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    Eat Fresh Glow » Recipes » Breakfast

    Carrot Cake Oatmeal Nut Breakfast Bars

    Published: Apr 3, 2022 · Modified: Mar 9, 2023 by Jacqui Wilson · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe
    carrot cake oatmeal nut breakfast bars stacked with a bite taken out.
    carrot cake oatmeal nut breakfast bars stacked with a bite taken out.

    These healthy carrot cake oatmeal nut breakfast bars taste like a decadent treat filled with nuts, oats, banana and tons of shredded carrots. Enjoy the taste of carrot cake in an easy carrot cake oatmeal bar perfect for breakfast or a quick snack.

    carrot cake oatmeal nut breakfast bars piled three high.

    Why you'll love these carrot cake oatmeal breakfast bars

    • Cake-like - carrot oatmeal bars have a cake-like texture and classic carrot cake flavor in a perfect bite size healthy snack. They're thick, chewy and almost fudgy.
    • Healthy - carrot cake for breakfast? These squares are loaded with fiber, protein and healthy fats to balance out your day starting with a healthy breakfast and oatmeal recipe. Need extra protein? Add a scoop of vanilla protein powder with an extra mashed half banana to balance the moisture.
    • Diet friendly - gluten-free, dairy-free, oil-free, sugar-free oatmeal breakfast bars. A quick breakfast made from wholesome ingredients and vegan.
    • Quick to make - easy and flavorful and full of healthy ingredients. An on-the-go breakfast or perfect snack made with only a handful of ingredients.
    • No added sugar - these oatmeal breakfast bars are naturally sweetened with dates.

    Love these carrot oat bars? Try my other healthy bars and snacks like Energy Snack Seed Bars with Tahini, No Bake Black Bean Chocolate Fudge Brownies, Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars, Almond Cherry Pepita Granola Bars and 3-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies. Or my favorite carrot cake recipe with vegan cream cheese frosting. Yum!

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love these carrot cake oatmeal breakfast bars
    • Key ingredients and substitutions
    • Expert tips and variations
    • How to make these moist carrot cake breakfast bars
    • Carrot cake oatmeal breakfast bars: FAQs
    • More easy recipes to try
    • Recipe

    Key ingredients and substitutions

    labelled ingredients shot.
    • Cashews and walnuts - adds some crunch and texture. Swap the nuts for pecans, almonds or pistachios for a different flavor combination.
    • Quick cooking rolled oats (gluten free) - adds heart healthy protein, fiber, carbs and whole grains. Substitute for old fashioned rolled oats if you like more texture in your healthy carrot cake bars. Or steel cut oats for more chew.
    • Walnuts or pecans - add texture and makes a great addition to this carrot cake oatmeal bake. Swap for other nuts or seeds like chopped almonds or pumpkin seeds in the dry ingredients. Do not swap with butters like almond butter, peanut butter or sunflower butter, this will make the wet ingredients too moist and make it difficult to cut into bars.
    • Bananas - add creaminess to these easy oatmeal bars.
    • Fresh carrot - loaded with beta carotene for eye health. Substitute grated parsnips in this easy recipe.
    • Dates - add natural sweetness and are high in dietary fiber and antioxidants. I like to use medjool dates to bind the bars as they have a sweet, caramel flavor without the need for coconut sugar or brown sugar. Also, no need for room temperature eggs or flax egg for binding.
    • Dash of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger - add just the right amount of warming spices and carrot cake flavors.

    See recipe card for all ingredients and quantities.

    Expert tips and variations

    Add-ins - raisins or dried cranberries would work well. Use other nuts like almonds, pecans or pistachios. You can also swap in chia seeds or hemp hearts for extra protein.

    More texture - mix all ingredients except carrots in the food processor, then pulse in the carrots at the end to have larger layers of carrots throughout the healthy carrot cake bars.

    More sweetness - add a drizzle of maple syrup to the top of the baked bars. Or add a layer of vegan cream cheese like in my delicious carrot cake recipe.

    Store - the carrot cake breakfast bars can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for a week. If stacking the bars, make sure to separate each layer with a sheet of parchment paper.

