up excess liquid overnight so they become soft and pleasantly chewy. Quick oats will turn to mush overnight.
Quick oats will get too soft and mushy if left to soak in the fridge overnight. That said, if you’re using quick oats, soak them for no longer than an hour and serve immediately.
More Healthy Oatmeal Recipes
Banana Smoothie with Oats & Almonds
Easy Chocolate Protein Oats with Fresh Raspberries
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Carrot Cake Protein Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup whole oats
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk or milk of choice
- 5.3 oz plain Greek yogurt *you can also use Oikos Pro vanilla Greek yogurt with 20 grams of protein for an added boost
- 1/2 medium-size carrot very finely grated
- 1 tbsp sugar-free maple syrup I use Walden Farms or 1-2 packets of stevia. You can also use real maple syrup or honey.
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp golden raisins
- 1 tbsp raw walnuts
- 1/4-1/2 tsp cinnamon
- dash nutmeg
- dash ginger
Instructions
- Stir all ingredients together and pour into a container for serving.
- I love to use Mason jars, they are cute and are the perfect size for this recipe
- Optional: top with a little whipped cream cheese or whipped cream, a drizzle of real maple syrup, and a few walnuts before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
*This post was originally published September 15, 2015, and has been updated throughout.
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That photo is gorgeous, lady. I have all of these ingredients in my pantry, so this is going on the breakfast menu for tomorrow. Plus, pinning!
Thank you Katie! I hope that you love them as much as I do! Your post about Blog Brûlée was so great, loved it!
Great minds think alike! This is one of my favorite breakfasts and favorite flavor combos! Yum 🙂
Thank you Anne! I’m on a yogurt kick after all that Siggi’s this weekend! 🙂
How would you make this with steel cut oats? It sounds delicious.
Monica, steel oats are best cooked, so I would leave out the yogurt and add all of the other ingredients to the oats while they cooked, using half milk/almond milk and half water. They would be delicious warm, too!
Yum, this looks awesome! I LOVE carrot cake and can’t wait to try it in oatmeal form 🙂
Thank you Alex! 🙂
I’ll take carrot cake any way I can get it, especially for breakfast! Good work Amee! 🙂
I could definitely have this for breakfast anyday.. delicious!
This sounds delicious!! I would love to make this for breakfast sometime! 🙂
Thank you Camilla!
Oh my, these look fantastic! Oh so creamy and flavorful! Im a huge oatmeal lover, and I desperately NEED to make this asap!
I’m oatmeal obsessed, too Bethany! So many ways to enjoy it and I love them cold!
Looks awesome! I need to try this…I love overnights oats????…I’ve just prepared my apple and cinnamon one for tomorrow morning ????
Thank you! That version sounds great, too! Love apples!!
How long will this oatmeal stay fresh?
Thank you! It looks delicious
Hi Cassidy! It will keep for several days in the refrigerator. After a few days, it will get softer. I like more texture, so I like to eat it right away. 🙂