A healthy take on carrot cake for quick and tasty on-the-go breakfast.
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- â¾ cup almond milk
- â½ cup almond butter (or nut butter of your choice sunflower, etc)
- â¼ cup mashed banana (about 1/2 of a large banana)
- â¼ cup liquid sweetner (agava maple syrup or brown rice syrup)
- 1 cup grated carrot (about 2 large)
- 2 tablspoons ground flax seed meal
- !for the frosting:
- 1 cup icing sugar
- 1-2 tablespons of almond milk or more to desired consistancy
- Carbohydrate 21.7149840742876 g
- Cholesterol 30.503125 mg
- Fat 11.9688650000118 g
- Fiber 1.52581562590599 g
- Protein 1.4710665625 g
- Saturated Fat 7.36556609375237 g
- Serving Size 1 1 serving (52g)
- Sodium 82.6933125001184 mg
- Sugar 20.1891684483816 g
- Trans Fat 0.907721718749766 g
- Calories 194 calories
Step-by-step
- Preheat oven to 350
- Line an 8X8 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a bowl, combine the first 7 ingredients and mix well.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Spoon into the prepared baking pan and bake for 32-35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center of bars comes out clean.
- Once completely cool, cut into bars.
- Combine icing sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Add almond milk, 1 tablespoon at a time and mix well before adding more. Repeat until desired consistency is reached. I prefer a thicker glaze. Drizzle over bars. Allow glaze to harden before storage.
- Alternative, skip frosting and wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap and store in the freezer for quick take-along snacks.
Navigating Nut Butters
Almond butter provides a neutral fat foundation, but sunflower seed butter works equally well at a one-to-one ratio. Heavier nut spreads require thorough stirring before measurement to prevent oil separation from altering the final moisture level. Natural varieties demand extra attention since varying moisture contents can dry out the base. Whisk wet binders fully into the mashed banana before combining with dry components to ensure even distribution.
The Role of Flax Meal
Ground flax seed meal acts as a structural stabilizer when paired with baking soda. Grating carrots finely rather than coarsely prevents dense pockets from forming inside the batter. Excess water from poorly drained carrots will disrupt the 350 degree Fahrenheit bake time. Squeeze grated carrots lightly in a clean towel if they appear excessively wet.
Glazing and Storage Dynamics
Adding almond milk to icing sugar requires precise control. Pour liquid one tablespoon at a time to prevent the mixture from becoming too runny. Let the glaze harden entirely at room temperature before stacking pieces. Unfrosted portions freeze securely when wrapped individually in plastic film for extended storage.