    Freeze - the bars can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Wrap each bar or square individually with parchment paper, wax paper or plastic wrap for a quick grab-and-go snack.

    How to make these moist carrot cake breakfast bars

    1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch baking pan with two sheets of parchment paper in a criss-cross pattern to cover bottom and sides of pan.
    1. Add cashews, pecans, oats, bananas, carrots, dates, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and sea salt to food processor. Mix until combined and mixture sticks together easily. 

    Note - no need for a perfectly smooth batter when mixing. You want the bars to have some texture.

    process shot in food processor
    process shot in food processor
    1. Pour mixture into prepared pan and press into an even layer.
    process shot in prepared pan
    process shot of sliced squares
    1. Bake for 12-14 minutes until firm and toothpick comes out mostly clean.
    1. Cool completely in pan and cut into bars or squares.

    Carrot cake oatmeal breakfast bars: FAQs

    Can I add protein powder to these breakfast bars?

    If you want to bump up the protein, feel free to add a scoop or two of your favorite protein powder. You can also add hemp hearts or chia seeds to increase the protein. You may need a mashed half banana extra to maintain a moist crumb.

    Can I make these bars nut-free?

    Yes, you can make these breakfast bars nut free by leaving out the chopped walnuts. You can also substitute with pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds if you like.

    rows of carrot cake oatmeal nut breakfast bars

    More easy recipes to try

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      Dark Chocolate Roasted Chickpeas (3-Ingredient)
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      Easy 4-Ingredient Chocolate Bread Banana Chip Loaf
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      Baked Stuffed Tomatoes with White Beans and Spinach

    Did you make this recipe? Leave a review and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below!

    Recipe

    carrot cake oatmeal nut breakfast bars stacked.

    Carrot Cake Oatmeal Nut Breakfast Bars

    5 from 1 vote
    These healthy carrot cake oatmeal nut breakfast bars taste like a decadent treat filled with nuts, oats, banana and tons of shredded carrots. Enjoy the taste of carrot cake in an easy carrot cake oatmeal bar perfect for breakfast or a quick snack.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time14 mins
    Total Time24 mins
    Servings: 25 squares
    Calories: 104kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 8-inch square baking dish lined with parchment paper
    • 1 small food processor
    • 1 box grater to grate carrots

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ cups (225 grams) raw cashews
    • 1 cup (110 grams) walnuts or pecans
    • 1 cup (105 grams) quick cooking rolled oats (gluten free)
    • 2 large (275 grams) bananas (1 cup mashed)
    • 1 large (170 grams) carrot, peeled and grated
    • 3-4 (65 grams) dates, pitted and chopped
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven: preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch baking pan with two sheets of parchment paper in a criss-cross pattern to cover bottom and sides of pan.
    • Process: add cashews, pecans, oats, bananas, carrots, dates, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and sea salt to food processor. Mix until combined and mixture sticks together easily. 
    • Pan: pour mixture into prepared pan and press evenly.
    • Bake: bake for 14-16 minutes until firm and toothpick comes out mostly clean.
    • Cool: cool completely in pan and cut into bars or squares.

    Notes

    • Store in an airtight container in the fridge for a week. If stacking the bars, separate each layer with a sheet of parchment paper.
    • Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Wrap each bar or square individually for a quick grab-and-go snack.
    • No need for a perfectly smooth batter when mixing. You want the bars to have some texture.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1square | Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 26mg | Potassium: 146mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg
    nutritional values are estimates only
    Author: Jacqui Wilson
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Keyword: carrot cake, carrot cake oatmeal bars, dairy free, gluten free, healthy oatmeal bars, oatmeal breakfast bars

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    WELCOME !

    I'm so happy you're here! My name is Jacqui - I'm a recipe developer, registered holistic nutritionist and culinary nutrition expert. I love all things healthy, and my goal is to inspire you to lead a healthy life through wholesome food that leaves you nourished, satisfied and energized! You'll find simple, easy-to-make naturally gluten-free, refined sugar-free and mostly dairy-free recipes your family will love!

    Learn more about me →

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