Oatmeal Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
This Oatmeal Carrot Cake is a wholesome twist on the classic dessert, combining the hearty texture of rolled oats with the natural sweetness of shredded carrots and raisins. Sweetened naturally with maple syrup and flavored with cinnamon and vanilla, this cake is moist and delicious. Topped with a healthy cream cheese frosting and optional chopped walnuts for added crunch, it makes a perfect treat for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Three 6-inch cake layers (about 8 servings) 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 4 cups old fashioned rolled oats (divided)
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ¾ cup pulp-free orange juice
- ¾ cup applesauce
- ¾ cup maple syrup
- 2 large eggs
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Additional Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups shredded carrots
- ¾ cup raisins
- Healthy cream cheese frosting (quantity as desired for frosting)
- Chopped walnuts for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Grease three 6-inch cake pans using cooking spray or coconut oil to prevent sticking, then set them aside.
- Blend: In a high-powered blender, combine 2 ½ cups of rolled oats, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, orange juice, applesauce, maple syrup, eggs, olive or avocado oil, and vanilla extract. Blend the mixture until it becomes smooth, using a tamper as needed to push ingredients down.
- Add: Transfer the batter to a mixing bowl and gently fold in the remaining 1 ½ cups of rolled oats, shredded carrots, and raisins, ensuring even distribution without over-mixing.
- Bake: Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Place them in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the tops turn golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool in the pans for about 10 minutes. Then, carefully remove the cakes from the pans and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Frost: Once the cakes have reached room temperature, frost them generously with your preferred healthy cream cheese frosting. Optionally, sprinkle chopped walnuts on top for added texture and flavor.
- Serve: Slice the cake and serve. Enjoy this moist, naturally sweetened carrot cake as a delightful snack or dessert.
Notes
- Use pulp-free orange juice to avoid lumps in the batter.
- Rolling oats give a hearty texture; avoid instant oats for best results.
- For a vegan version, substitute eggs with flax eggs and use vegan cream cheese for frosting.
- Chilling the frosting before spreading helps achieve a smoother finish.
- Chopped walnuts add nice crunch but can be omitted for nut-free diets.
Keywords: Oatmeal carrot cake, healthy carrot cake, maple syrup cake, cream cheese frosting, gluten-free oats cake, natural sweetener dessert, healthy carrot dessert
