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For a deliciously sweet and equally healthy breakfast option, Carrot Cake Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies are the way to go. They’re the perfect grab-and-go morning meal.
Delicious and easy carrot cake oatmeal breakfast cookies
When I’m craving a sweet breakfast, sometimes fresh fruit, pancakes, or even muffins simply won’t cut it! It’s times like these when I’m forced to get creative and see what I can to whip up that will satisfy my cravings.
The last time I found myself in this situation, I took it upon myself to do a bit of experimenting. I’d been craving carrot cake for a few days by this point, so I decided to try and make carrot cakes cookies that could double as a breakfast option.
The result? Carrot cake oatmeal breakfast cookies. These are exactly what I needed during my morning sugar craving. They’re sweet and delicious, but they’re made with oatmeal and contain a lot of nutrient-rich ingredients. They’re the perfect way to fuel your morning!
The next time you find yourself reaching for the pancake mix, opt for this healthy (but equally delicious) option instead!
Ingredients used in this easy carrot cake recipe
Healthy oatmeal cookies are made from a wide variety of ingredients that were specifically chosen for their flavor, cooking properties, and nutritional benefits. Rolled oats, oat flour, maple syrup, eggs, and more will make up the bulk of the batter, and a 2-ingredient frosting will be made out of powdered sugar and water!
Cookies:
- Rolled oats
- Oat flour
- Baking soda
- Cinnamon
- Dried ginger
- Nutmeg
- Salt
- Eggs
- Maple syrup
- Coconut oil
- Vanilla
- Finely shredded carrots
- Raisins
- Chopped nuts
Icing:
- Powdered sugar
- Water
Kitchen tools used in this recipe
You won’t need a long list of kitchen items to create this recipe. The five items listed below should do the trick!
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Medium mixing bowl
- Large mixing bowl
- Mixing utensil
How to make carrot cake oatmeal breakfast cookies
Making carrot cake breakfast cookies is just like making any other cookie recipe. You’ll need to do a bit of mixing and baking, followed by applying the icing. When all is said and done, you’ll have a delicious batch of breakfast cookies perfect for any day of the week.
To start, preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In one mixing bowl, mix the dry ingredients. This includes the rolled oats, oat flour, baking soda, cinnamon, dried ginger, nutmeg, and salt.
In a second bowl, whisk together the eggs, maple syrup, coconut oil, and vanilla.
Next, add the wet ingredients to the dry, and then stir until combined. Once combined, add the carrots, raisins, and nuts.
Using your hands, form the dough into individual cookies. If the dough is too sticky, wet your hands between shaping.
Next, bake the cookies for 20-22 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the icing by mixing the powdered sugar and water.
Once the cookies are done baking, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool completely. Once cooled, add the icing.
Nutritional benefits in carrot cake oatmeal breakfast cookies
This is one of my favorite healthy cookie recipes because it contains so many nutrient-rich ingredients.
Rolled oats
These oats contain fiber, antioxidants, copper, iron, and more. They’re incredibly nutrient-rich and are great for keeping you feeling full and satiated for hours after eating.
Oat flour
Oat flour is another great source of fiber, containing much more than regular white flour. It also supplies a healthy amount of protein and contributes less carbs than the alternative.
Spices
Few people realize how powerful spices can be. Cinnamon, which is used in this recipe to add a slight spice, has a ton of benefits. It’s filled with anti-inflammatories and antioxidants, and it helps to lower blood sugar. Dried nutmeg is another beneficial ingredient, as it helps with digestion, skin, blood circulation, and even insomnia!
Substitution options
If you find yourself missing an ingredient or two, try these! Most of the items in this recipe have handy swap options. Note: To achieve the correct texture and flavor, I recommend substituting no more than 1-2 ingredients.
- Rolled oats: In this recipe, rolled oats can be replaced with ground flax seeds or chia seeds if necessary. This may alter the texture a bit. Be sure to look up proper conversions for your brand of seeds.
