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If you’ve ever wished you could eat cake for breakfast, this recipe is for you! 🥕🍰 My Slow Cooker Carrot Cake Oatmeal takes all the cozy flavors of classic carrot cake—warm spices, shredded carrots, and just the right touch of sweetness—and transforms them into a hearty, nourishing bowl of oats.

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Carrot cake is my favorite cake, so why not turn it into a flavorful, hearty and filling overnight oatmeal! (it’s even kinda good for you!) This recipe is similar to overnight oats. Just add your ingredients to your slow cooker for an easy oatmeal to feed a crowd.

This is perfect for a make ahead breakfast, to feed the family, or for brunch. If you aren’t a fan of carrot cake, no problem! Just change up the filling to something you like. Apples and cinnamon, berries and brown sugar, or peanut butter banana would all be delicious combinations.

Try Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole next!

What you’ll need

You can find the full, printable recipe with exact measurements at the bottom of this post. Read on for more details and tips!

On the recipe card below, click “print recipe” and from there you can print out the page or screenshot it to save to your phone’s photo album.

Pin this recipe to save to Pinterest so you can make it later! You can Pin It from the recipe card below. Just click the “Pin Recipe” button. If you’d like to follow me on Pinterest , my page is Steph Gigliotti.

• Slow cooker 4-6 quart size
• Old fashioned oats or use steel cut oats- do not use instant or quick oats
• Milk– any milk works in this like soy, nut based, etc.
• Brown sugar for sweetness
• Pure maple syrup 
• Spices– for that warm fall taste: cinnamon, ground ginger, salt, ground cloves 
• Carrots– this is carrot cake, after all! Shred the carrots first. Use a box grater or food processor
• Raisins-or sub golden raisins. Yum!
• Optional garnishes– Chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans, extra maple syrup, or shredded coconut flakes

How to make it

1. Spray your crockpot very well with nonstick cooking spray. Do not skip the step of spraying your crock pot with nonstick cooking spray or grease generously with butter! The oats tend to stick around the sides and if not coated first, you’ll have a huge mess to clean. Or use a slow cooker liner for super easy clean up!

Add in the milk, oats, shredded carrots, maple syrup, brown sugar and spices. Mix well.

Cook on low 4-5 hours. Check it at 4 hours and stir. Continue cooking if you think it needs longer. If you are using steel cut oats, cook for 5-6 hours.

Stir in the raisins. 

If it’s too thick for your liking, add more milk. 

Serve with chopped nuts, shredded coconut and extra maple syrup.

Refrigerate any leftovers and reheat on the stove top or in the microwave. Add more milk as needed when reheating if the oats become too thick from being refrigerated. 

Did you enjoy this recipe? Take a picture and tag me @StephGigliotti on social media and #StephRealLife. I would absolutely love to see your finished dish!

⭐ Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comment section.

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Mix-In Suggestions

Not a fan of carrots in your oatmeal? No problem! Try these delicious flavor combinations instead:

1. Bananas and peanut butter or almond butter
2. Cocoa powder mixed in with bananas and chocolate chip garnish
3. Apples, walnuts, and cinnamon
4. Frozen or fresh mixed berries
5. Blueberries and lemon
6. Increase the brown sugar and mix in chopped peacans
7. Dried fruit such as apricots, cherries, or cranberries

Tips

• Storage: Refrigerate any leftovers and reheat on the stove top or in the microwave. Add more milk as needed when reheating, if the oats become too thick from being refrigerated. 
• If your crock pot tends to run hot, check your oats at 3 hours, they will probably be done.
• If you are using steel cut oats, cook up to 6 hours.
• Change it up: If you don’t like carrots, change up the add ins. Try chopped apples, blueberries or a bag of frozen mixed berries, or any fruit you like in your oatmeal. If using bananas, add those at the end of the cooking time.
• Add in ground flax seeds for extra fiber.
• Use a slow cooker liner for easy clean up and no mess.
• Freeze it: You can freeze oatmeal in individual portions! Freeze up to 3 months. Heat in a saucepan on the stove, from frozen, just add a splash of milk to it.

You’ll love these recipes

• Crock Pot Peach Cobbler
• Chocolate Chip French Toast Casserole
• Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs
• Chicken Waldorf Pasta Salad
• Apple Cider Cinnamon Donuts
• Banana Bread
• Sheet Pan Pancakes
• Blueberry Muffin in a Mug
• Two Minute Omelet

Summary

Slow Cooker Carrot Cake Oatmeal is proof that breakfast can be both nourishing and indulgent at the same time. With warm spices, tender carrots, and that hint of sweetness, it’s a dish that makes mornings feel special without any extra effort. Whether you enjoy it plain, or take it up a notch with toppings like a drizzle of cream cheese glaze, a sprinkle of shredded coconut, chopped walnuts, or juicy raisins, this oatmeal is sure to become a go-to in your breakfast rotation. Prep it the night before, let your slow cooker work its magic, and wake up to a comforting bowl that tastes just like dessert—but fuels you for the day ahead.

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