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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Healthy Carrot Cake Granola

    Healthy Carrot Cake Granola

    Published on Mar 2, 2020 · Last updated on Aug 24, 2021 ·

    204 shares
    Jump to Recipe
    Carrot Cake Granola - an easy, healthy granola recipe featuring oats, grated carrots, coconut, dried fruit (cranberries or raisins), pecans, and classic carrot cake spices! This granola recipe is gluten-free, vegan and no refined sugars! The perfect Easter morning breakfast #glutenfree, #healthybreakfast #easterrecipes, #carrotcake #veganrecipes

    Healthy Carrot Cake Granola - an easy granola recipe featuring oats, grated carrots, coconut, raisins, pecans, and classic carrot cake spices! This granola recipe is gluten-free, vegan and free of refined sugars!

    healthy vegan gluten-free carrot cake granola parfaits with spoons

    Want cake for breakfast? Make Healthy Carrot Cake Granola!

    Have we all spotted the first chocolate bunnies at our local grocery store? Then we know what time it is! CARROT CAKE SEASON! Let's kick it off with a healthy spin on the classic springtime dessert — Carrot Cake Granola.  It’s naturally-sweetened, naturally gluten-free and vegan, made with real carrots. Perfect for anyone who likes the idea of carrot cake for breakfast without having to follow the sugar-induced urge to go straight back to bed afterward.

    overhead shot of a bowl filled with carrot cake granola

    This Carrot Cake Granola happens to be:

    • Gluten-free & vegan
    • Free of refined sugars
    • Easy
    • Healthy
    • Filling And DELICIOUS

    Pretty good for having the word cake in the title, don't you think?

    So what goes into carrot cake granola? Obviously, cake is not an ingredient or I couldn't call this a healthy granola without blushing. So how do we get all those delicious flavors you would expect from the perfect slice of carrot cake into this crunchy breakfast treat?

    Let me tell you: All you need are some oats, nuts (I went with pecans), shredded coconut, carrots, maple syrup for that sweetness, coconut oil, and a handful of carrot cake spices. I based this recipe on another granola recipe I already have on the blog and just made some minor modifications, mostly due to the addition of carrots.

    overhead shot of two dessert glasses layered with vegan carrot cake granola and yogurt

    How to use this granola:

    Guys, this is so more than breakfast cereal and can be so versatile.

    • Mix it with yogurt as I did for the pics.  Breakfast parfait perfection!
    • Use it as a base to make granola bars or granola bites! Here's a great recipe.
    • Top a salad or a soup with it. Yep, I mean it!
    • Put some granola in your food processor, pulse quickly to make it finer. Roll some bananas in the mix and freeze. Awesome as a healthy frozen treat.
    • Crush and roll chicken in it and bake it in the oven. Voila -Carrot Cake Crispy Chicken. My kind of chicken.
    • Sprinkle it on top of your breakfast smoothie.

    How to make Healthy Carrot Cake Granola:

    Prep - Preheat oven to 300 F / 150 C degrees.

    ingredients for making carrot cake granola being mixed in a glass bowl

    Step 1  - In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients: oats, carrots, shredded coconut, nuts, spices, and salt.

    Step 2 & 3 - Add the wet ingredients: maple syrup and coconut oil. Mix thoroughly until well combined and all the oats look wet.

    picture collage demonstrating how to bake healthy carrot cake granola on a sheet pan

    Step 4 - Transfer on a large baking sheet (you can line it with parchment paper for easy cleaning but you don’t have to) and spread the mixture.

    Step 5 - Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown, taking it out of the oven half-way through to give it a good stir. All ovens are different so start checking around 20-25 minutes to make sure it doesn't burn. 

    Step 6 - Remove the sheet pan from the oven, spread raisins on top and let it cool completely.

    overhead shot of a sheet pan with healthy carrot granola being stirred with a wooden spoon

    How to store homemade granola:

    Once the granola has cooled down, transfer it to an air-tight container – ideally in the fridge to keep it extra crunchy.

    a wooden spoon stirring homemade gluten-free carrot cake granola on a sheet pan

     

    Recipe Tips & Variations:

    • If you’ve made my healthy granola recipe before, you might remember that I tell you to press the granola on the baking sheet to make it clumpy and not to stir it. I find that this method doesn’t work with this carrot cake granola: it ends up too soft, probably because of the carrot’s moisture. So bottom line: for this recipe, spread the mixture on the baking sheet, stir halfway through and bake a bit longer.
    • You could use honey instead of maple syrup for a non-vegan version that is still refined sugar-free.
    • Use virgin coconut oil if you enjoy a bit of coconut taste, refined coconut oil to avoid it
    • I used pecans for this recipe but you can also use walnuts, pistachios, almonds, cashews or hazelnuts or a mix. And why not add in some sunflower seeds, hemp seeds or pepitas?
    • Not a fan of raisins? Add some chopped dried apricots, candied ginger or cranberries. Try and find ones without added sugar.
    carrot cake granola served sprinkled on top of healthy Greek Yogurt
    5 from 6 votes
    Print

    Healthy Carrot Cake Granola Recipe - Glutenfree

    Carrot Cake Granola - an easy, healthy granola recipe featuring oats, grated carrots, coconut, raisins, pecans, and classic carrot cake spices! This granola recipe is gluten-free, vegan and free of refined sugars!

    Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Keyword carrot cake desserts, gluten-free granola recipes, healthy granola recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 30 minutes
    Total Time 35 minutes
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 527 kcal
    Author Marie

    Ingredients

    • 2  cups  rolled oats also known as old-fashioned oats
    • 1 cup shredded carrots
    • ½  cup  shredded coconut unsweetened – optional
    • 1 ½ cup  pecans roughly chopped you can also use walnuts, or hazelnuts or a mix of the three
    • 1  tsp cinnamon
    • ¼ tsp ground ginger
    • ¼ tsp nutmeg
    • ¼  teaspoon  sea salt
    • ⅓  cup  maple syrup
    • ⅓  cup  coconut oil melted – virgin for coconut taste refined coconut oil to avoid it
    • ½  cup  raisins I used golden

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 300 F / 150 C degrees.
    2. In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients: oats, carrots, shredded coconut, nuts, spices and salt.

    3. Add the wet ingredients: maple syrup and coconut oil. Mix thoroughly until well combined and all the oats look wet.
    4. Transfer on a large baking sheet (you can line it with parchment paper for easy cleaning but you don’t have to) and spread the mixture.
    5. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown, taking it out of the oven half-way through to give it a good stir. All ovens are different so start checking around 20-25 minutes to make sure it doesn't burn.
    6. Remove from the oven, spread raisins on top and let it cool completely.
    7. When cool transfer to an air-tight container – ideally in the fridge to keep it extra crunchy.

    Recipe Notes

    • This recipe makes about 6 cups
    • If you’ve made my healthy granola recipe before, you might remember that I tell you to press the granola on the baking sheet to make it clumpy and not to stir it. I find that this method doesn’t work with this carrot cake granola: it ends up too soft, probably because of the carrot’s moisture. So bottom line: for this recipe, spread the mixture on the baking sheet, stir halfway through and bake a bit longer.
    • You could use honey instead of maple syrup for a non-vegan version that is still refined sugar-free. 
    • Use virgin coconut oil if you enjoy a bit of coconut taste, refined coconut oil to avoid it
    • I used pecans for this recipe but you can also use walnuts, pistachios, almonds, cashews or hazelnuts or a mix. And why not add in some sunflower seeds, hemp seeds or pepitas?
    • Not a fan of raisins? Add some chopped dried apricots, candied ginger or cranberries. Try and find ones without added sugar. 
    •  
    Nutrition Facts
    Healthy Carrot Cake Granola Recipe - Glutenfree
    Amount Per Serving (1 /2 cup)
    Calories 527 Calories from Fat 324
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 36g55%
    Saturated Fat 13g81%
    Sodium 56mg2%
    Potassium 447mg13%
    Carbohydrates 46g15%
    Fiber 9g38%
    Sugar 6g7%
    Protein 8g16%
    Vitamin A 1800IU36%
    Vitamin C 1.7mg2%
    Calcium 59mg6%
    Iron 3.1mg17%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    If you tried this healthy carrot cake granola recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe below and let me know how it went in the comments – I love hearing from you! You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook for more deliciousness and behind-the-scenes!

    More healthy breakfast recipes you would love:

    • Sunshine Smoothie with Turmeric and Vitamin C
    • Almond Butter Blondies
    • Quinoa Porridge with Roasted Rhubarb & Strawberries
    • Raspberry Cinnamon Green Smoothie
    • Gingerbread Smoothie
    • Strawberry and Cantaloupe Smoothie
    « Almond Butter Blondies (Paleo, Gluten-free, Refined Sugar-free)
    Healthy Strawberry Chicken Salad with Almonds & Poppyseed Dressing »
    204 shares
     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. 40A.

      March 03, 2020 at 12:31 am

      Could this recipe come at a more perfect time? Just ran out of my favorite granola - this one is on the to-make list! Looks so good.

    2. Caroline

      March 03, 2020 at 12:38 am

      This is such a fun idea for a granola flavor! Just to clarify - do you bake the carrots with the oats (you seem to have missed from instructions)

      • Marie

        March 03, 2020 at 11:53 am

        Oops, thanks for spotting that mistake and letting me know! It's all fixed now. Yep, the carrots are baked with the oats!

    3. Mirlene

      March 03, 2020 at 1:10 am

      I think I know what my new favorite breakfast will be. This granola is simple, healthy and delicious, and that is exactly what I need!

    4. Jayne

      March 03, 2020 at 1:12 am

      This idea of carrot cake and granola is perfect. Can't wait to make this.

      • Marie

        March 03, 2020 at 11:52 am

        Thanks Jayne!

    5. Krissy Allori

      March 03, 2020 at 1:15 am

      Oh wow, this granola is amazing. I've been looking for a good gluten free granola and this is it!

      • Marie

        March 03, 2020 at 11:52 am

        So happy to hear Krissy!

    6. Ashleigh

      March 19, 2020 at 5:51 am

      First time trying my own granola and followed this to a T, except used walnuts. Was perfect and crispy with my oatmeal and yogurt bowls!!

      • Marie

        March 19, 2020 at 10:41 am

        So happy to hear Ashleigh, thank you!

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