- Oat flour: Out of oat flour? Feel free to use regular white flour instead. Start with 2.5 cups of white flour, and add more depending on the consistency of your batter. You may need up to 4 cups.
- Baking soda: You can actually use baking powder in place of baking soda! You will need 1.5 tsp of powder in this recipe.
- Eggs: Applesauce is a common replacement for eggs. Use 1/2 cup for this recipe.
- Maple syrup: Maple syrup can be swapped with molasses or honey at a 1:1 ratio.
- Coconut oil: Any similar fatty cooking oil can be used in place of coconut oil.
- Raisins: Rather than substituting the raisins, simply leave them out if.
- Chopped nuts: I like to use chopped walnuts for this recipe. Other options include chopped pecans, peanuts, almonds, or cashews!
More delicious carrot cake recipes
Are you a huge carrot cake lover at heart? If so, you have to try these recipes next!
Carrot Cake Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
Ingredients
Cookies:
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 1/2 cup oat flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp dried ginger
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup coconut oil melted
- ย 1 tsp vanilla
- 3/4 cup finely shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (I used walnuts)
Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp water
Instructions
- ย Preheat oven to 350F and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, mix together oats, oat flour, baking soda, cinnamon, dried ginger, nutmeg, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk eggs, maple syrup, coconutย oil, and vanilla.
- Add wet to dry and stir till combined. Add in carrots, raisins, and nuts.
- Using your hands, form into cookies. If dough is too sticky, wet your hands.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes. Let cool. Meanwhile prepare your icing.ย
- Once cookies have cooled completely, ice them.
- Store in fridge.
There may be affiliate links in this post!ย By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat ๐
Martha says
Acabo de hacer estas galletas y estรกn BUENรSIMAS, que delicia, no tenรญa pasas o nuez entonces no le puse pero igual quedaron muy bien, quedan como esponjosas no duras, a mi esposo le gustaron mucho y a mi bebรฉ le di pero sin el azรบcar arriba y los 2 las aprobaron, muchas gracias!
Erin says
Hi Martha, I am so happy you and your family loved the cookies and you made them your own!!
Megan says
These look yummy! Canโt wait to make them with my kids. Can you use whole wheat flour instead of oat flour? Thanks!
Erin says
Hi Megan, thank you! You should be able to! Just double check the ratio before you make them since I haven’t tried them with that sub before. Let me know how the cookies come out!
leigh says
These are so good, perfect for a quick Easter morning treat ๐ Instead of the icing, we topped them with the cream cheese frosting from the Healthy Carrot Cake – SO good!
Erin says
Hi Leigh, so glad you loved them!
Morgan says
Lots of flavor and easy to make! Great way to start the day.
Erin says
Hi Morgan, so happy you liked them!!
Martina says
Delicious for a grab and go breakfast or trail snack. They are hearty and not too sweet. I will absolutely make them again ๐
Erin says
Hi Martina, I am so glad you enjoyed them!!
Abby S. says
I just made these last night. They are so good! As a family we usually have a cookie every night for dessert. However, we decided that a New Years resolution could be to make something instead of buying them. One thing I would mention is that they did not act like regular cookies by rising so next time I would form them into the shape I want them in the end.
By the way, I havenโt been on your website since you updated it and itโs ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!!!!
Erin says
Hi Abby, thanks for your kind words! I love that resolution! ๐
Alexis says
My batch came out of the oven about 15 minutes ago. I couldnโt wait for them to cool completely. I put the icing on one and ate it warm still. Itโs exactly what I hoped it would be, delicious!!! And so easy to make. Great simple recipe.
Erin says
Hi Alexis, ah I am so glad you loved them, and I like eating them warm too! ๐
Diana says
These are incredible but Iโm confused on how these could possibly serve 20? I end up with around 7 cookies how many are you supposed to end up with? Regardless BEST cookies ever
Erin says
Hi Diana, hmm did you make 7 really big cookies? Glad you like them anyway and 7 big ones or 20 smaller ones- both work!
