Name: Carrot Cake Oatmeal Camping Breakfast Recipe
Prep time: 1 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 16 min
Ingredients: 4 cups water; 1 cup steel-cut oats; 1/2 cup shredded carrot; 1/2 cup raisins; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon allspice; 1 pinch salt; 1 tablespoon honey; 1/2 cup plain yogurt; 3/4 cup chopped walnuts; 1/4 cup shredded coconut

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It is not easy to come up with unique camping breakfast ideas, especially when the star of the show is oatmeal! This fast, easy and exciting Carrot Cake Oatmeal Camping Breakfast Recipe turns a camping staple into a freshly interesting breakfast meal.

The traditional flavors in carrot cake are easily incorporated into this camp stove breakfast that will be on the table in 15 minutes!

Carrot Cake Oatmeal Camping Recipe by CampingForFoodies

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In This Post:

Carrot Cake Camping Oatmeal Recipe

Step 1. Measure and mix ingredients.

This oatmeal is so easy and so fast you really don’t need to speed things up … BUT … if you don’t carry these spices in your typical spice assortment, you can easily measure and mix the cinnamon, allspice and salt at home and bring the mixture to the campsite in a container with a tight-fitting lid.

Rubbermaid Easy Find Vented Lids Food Storage Container Set

Step 2. Cook the oats. Boil water, stir in the steel cut oats and simmer. You will cook the oatmeal in a saucepan over your camp stove which will only take about 10 minutes.

Coleman Fold N Go 2-Burner Propane Stove

Camp Cooking Tip: If you prefer to cook this oatmeal camping recipe over a morning campfire, that will work too. Just make sure you are cooking over coals rather than flames and keep the heat low enough to slowly simmer the oatmeal.

Step 3. Make the sauce. You might wonder how you get the cream cheese frosting flavor of carrot cake into an oatmeal camping breakfast recipe … here’s how … you make a sauce with honey and yogurt! The sauce is really the key to making this carrot cake oatmeal taste like the real thing!

Step 4. Stir in stir in carrot, raisins and spices.

Once the oatmeal has finished cooking, you remove it from the heat and stir in the carrot, raisins, cinnamon, allspice and salt. Then cover and let stand a bit for the flavors to mingle … this combination makes the nicest spiced oatmeal flavor!

Step 5. Top and serve. Serve oatmeal topped with yogurt sauce, walnuts and coconut. Oh, and make sure you find an awesome view to enjoy your breakfast!

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Carrot Cake Oatmeal Camping Breakfast Recipe by CampingForFoodies features a bowl of carrot cake oatmeal sitting on a tree stump with beautiful valley views in the distance.

DIY Instant Oatmeal Packets

If you want a simpler version of this classic camping easy breakfast, consider creating your own instant packets.

Store-bought instant oatmeal packets are often filled with artificial flavors that provide little nutritional content. So, make your own by starting with a basic recipe then adding different flavors by mixing in fresh fruit, dried fruit, spices, nuts and seeds.

Home Preparation: Healthy instant oatmeal recipes start by measuring 1/3 cup quick oats, instant oats or old fashioned oats into a plastic bag. (Don’t use steel cut oats for this preparation because they actually need to cook in boiling water for about 10 minutes.)

Add a bit of sugar with sweeteners, spices and dried fruit to the bag, seal it and shake to combine.

The “cooking process” at camp is simple:

Boil 2/3 cup water or milk (try almond milk, soy milk or coconut milk for extra flavor).
Place contents of your oatmeal mix DIY packet into a single serving bowl.
Pour boiling liquid over oatmeal, stir and let stand a few minutes.
Add desired toppings (like fresh pieces of fruit) and enjoy.

Get creative with flavor combinations, here are some ideas.

Apple Pie Oatmeal: In plastic bag, combine oats with cinnamon, nutmeg and pecans. Cook at camp and top with chopped fresh apples for serving.

Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal: In plastic bag, combine oats with brown sugar and chopped peanuts. Cook at camp and top with chopped candy peanut butter cups for serving. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are not just after-dinner sweet treats!

Very Berry Oatmeal Packet: In plastic bag, combine oats with dried ginger, brown sugar, dried blueberries, strawberries and cranberries. Cook at camp and top with slivered almonds and maple syrup for serving.

Chunky Monkey Oatmeal: In plastic bag, combine oats with cinnamon, brown sugar, dried banana slices and chopped hazelnuts. Cook at camp and top with chocolate chips for serving. Kids love this one!

Chocolate Covered Cherries Oatmeal: In plastic bag, combine oats with cinnamon, brown sugar, cocoa powder, chopped walnuts and dried cherries. Cook at camp and top with chocolate chips for serving.

Camp Cooking Tip: If cold food storage space is a challenge, use shelf-stable whole fruit that doesn’t require refrigeration until after it is sliced. Bananas and apples are my favorite. Avoid berries that require refrigeration, like raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries.

Perfect Backpacking Breakfast

Take your camping oatmeal recipes to another level by adding seeds for extra texture and nutrition before you hit the trail. Get a healthy does of your daily values from chia seeds, flax seeds and pumpkin seeds.

Don’t want to deal with hot water? Use room temperature liquids to “cook” your overnight oats in a mason jar to make your morning meal.

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