Carrot Oatmeal Breakfast Bars are a tasty, easy on-the-go breakfast that everyone will love! They are full of oats, carrots, apple, coconut, raisins, and seeds, all baked into hearty flapjacks with carrot cake flavors. Perfect to start the day, or for a snack or dessert.
If you're looking for a tasty, hearty make-ahead portable breakfast, then you're going to LOVE these Carrot Oatmeal Breakfast Bars!
They're ready in just over half an hour, and they'll keep all week, so you can grab one each morning and be full until lunchtime.
Soft, chewy, and full of great flavor and texture. Yum!
Grated carrots, coconut, and apples are mixed with seeds and dried fruit along with warming spices. They are then baked up into a crunchy bar that is perfect to eat for breakfast, dessert, or a snack!
Before we get into how great this recipe is, let's clear up something about the term flapjacks, since these oatmeal breakfast bars are also called flapjacks!
In the US, flapjacks are often called pancakes which are small round fluffy cakes that are usually topped with syrup.
In the UK, Ireland, and Newfoundland flapjacks are used to describe a baked oat bar that can have many different flavors.
You can call them carrot oatmeal bars or carrot granola bars. Either way, this recipe for carrot flapjacks is a must make.
They're a portable treat, a breakfast, a snack. They're whatever you want them to be.
I've tried to make this recipe extra healthy with less sugar and some veggies, in the form of carrots, to the oatmeal bars.
Please also check out my other oatmeal breakfast recipes, like these cherry bars with almonds, baked oats, or chocolate cranberry oatmeal cookies.
Note: This recipe was originally posted on September 18, 2013, and republished with new text and photos on February 16, 2022.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It makes the perfect breakfast that is filling and satisfying.
- The breakfast bars are ready in just over 30 minutes, and you can enjoy them all week.
- High fiber which is great for digestion.
- They are perfect to eat on the go or as a portable snack.
- Quick, easy and tasty.
Ingredients & Tools
- Carrots - Adds a naturally sweet texture, crunch, and bright orange color.
- Apple - Gives the bars a hint of apple flavor.
- Butter - Adds texture and helps to set the oatmeal bars.
- Brown Sugar & Maple Syrup - Adds a sweet breakfast flavor with a hint of maple.
- Oats - Gives the flapjacks a nutty flavor and whole grains. Use regular oats, not quick-cook.
- Raisins - Adds a pop of sweetness in each bite.
- Mixed Seeds - Gives the oatmeal breakfast bars a crunch and a dose of healthy fats.
- Shredded Coconut - Gives the dish a light coconut flavor.
- Cinnamon - Adds a warming spice that pairs well with all of the ingredients.
Step By Step Tutorial
Prepare for baking. Preheat oven to 350F/180C. Grease and line an 8-inch/ 20cm square baking pan. Set aside.
Grate the carrot and apple. Using a box grater, peel and grate the carrots and apple, then squeeze the excess moisture out.
Melt the butter and form the flapjack mixture. In a saucepan, melt together the butter, sugar, and maple syrup. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the oats, raisins, seeds, coconut, cinnamon, grated carrot, and apple. Add the melted butter and combine.
Bake the carrot flapjacks. Spread the mixture into the prepared tin and press down firmly. Bake for approximately 35 minutes or until the edges are golden. Leave to cool in the pan and then cut into bars.
Tips
Make sure the oatmeal breakfast bars are fully cooled before cutting and serving as you want to allow them enough time to set so they don't crumble.
For best results, it's important to make sure you squeeze as much liquid out of the carrot and apple as possible so it doesn't steam in the oven.
Grease the pan fully, or add a layer of parchment paper on the bottom to prevent the bars from sticking.
Variations
Replace the cinnamon with Pumpkin Spice Blend for warming fall flavors reminiscent of carrot cake.
Add a burst of flavor with Chai Spice or Speculoos (Biscoff spice).
Add in some dried cranberries, currants, or golden berries for dried fruit with different levels of flavor.
Instead of seeds, add in some chopped walnuts or pecans.
Use a mix of grated carrots and parsnips for a unique root vegetable flavor.
Special diets
To Make Gluten Free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free, but make sure you check the labels on the oats, plus any other ingredients. Note that sometimes oats are processed in a factory where wheat is processed so be sure to check.
To Make It Vegan: To make this recipe vegan, you'll need vegan butter or margarine.
Storage
Storing: Store carrot oatmeal bars in a container or bag on the counter for 4-5 days. They do not need to be refrigerated.
Freezing: Freeze any leftover breakfast bars by wrapping tightly in plastic wrap, then adding to a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter for 2-3 hours until no longer frozen.
FAQs
It's not necessary, but it does add a great flavor and sweetness. Just make sure you use some extra grated carrot to keep the texture consistent.
Unfortunately not. Quick-cooking oats will puff up during the baking process and could throw off the texture of the flapjacks.
