I admit, throwing carrots into a breakfast dish for the girls was risky...but it turned out great. These are marvelous as a breakfast or snack. While tasting absolutely decadent, they are actually really healthy.
Unlike my other oatmeal square recipes, however, these take a bit more prep and have a much longer cooking time, so best not to leave them to the morning of...make them the day ahead so they are ready to go for your busy day.
If you are wondering why the cream cheese icing is tan in colour, its because of the protein powder. I find that vegan protein powders, even the vanilla flavours tend to be kind of tan/greenish. I used this one, which is quite good:
Carrot Cake Oatmeal Squares with Cream Cheese Icing (Vegan, Sugar-free, & Gluten-Free)
2 cups quick-cooking steel cut oats
1/4 cup flax meal
2 cups boiling water
1 scoop vegan vanilla protein powder
1 540ml jar golden pineapple plus juice
1 carrot, cut into chunks
1/4 cup granulated stevia
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves or allspice
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp baking soda
Pour boiling water over oats and flax in a large bowl. Place pineapple and carrot in blender or food processor and process until desired consistency.* Add carrot mixture, protein powder and remaining ingredients to oats and flax and mix well. Scrape batter into greased 9x12 pan. Bake at 350F for 1 hour. If top begins browning too quickly, cover with foil.
Cream Cheese Icing
1/2 cup non-dairy cream cheese
1 scoop vegan vanilla protein powder
1 dropper full of vanilla stevia
3-4 tbls non-dairy milk (or more)
Whisk together all the icing ingredients in a small bowl until smooth. Add additional milk as needed. Spread over cooled oatmeal base and cut into squares.
Keep refrigerated up to 5 days or freeze.
*If your audience, like mine is averse to 'bits', then process until practically pureed.
I have shared this recipe with Vegetarian Mamma's Gluten-Free Friday and Urban Naturale's Plant-Based Pot Luck Party.
I am going to make this healthy sweet ASAP! My family will love it. Thanks for sharing this at the Plant-based Potluck Party!
ReplyDeleteHi Erica,
ReplyDeleteYum!! I am a big fan of carrot cake so your Carrot Cake Oatmeal Squares with Cream Cheese Icing recipe makes me very happy! Thank you so much for sharing this healthy and delicious dessert at the Plant-Based Potluck Party Blog Hop! I sincerely appreciate it.