* Check out the Whole Wheat Version
Boy, this cake really takes me back to my childhood. My mom made this cake almost every Sunday evening for dessert when I was growing up. It must have been her favorite….or maybe she made it because it is so easy and has ingredients she always kept on hand.
I needed a last minute dessert to take to a friends house last week for dinner. I remembered this cake and happened to have all of the ingredients on hand. Not only is this cake easy but I like to think it is acceptable to eat leftover cake for breakfast because it has oatmeal in it…and walnuts. I think this recipe would also work great for cupcakes and I think I’ll try it that way next time I make it, seeings how cupcakes are all the rage these days. :)
Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cake
1-1/2 cups boiling water 1 cup oatmeal (old fashioned or quick) 1/2 cup butter (1 stick) 2 eggs, beaten 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 1 tsp soda 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1 tsp vanilla 1-1/3 cup flourPour boiling water over oatmeal and add the butter. Let stand until butter is melted. It will look like this,
Add all other ingredients. Mix together well. Pour into a greased and floured 9×13 pan. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes.
Coconut Walnut Frosting
1/2 cup butter (1 stick) 1/2 cup white sugar 1/4 cup evaporated milk or cream 1-2 cups shredded coconut (I only used one cup but my mom uses two) 1 cup chopped walnuts (may substitute pecans if desired) 1 tsp vanillaMelt butter in quart size pan and add sugar, evaporated milk (or cream.) Bring to a boil and cook until thickens, about 4 minutes on my stove. Remove from heat and stir in coconut, nuts, and vanilla. Pour over cake and broil in oven until toasty looking. Or if you’re cool and have a blow torch you could use that. I really want a blow torch.
True confession anyone? I actually didn’t like this cake when I was growing up, I mean don’t get me wrong I still ate it, but I didn’t enjoy coconut in those days. I like this cake now…It reminds me of my mom. This is the first time I’ve made it since I’ve been married (about 7 years) and my husband was like, “Why haven’t you ever made this before?” He really liked it, so did my boys…..looks like I need to start making oatmeal cake for dessert every Sunday evening while my kids are growing up. :)
P.S. If you need some green food ideas for St. Patty’s day, here are some of my favorites:
Linked to You Made That? Sunday Link Party, good stuff going on over there!
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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
YUM, I am making this for dinner tonight! Um… how much coconut do you use in the icing (or did I just miss that part)?
oops, sorry I forgot that part. I fixed it now…I use one cup, but you can use as much or as little as you want. My mom always uses two cups.
Thanks so much! I think I will use 2! ; )
This sounds sooo delish! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
XoXoXo
Joy
I am still wondering why this is the first time she ever made this cake since we have been married. I usually do not like coconut, but this was absolutely the best coconut frosting I have ever eaten. Now about that blow torch. You’ll get one sooner than you think… Love you! Can’t wait to eat this again.
My grandma makes a similar cake every year for my sister – it is her favorite. We pick off the topping while we wait for dinner to start. By the time dessert comes around we have to serve up just the middle because that’s the only place there is topping left.
Yum!
This was my brother’s go-to cake when we were kids. Being the oldest, he would make it to surprise mom or dad for their birthdays or anniversary. The recipe was called “Lazy Daisy Oatmeal Cake” in the church cook book we got it out of.
One caution: all of my Pyrex (glass bake-ware) specifically says to not use under a broiler. I am sure many have done without problems but that doesn’t mean it is a for-sure-safe practice. Since I like to use glass for baking, I just turn the cake out on a foil covered board, put the topping on what used to be the bottom and broil it like usual. However, I think I will campaign for a blow torch for the kitchen for future use!
Thanks for the tip about pyrex…My husband is such a “Safety First” kind of guy he’ll probably bring me home one tonight if he see’s your comment before he leaves work. Sweet!…..and if he doesn’t see it, I’ll just show him when he gets home. :)
This looks so yummy. I will definitely try this. Thanks
Oh my gosh, I forgot about this Lazy Daisy Oatmeal Cake. We were not very well off when I was raising my five children, but we always seemed to have these ingredients on hand. Sometimes, if we were lucky, I would throw in some chocolate chips in the cake or the frosting. It is delicious and super moist. I am going to have to make it soon. Thanks for posting!
MMMMmmmm, I love the idea of throwing in a few chocolate chips.
Nice picture! Sorry we didn’t leave you any breakfast leftovers. ;) It was really tasty.
I can see this as a breakfast cake for sure! love oatmeal cake never had it with this icing tho. BTW, I have a new vice now thanks to you, your buttermilk syrup is drinkable..did you know that!! I can’t seem to get enough of the stuff :)
I made this last night because I’m trying to use up the stuff in the cupboards in preparation for a move – I couldn’t believe how good it was! It sounded good, but it tastes *crazy good*! Since I had it to use, I threw some chopped crystalized ginger into the cake batter – I chopped it into tiny little bits and the texture just melts in perfectly with the slightly chewy oatmeal…oh I need to go and eat another chunk (“piece” doesn’t work here) right now!
I wonder if coconut milk would work in the frosting…..
I read the comments about broiling in Pyrex, too. I noticed, however, that in the picture, you have used a Pyrex pan. Did you broil in that? It’s just like the pan I use, and I can’t find a suitable metal pan. I’m thinking that the caution against broiling in the pans is that usually it entails much longer time and it is meat or something where more of hte pan is exposed. I’m thinking that for the short time it is under the broiler, and for the small amount that is exposed, that it is safe. Also, don’t put it too close to the broiler flame??
I did broil it in that pyrex pan. I didn’t realize it was dangerous. I’ve never had a problem doing short time broiling in my pyrex before. With this recipe the cake is still hot when you put it under the broiler and I don’t know, but I think that might make it a little more safe. The pan is not getting a shock of cold to hot that way.
Just made it but added one chopped apple to batter. Yummo! Thanks for the recipe…I will definitely make it again!
Maria – I had this recipe several years ago but I lost it. I was so excited to find it here. Wahoo! Made it last week and I’ll be featuring this on my blog (linking it here) tomorrow. Thanks!
Cheri
This is in my oven now. It sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Years ago I was given this recipe (like maybe 30 years ago). It was called a “Sad Cake”. I’m guessing because the cake disappeared so fast.
Thanks for jogging my memory about this cake.
Sandi
That is such a yummy cake, I tried making it a cupcakes for mothers day. I don’t think we are so into baking with oats here in England but I have been converted. Check out how I got on here http://www.littlepaperbees.com/2011/04/mothers-day-baking.html
This is in the oven now, I can’t wait – have been dreaming of it all week ^_^
thank you so much for this recipe. this is one of my all time favorite cakes. i used to ask for this for my birthday.
i love abroad and did not bring my recipe books with old timey loved cherished recipes so have been winging it for the last 2 years trying to find good things to eat.
today i was having a homesick kind of day and came across this and knew this was going to be the warm and comfy thing to fix up my mood.
i must not be the only one because when i pinned this into my pinterest within 1 hour 12 people repinned it! i hope all those peole aren’t feeling sad and homesick too!
anyway thank you thank you thank you! it turned out fantastic!