After years of trying to find alternatives for “unhealthy” cravings, I’ve finally realized that there is only one way to nip them in the bud: go for the real deal, even if it’s a small portion. Obviously it’s probably not wise to do so every time a craving kicks in, but for the most part: if I do not give in, the craving will undoubtedly persist…and chances are that when I do eventually give in, I may end up ‘overeating’.
Speaking of cravings, I had a major one on Sunday for carrot cake…and not just any generic carrot cake. In the heart of Mayfair in London, there’s the smallest, yet delicious, café called Mount Street Deli which is known for their organic, modern fare. While I can’t remember what exactly we ate, I do remember that I was impressed…and that the carrot cake was the tastiest, and most perfectly moist (for lack of better term) cake I’ve eaten. I die just thinking about it!
Although I’m all for giving into the cravings, attempting to do so seemed a bit ambitious with me sitting over 4,000 miles away from the café. As for opting for a slice from a bakery in Mumbai, that would have required me changing out of my pajamas…not going to happen on a Sunday night.
The next best alternative I could come up with was carrot cake oatmeal. The fact that I grated a carrot at 10 PM even once the kitchen had been cleaned for the night confirms the heights of my desperation. While I’d be deluded to say this was even close to the real deal, I can vouch for it surpassing my expectations. It hit the spot and my craving was definitely satisfied!
Carrot Cake Oatmeal – serves 1
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup oats
- 150 ml milk (I used soy)
- Half cup grated carrots
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- Handful raisins
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 3-4 drops of vanilla essence
- 1 tablespoon applesauce (optional)
- Honey
- Shredded coconut
Method
- Combine the oats, milk, carrot chia seeds, raisins, vanilla essence and cinnamon in a saucepan.
- Turn the heat to medium and stir occasionally until mixture comes to a boil and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 3-4 minutes.
- Before turning the heat off, stir in a spoonful of applesauce.
- Pour oats into a bowl and top with shredded coconut and honey.
- If you really want to give it the ‘carrot cake effect’, topping it with a dollop of Greek yogurt would be the icing on the cake…literally ;)!
What’s the latest craving you had?
My mom would go absolutely crazy over this ilttle creation of yours! I’m going to have to make her some the next time I’m home.
And you know me…I’m always craving chocolate…always.
Let me know if she likes it 🙂
carrot cake is my boyfriends favurite!! I’ve just got him into oatmeal, I am so going to give this a try when he’s next over mine.
Peanut butter & banana oatmeal is another one thats bound to be a winner!
I make carrot cake oatmeal all the time! Isn’t it the best?! I do mine for breakfast… because who doesn’t love dessert for breakfast?! 🙂 I also do a zucchini bread oatmeal that I love. Sounds weird, tastes amazing!
Ohh zucchini bread oatmeal sounds great- next on my list!
Ohhh I like the combo mixed into oats. I have a craving at least once an hour for chocolate. It’s bad.
Blame it on the estrogen!
I love carrot cake oatmeal! But I haven’t made it since… the summer?! I need to make it again!
My last craving was for banana soft serve… which I just ate. 😉
I haven’t made banana soft serve in forever..obviously that has to change stat!
looks so good, i’ve made this in the past.. except without applesauce.. i’ve topped mine with greek yogurt and it was divine. awww.. i can feel your pain… when i was in india i was missing some of my US bakeries, but then I found that Elma’s cafe. Can you try baking at home.. I actually have an “Award Winning Carrot Cake” recipe on my site that uses carrot babyfood, Khushboo, it is delicious… you may still miss London, but it will subside your cravings. and it is relatively good for you. 🙂
I know where to head when the craving hits next! 🙂
Carrot cake is one of my favorite…
There are couple of bakery/cafes that I love to go too, I want the ‘real’ baked goods when I have cravings!!
I love oatmeal and I love carrot cake, I should definitely try your recipe! 😀
Sometimes only the real deal will do right!
Wow, what a great idea! I will have to try this. The last really bad craving I got was for huevos rancheros… weird I know!
Not weird at all- I crave Mexican too!
Om nom nom nom nommm 🙂 This is a fabulous idea and one I WILL be recreating for myself 🙂
Enjoy 🙂
my carvings depend on the time of day 🙂
I seem to crave sweet first and last thing in the day!
I tried carrot cake oatmeal once and it was kind of a fail… don’t know what I did wrong. Maybe I’ll try your recipe?
Hope take 2 is more promising!
I LOVE carrot cake – there’s a health food shop in Nottingham that sells the most incredible vegan carrot cake. Somehow I can’t really warm-up to the idea of carrots in oatmeal, but I trust your food judgement so I may just try this out soon!
Think about it this way: if you can trust spinach in your smoothies, carrots in oatmeal are quite a step up 🙂
I LOVE carrot cake! Love love love it! My latest cravings have all been savoury…for toast topped with avocado and seasalt…I think I saw a picture of that snack last week and now that’s all I’ve been snacking on. I think as a whole my cravings tend to be texture-based
Aaaaaaaaaaand now I’m craving toast with avocado and sea salt…and a lot of crushed black pepper!
I LOVE carrot cake!! I recently gave in and it was so worth it, but if I gave in every time I had carrot cake… well that would not be good because it’s quite often! I have yet to try carrot cake oats but I have done that with yogurt and it’s really good!!
Haha you’re right- it wouldn’t be good at all ;)!
Ha! Great minds think alike! I have a carrot cake oatmeal recipe coming up tomorrow 😀 I kid you not! haha!!
That looks delish, K 🙂
I looove making healthy desserts out of oatmeal! I do that every night for dessert! Always the base of it is :1/3 cup oat bran or oat meal, 2 tbs chia seeds, splash of almond milk. Depending on my mood I’ll either make something more chocolaty or with berries. 2 of my fav’s is my “reese peanut butter cup” ( oatbran, my fudge protein powder and peanut butttaa! Second is The oatmeal with rasberries and peanut butter (pb and J)! So delicious!
Ohh I like the sound of reese peanut butter cup…and unlike the regular cups, this alternative won’t be over in 2 bites 😀
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