If you’re on a mission to normalize breakfast with nutrient-dense carrot cake muffins, cookies, baked oatmeal, and the like, you’ve come to the right place. Not only do carrots contain vitamins and minerals on their own to get you off to a great start, some of the common ingredients in carrot cake are also known for their anti-inflammatory properties, making them a great choice for early mornings.
“Due to their orange hue, carrots are an excellent source of the antioxidant beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body,” says registered dietitian Maggie Michalczyk, RDN, founder and developer of Once Upon a Pumpkin. Not only does vitamin A have antioxidant properties, but it’s also important for your vision, cellular health, and immunity, among other functions, Michalczyk says. “Carrots are also a great source of fiber, biotin, vitamin K and potassium,” she adds. Fiber is a great nutrient in the first place because it helps you stay fit and fights inflammation. Biotin, or vitamin B7, plays a key role in maintaining energy levels in the body, while vitamin K helps build strong bones and potassium helps the body regulate fluids.
But carrots aren’t the only ingredient in these carrot cake breakfast recipes that fight inflammation. “Nuts, commonly found in carrot cake, are a strong source of protein and healthy fats, which are key components of an invigorating breakfast. And spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves also have anti-inflammatory properties,” Michalczyk says.
If you’re looking for some super-nutritious ways to incorporate more dessert flavors into your morning routine, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite healthy carrot cake breakfast recipes that will make you, ahem, jump into the kitchen as soon as your alarm goes off.
7 breakfast recipes with anti-inflammatory carrot cake
1. Carrot cake, oatmeal cookies for breakfast
It’s hard to go wrong with a cookie-shaped cake at any time of the day, but it really is something to get up in the morning for. This recipe from Erin Lives Whole is rich in protein, fiber and antioxidants thanks to oatmeal and oatmeal, cinnamon, ginger, carrots, raisins and nuts. Feel free to use whatever nuts you have on hand – almonds and walnuts are traditional, but cashews, pistachios or pecans will be equally divine. One-ingredient icing is (literally) icing on the cake!
Get the recipe: Oatmeal Carrot Pie Breakfast Cookies
2. Healthy Gluten-Free Carrot Bars
These carrot cake bars topped with cream cheese have the added benefit of being gluten-free, so even people with celiac disease, gluten sensitivity or allergies can partake in a carrot cake breakfast. As Ana Ankeny, recipe developer at The Real Food Dietitians, says, “Spring and carrots go together like May and flowers!” The bars are made with freshly grated carrots, warm cinnamon, a handful of walnuts and applesauce, making them especially moist and tender with a delicious crunch.
Get the Recipe: Healthy Gluten-Free Carrot Bars
3. Carrot cake with oatmeal
Think oatmeal is a decent breakfast? Think again. This no-bake carrot cake recipe is super easy to make – it only takes 10 minutes to make – and it’s just as delicious as a real carrot cake. By the way, Tony, the recipe developer at Krolls Korner, is actually a registered dietitian, so you know you’ll start your day on the right foot with this one. We love that she adds some crushed pineapple to the dish – talk about the secret oatmeal ingredient you never knew you needed.
Get the recipe: Oatmeal Carrot Cake
4. Healthy muffins with carrot cake and cream cheese frosting.
These healthy morning cupcakes look exactly like cupcakes, and we’re here for that. Not only are they delicious, but they are completely free of refined sugar when baked without frosting. Want to make them gluten free? Go for it: Ambitious Kitchen suggests using chickpea flour (talking about its major anti-inflammatory properties) instead of wheat flour.
Get the recipe: Healthy Carrot Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting
5. Healthy carrot cake granola
We love this muesli from Not Enough Cinnamon for its versatility. Add it on top of oatmeal or yogurt for extra flavor and a great crunch. And where to start with its anti-inflammatory properties? Almost every ingredient in this breakfast recipe fights free radicals in the body and contains antioxidants, from oatmeal, coconut and warming spices to golden raisins and roasted pecans. Tip: keep it in the fridge if you like muesli. additional crisp.
Get the Recipe: Healthy Carrot Cake Granola
6. Carrot cake with baked oatmeal
We love a good baked oatmeal for its amazing crust and sticky center. This simple recipe from Two Peas and Their Pods quickly became a regular guest on the morning rotation. We love that it’s suitable for large batches rather than single servings, and if you want to make your oatmeal in muffin tins rather than a pot for breakfast on the go, just cut the baking time down to about 20 minutes and pull them up when they are golden brown.
Get the recipe: Oatmeal Carrot Cake
7. Carrot Cake Baked with Oatmeal and Cashew Cream Cheese
“[This carrot cake baked oats recipe] contains a lot of carrots and oats, so a lot of fiber to keep you full and satisfied most of the morning,” says baker, nutrition coach and fitness instructor Sasha Khandal in the episode Alt-Baking Bootcamp, adding that the recipe also calls for pecans, which are full of heart-healthy fats. However, these are not the only anti-inflammatory ingredients in the recipe: you will also see cashews, walnuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Oh, and we’re crazy about adding cashew cream cheese.
Get the recipe: Oatmeal Carrot Cake with Cashew Cream Cheese
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