This old-fashioned oatmeal cake recipe is made with rolled oats and has a fabulous coconut topping. There is a reason it has been cherished for so many years, and it is because it is delicious!
This soft oatmeal cake has a bit of cinnamon baked inside. The flavor reminds me a bit of oatmeal cream pie bars, but in cake form instead of cookie.
The recipe comes from my husband’s grandma. I asked her for it a while back and she dropped off the recipe for both this cake and her applesauce cake.
As with a lot of recipes from a certain era, it calls for oleo in both the cake and the topping. Oleo is short for oleomargarine.
It makes you wonder what happened that it rebranded at some point to drop the oleo part and keep the margarine part. No matter the reason, I never have margarine on hand.
I do keep butter for most of my baking and shortening for crusting buttercream. Either of them make a great substitution, so use what you have and like.
Email Me The Link
I'll email this post to you, so you can easily find it later. Plus you’ll get new recipes from me every week!
Instead of using making a frosting for the cake, you spread a mix of brown sugar and coconut over the cake. Then you stick it under the broiler for a couple of minutes.
Some of the goodness soaks into the top layer of the cake and the coconut crisps up a bit. It really is a lovely way to finish the cake and reminds me a bit of my great-grandma’s german chocolate cake with broiled coconut topping.
If you want more crunch, feel free to add some slivered almonds or chopped walnut to the topping. Either would be good, but we prefer it without.
I’m telling you, these grandma’s knew how to bake. That is the reason I love these old-fashioned recipes so much!
Storage
This cake can be made ahead of time. It is one of those magical cakes that is actually better a day or two after you bake it.
Just store it tightly covered at room temperature. It will keep that way for several days.
Grandma’s Oatmeal Cake
Ingredients
Oatmeal Cake
- 1½ cups boiling water
- 1 cup oats
- ½ cup butter or shortening
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Coconut Topping
- 6 Tablespoons butter melted
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- ¼ cup evaporated milk or heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup shredded coconut
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉ and grease a 9×13-inch pan.
- Put the oats in a medium bowl and pour the hot water over the top. Set aside for about 20 minutes.1½ cups boiling water, 1 cup oats
- Meanwhile, cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar in a large bowl.½ cup butter or shortening, 1 cup light brown sugar, 1 cup granulated sugar
- Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until combined.2 large eggs
- Stir in the vanilla and the oatmeal mixture.1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.1⅓ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined. Spread the batter in the prepared pan.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
- In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, brown sugar, cream, vanilla, and coconut. Spread the mixture over the warm cake.6 Tablespoons butter, ½ cup light brown sugar, ¼ cup evaporated milk, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 cup shredded coconut
- Place under the broiler for a minute or two or until the coconut is golden brown.
- Allow to cool before serving. Store covered at room temperature.
Email Me The Link
I’ll email this post to you, so you can easily find it later. Plus you’ll get new recipes from me every week!
Did you try this recipe?
Don’t forget to leave a rating below and make sure to follow on Pinterest and Instagram for more!
Get social!
Recipes in your inbox
Amazing recipe. Made the cake a topping with shortening. Delicious!
I’m happy that you liked it!