More Carrot Recipes
Still have carrots to use up? Try these carrot recipes too!
Lentil Carrot Hot Dog
Carrot Pizza Crust with Carrot Sauce
Carrot Hummus
Roasted Carrot Curry
Vegan Carrot Cake
Carrot Tops
Glazed Carrots
More Breakfast Recipes
We hope you love these coconut and carrot oatmeal breakfast bars as much as we do! Be sure to also check out these other tasty breakfast recipes.
📖 Recipe
Carrot Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
Equipment
- 8x8inch (20x20cm) square baking pan
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 3 carrots 300g
- 1 apple
- ½ cup butter (or vegan margarine) 125g
- ½ cup light brown sugar 80g
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 ½ cups oats 150g
- ½ cup raisins 75g
- 4 teaspoons mixed seeds
- ½ cup shredded coconut 50g
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. Grease and line an 8-inch/ 20cm square baking pan.
- Peel and grate/shred the carrots and apple, then squeeze the excess moisture out. Set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt together the butter, sugar and maple syrup.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the oats, raisins, seeds, coconut, cinnamon, grated carrot and apple. Add the melted butter and combine.
- Spread the mixture into the prepared tin and press down firmly. Bake for approximately 30-35 minutes or until the edges are golden.
- Leave to cool in the pan and then cut into bars.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Toni says
These are really awesome desserts!! I love the combination of all the flavors!
Natalie says
How lovely. I never had bars like this for breakfast. Wonderful idea. I baked them for the weekend. Yum!
Beth Sachs says
Perfect (and yummy) for kids lunchboxes.
Beth says
I made a big batch of these this past weekend for several days' worth of breakfasts, and I could not be happier with the results. They are so delicious, and I feel full all the way until lunch.
Kristy says
What are porridge oats? Never heard the term... are they simply cooked oats? If so, that could be the reason Joanna's recipe turned out dry. Otherwise, looks like a very tasty recipe.
Kate Hackworthy says
Hi Kirsty, porridge oats are oats for making porridge/oatmeal - also called rolled oats. Uncooked!
Joanna says
I tried this recipe today and sadly mine came out dry. Not at all moist like your picture. Very disappointed not sure what I did wrong.
Kate Hackworthy says
Oh dear! I'm not sure what it could be. I've made these a few times and they've been fine, plus I've had quite a few readers make them and they turned out. Hmmm... strange.
Cate | Chez CateyLou says
These look so healthy and delicious! I love that you used carrots and parsnips - such a great way to get some extra veggies!
Kate Veggie Desserts says
Thanks Lou. Let me know how they turn out. Have a lovely day, too,
lou says
I somehow missed on this post
I love love parsnip, I look forward to baking those
Thank you, as always your recipes leave me in awe!
Have a lovely day
Lou
Jeannie Tay says
A lovely recipe I am going to find some time to bake some soon! Thanks for sharing:)
Kate Veggie Desserts says
Thanks Jeannie, let me know how they turn out!
Kate Veggie Desserts says
Hi Aimee, thanks for your comment. Parsnips are actually really versatile in baking! If you try the recipe, please let me know how it goes. 🙂
Aimee / Wallflower Girl says
I love this! Never before have I seen parsnips in baking but I really want to try it!
Kate Veggie Desserts says
Great! Let me know how they turn out 🙂
bluebirdsunshine says
Pinned! Can't wait to try making them, I love a new flapjack recipe to try and yours look so good.
mummymakescakes says
I love your photography in this, I wouldn't have thought to put coconut in 🙂
Kate Veggie Desserts says
Thank you. I love coconut so it finds its way into lots of things!
Inside the Wendy House says
I love the use of veggies in this recipe...they are almost guilt free!
Kate Veggie Desserts says
That's what I tell myself!
Kate Veggie Desserts says
Thanks for your comment, Helen. It's all about veggie goodness!
HELEN says
these look great & I would feel so healthy eating all this veggie goodness!
Kate Veggie Desserts says
Thanks Jenny! Parsnips are brilliant in cakes. My Parsnip Madeira is probably my favourite veggie desserts. So simple and plain but utterly delicious.
jenny paulin says
i use parsnips in my cakes and they add such a lovely sweetness and mositness. i love a flapjack - and yours looks so good! thank you for linking up x
Karen says
LOVE the use of vegetables in these flapjacks Kate and parsnips and carrots will add an earthy sweetness to these oaty treats! Karen
Kate Veggie Desserts says
Thanks, Karen. They really do give a nice flavour to the flapjacks!
Ago says
Hi Katerine! 😄Great recipe! I love this delicioius vara, aboce all because the're a portable snack and those flavours😍coconut, Apple, carrot😍yummyyy! I like them so much 😍😘
Cassandra Bright says
Worked well. Great for lunchboxes.