Description
Homemade Carrot Cake Oatmeal Bars blend wholesome oats with sweet carrots and warm spices, creating a comforting breakfast treat. Hearty ingredients and simple preparation make these bars a delightful morning companion you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups shredded carrots
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
Sweeteners and Binding Agents:
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Spices and Dry Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a 9×9-inch baking dish by lining with parchment paper or lightly greasing to ensure easy removal.
- In a spacious mixing vessel, thoroughly blend dry components including rolled oats, whole wheat flour, baking powder, aromatic spices, and seasoning until uniformly distributed.
- Create a separate mixture by whisking liquid ingredients until they form a harmonious, smooth emulsion.
- Gently incorporate wet ingredients into dry mixture, stirring carefully to prevent overmixing. The resulting batter should maintain a dense, spreadable consistency.
- Tenderly fold shredded carrots and optional chopped nuts throughout the batter, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Transfer the mixture into the prepared pan, smoothing the surface to create an even layer. Bake for 30-35 minutes, monitoring until a test skewer emerges clean and the surface achieves a golden-bronze hue.
- After removing from oven, let the bars rest in the pan for approximately 10 minutes to stabilize their structure.
- Carefully transfer to a cooling rack, allowing complete temperature reduction before slicing into uniform squares for serving.
Notes
- Swap out regular flour with gluten-free flour blend for those with wheat sensitivities, ensuring everyone can enjoy these nutritious bars.
- Reduce maple syrup or replace with monk fruit sweetener for a lower-sugar version that maintains delicious flavor without excess calories.
- Toast nuts before adding to enhance their nutty depth and create a more complex, roasted taste throughout the oatmeal bars.
- Grate carrots finely to distribute moisture evenly and prevent dry spots in the baked recipe, guaranteeing a consistently moist texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg