Oat, Apple, and Carrot Cake

Here’s a delicious and healthy recipe for Oat, Apple, and Carrot Cake! This cake is moist, naturally sweetened with apples and carrots, and loaded with oats for a hearty texture. It’s perfect for a snack or even as a breakfast treat.

Ingredients:

• Dry Ingredients:

  • 1 cup rolled oats

  • 1 cup whole wheat flour (or all-purpose flour)

  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder

  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg

  • ¼ tsp salt

• Wet Ingredients:

  • 2 medium apples, peeled and grated (about 2 cups)

  • 1 cup grated carrots (about 2 medium carrots)

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup

  • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce or yogurt

  • ¼ cup vegetable oil or melted coconut oil

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

• Optional Add-ins:

  • ½ cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans work great)

  • ¼ cup raisins or sultanas

  • 1 tbsp chia seeds or flaxseeds (for added nutrition)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven:
   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9-inch round or square cake pan with parchment paper.

2. Prepare the Dry Ingredients:
   In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, whole wheat flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir to combine.

3. Prepare the Wet Ingredients:
   In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, honey (or maple syrup), applesauce (or yogurt), oil, and vanilla extract until smooth.

4. Combine the Grated Produce:
   Stir the grated apples and carrots into the wet ingredients. You can squeeze out any excess moisture from the grated apples using a kitchen towel if they seem too wet.

5. Mix Together:
   Add the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. The batter will be thick. If you’re using any optional add-ins like nuts, raisins, or seeds, fold them in at this point.

6. Bake:
   Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and spread it out evenly. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

7. Cool & Serve:
   Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy!

Optional Topping:

If you want to elevate it, you can top the cake with a light cream cheese frosting or a drizzle of honey.

This cake stores well in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. It also freezes well, so you can make a double batch and freeze one for later.