Baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal (aka The Best Autumn Breakfast)

This recipe is so super yummy.  It is so hearty, filling and rich but not overly sweet.  In fact, don't be fooled by the "cake" part of the title.  In a normal recipe for baked oatmeal, most people would put in in 1 C of sugar.  I cut this way back to only 1/4 C.  If you like sweet foods or are making this for a special occasion, feel free to double or triple the sugar or squeeze some honey or maple sugar over top of your bowl.  We enjoy even without all the sugar so we'll keep doing it that way.  I also make it up the night before and then pop it in the oven in the morning for a quicker and easier breakfast.

Baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal (Gluten free with a dairy free option)

1 large carrot, shredded

3 c Oats

2 t Baking powder

1 t Salt

2 t Cinnamon

1/4 c Brown sugar

1/3  c raisins

1/4 c shredded coconut

1/3 c chopped walnuts (optional)

1/2 c oil/butter - butter or coconut oil is the best but I think just about any "oil" would work

2 eggs 

1 c milk

1 t vanilla

1 apple (granny smith is the best that I've tried)

In a 9x13 in pan, mix together the first 9 dry ingredients.  In large measuring cup, mix together the wet ingredients.  Add the wet to the dry and mix a little more.  At this point, I put it in the fridge overnight.  The next morning, preheat the oven to 350 and add a chopped apple to the oatmeal.  I also like to add an extra 1/4 c of milk or so since the oats will have soaked up the mixture while in the refrigerator.  Stir in the apples and bake for 30 min.  Enjoy a huge bowl and top with milk, half & half, cream, or whipped cream.  

If you are dairy free, just use a milk alternative such as almond milk in place of the regular milk and coconut oil instead of butter.  

Our whole family will gladly eat a giant bowl of this for breakfast.  However, I personally recommend that you feed your children cereal so that you can eat their portions.  

Have you ever wondered what we look like to small children.  Here is us and our house from Kira's perspective.  It kind of cracks me up.