🥕🍎 Oat, Apple & Carrot Cake (Mediterranean-Style Healthy Bake)

This Oat, Apple, and Carrot Cake is naturally sweet, moist, and packed with wholesome ingredients. Made with oats, fresh grated carrots, juicy apples, olive oil, and warm spices, it’s a nourishing twist on classic carrot cake—perfect for breakfast, snack time, or a lighter dessert.

Inspired by the principles of the Mediterranean diet, this cake focuses on whole grains, natural sweetness, healthy fats, and minimal refined sugar.

🌿 Why You’ll Love This Cake

✔ Naturally sweetened
✔ High in fiber
✔ No refined flour (if using oat flour)
✔ Moist and tender
✔ Perfect for meal prep

🧾 Ingredients (8–10 slices)

Dry Ingredients:

1½ cups rolled oats (or 1½ cups oat flour)
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
Pinch salt

Wet Ingredients:

2 large eggs
⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
⅓ cup honey or maple syrup
½ cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract

Add-ins:

1 cup grated carrot
1 cup grated apple (squeeze excess juice lightly)
¼ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
2 tbsp raisins (optional)
Zest of ½ orange (optional but lovely)

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Preheat

Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F).
Line or lightly grease an 8-inch round pan or loaf pan.

2️⃣ Blend Oats (If Using Whole Oats)

Blend rolled oats in a food processor until flour-like.

3️⃣ Mix Dry Ingredients

In a bowl, whisk oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.

4️⃣ Mix Wet Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, olive oil, honey, yogurt, and vanilla until smooth.

5️⃣ Combine

Add dry ingredients into wet mixture.
Fold gently until combined.

Stir in grated carrot, apple, walnuts, raisins, and orange zest.

6️⃣ Bake

Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake 30–40 minutes (loaf may take slightly longer) until a toothpick comes out clean.

7️⃣ Cool & Serve

Cool completely before slicing.

Optional topping:

Light Greek yogurt frosting (Greek yogurt + honey + vanilla)
Dusting of cinnamon
Extra chopped walnuts

🥗 Mediterranean Serving Ideas

Serve with Greek yogurt & berries
Drizzle lightly with raw honey
Enjoy with mint tea or coffee
Add almond butter for extra protein

🥜 Nutritional Benefits

Oats provide fiber and support heart health
Carrots are rich in beta-carotene
Apples add natural sweetness and antioxidants
Olive oil offers healthy fats
Walnuts provide omega-3s

❓ Q & A

Q1: Can I make it gluten-free?

Yes! Oats are naturally gluten-free—just ensure certified gluten-free oats.

Q2: Can I make it dairy-free?

Substitute Greek yogurt with coconut or almond yogurt.

Q3: Can I reduce the sweetener?

Yes, especially if apples are very sweet.

Q4: How should I store it?

Store at room temperature 2 days or refrigerate up to 5 days.

Q5: Can I freeze it?

Yes! Freeze slices individually for up to 2 months.

Q6: Can I make muffins instead?

Absolutely. Bake in muffin tins for 18–22 minutes.

🌞 Final Thoughts

This Oat, Apple & Carrot Cake is soft, warmly spiced, and naturally sweet—proof that wholesome ingredients can create a deeply satisfying treat. It’s comforting yet balanced, making it perfect for everyday Mediterranean-style living.