Gaetana says
I love this recipe. Making them tonight for the second time! I did your applesauce swap and flattened them quite a bit because they didnโt flatten while baking last time.
I have a ton of leftover dough I plan to freeze. Have you frozen this dough before?
Erin says
Hi Gaetana, thanks for your kind words! I am so happy you’re enjoying them and made them your own. I haven’t frozen this dough before, but let me know if you decide to try it and how it goes!
lindsey garcia says
Can I substitute the coconut oil with almond butter?
Erin says
Hi Lindsey, I haven’t tried that substitute. I’d recommend using another type of oil such as almond, avocado, hemp seed, etc. since the consistency is so different. Feel free to try it with almond butter through and let me know how it goes!
Dana says
These are incredible! I subbed the eggs for flax eggs to make them vegan and used a cream cheese maple frosting instead and theyโre amazing! Every ELW recipe I make is perfect!
Erin says
Hi Dana! Thanks for your kind words and so happy you liked it and made it your own! ๐
Gina says
Delicious! Perfect for breakfast since they are filling and not too sugary.
Erin says
Hi Gina, I’m thrilled you love them!
Marita says
Holy cow, these are so good! Walk donโt run to make them! They taste exactly like carrot cake! FYI, substitutions are super easy. I didnโt have oat flour but wanted to keep them GF, so I used a Bobโs GF 1 to 1 flour and it worked just fine!!
Erin says
Hi Marita, thank you so much for your kind words! I am so glad you liked them and made them your own! ๐
Erin says
These are so freaking good! I may be making these weekly because the flavor is so delicious and they are a great snack throughout the day that you don’t need to feel guilty about! simply YUM.
Erin says
Hi Erin! Thank you so much for your kind words! I am so happy you enjoyed them!! ๐
Gabby B says
Hi! Quick question – can I use a 1:1 sub of almond flour for the oat flour?! And what would be your recommendation for carrots that are pre-shredded?
Erin says
I think it should work! I would think you need a little bit more of it though. Also, chop them up even finer. you don’t want to bite into chunks of carrot.
Catherine C says
These were delicious! I absolutely love carrot cake. I made a cream cheese frosting instead of the glaze,so they weren’t as nutritious as the original recipe, but I’m so happy with how they turned out (I had to make a few other subs- almonds instead of pecans, wheat flour instead of oat flour, and no raisins because of our limited pantry). I’ll definitely be making this recipe again!
Erin says
Hi Catherine, thank you so much for your kind words!! I am so happy you enjoyed it and made it your own! ๐
Jackie says
I just made these cookies yesterday! They were DELICIOUS ! like a carrot cake in a bite !
They have the perfect amount Of spices and texture!
Erin recipes will always be my go to when baking!! They are easy, delicious and NEVER disappoint!
Erin says
Hi Jackie, I am so happy you loved them!! Thanks for your kind words and support!! ๐
Betsy says
I was just looking for a carrot oatmeal cookie! I only have steel cut oats in the house at the moment. Can I use those instead? Will I have to pre cook them somehow? Thanks!
Erin says
I don’t think they would work unfortunately! I’ve never baked with steel cut oats and afraid they are too harsh.
Alexis says
!!! Just made these and they are AMAZING! SO easy and just like carrot cake! I saw the cookies in one of your youtube videos and I’ve been checking so often waiting for the recipe to be posted lol — absolutely did not disappoint!
Erin says
YAY!! I’m so glad you made them so quickly!!!! Enjoy!!
Erin says
Hi Alexis, I am so happy you’re enjoying my recipes!! Thanks for your kind words! ๐
Tom says
I love the flavor and the texture of the raisins. Simply delicious!
Erin says
Hi Tom! I am so happy you enjoyed them!