Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Cake hasn’t always been called old-fashioned. I first knew it as Oatmeal Cake but, when a recipe is at least thirty-eight years old, I guess it automatically becomes “old-fashioned.”
I was twenty-three years old the first time I baked this luscious cake, and I immediately fell in love with it. It isn’t a fancy cake; but it has everything it should – cozy, autumn-spiced, warmth.
A great recipe lives forever. It might spend time in a dovetailed recipe box, stuck on the back shelf of the pantry, next to the dust bunnies, but someone will eventually remember Great-Great-Great-Aunt Myrtle’s, “Better-Than-Anything-You’ve-Ever-Tasted-In-Your-Life Meatloaf” and search for the recipe. If Triple-Great Aunt Myrtle is smiling down from above, the recipe just may be found and given new life.
I found this recipe in 1977, but unfortunately, I didn’t note where. I do know it’s a keeper! Every time I’ve made it, it has received rave reviews. It is one of the most moist, flavorful cakes I have ever eaten, and the Coconut-Pecan Frosting is its ideal companion.
It took thirty-eight years for this cake to earn the moniker “Old-Fashioned.” Hmmm? Now that I’m sixty years old, will I be called “Extra Old-Fashioned?”
Also, how is it Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Cake hasn’t aged one bit in the thirty-eight years I have known it, but I certainly have? How can that be fair?
Enjoy!
Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Cake
Ingredients
- For Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Cake/Cupcakes:
- 1 1/4 cups boiling water
- 1 cup quick oats
- 1/2 cup 1 stick butter, unsalted, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup dark brown sugar packed
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- -------------------------
- For Coconut-Pecan Frosting:
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter unsalted
- 1/4 cup heavy cream or milk
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup coconut toast, if desired
- 1 cup pecans chopped (toast, if desired)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract or 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Instructions
- For the Oatmeal Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Grease and flour an 8"x11.5"x2" pan.
- Place oats and butter in a large bowl and pour boiling water over them.. Cover and let stand 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, add granulated sugar, brown sugar and eggs to oatmeal mixture and stir until well blended.
- In another bowl, sift together flour, salt, soda, nutmeg, apple pie spice and cinnamon. Add flour mixture to oatmeal mixture and mix until combined.
- Pour mixture into prepared pan and bake at 350F for 40-45 minutes. Cake is done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- *See notes for making cupcakes.
- Remove from oven and place on cooling rack.
- -------------------------------
- For Coconut-Pecan Frosting:
- Heat butter, cream, sugar and salt until bubbly. Remove from heat and add coconut, pecans, vanilla and lemon extract. Mix well.
- Pour frosting over cake while cake and frosting are warm.
- Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*If making cupcakes: Spray cupcake pans with cooking spray and flour lightly. Fill cupcake tins 2/3 full. Bake 20-25 minutes (depending on size of cupcakes) or until toothpick inserted in the middle of middle cupcake comes out clean. Remove pan from oven and place on cooling rack. Frost with warm frosting while frosting is warm. Makes 12-18 cupcakes.
Thalia @ butter and brioche
I never have seen an oatmeal cake before but it sure looks moist and definitely delicious. Perfect with a cup of tea!janet grey
this looks amazing!! any anything with that topping is a YES recipe for me.Lisa P
This is my great aunt's 'boiled frosting oatmeal cake'! Only one thing different... she would take the frosted cake and throw it under the broiler for a few minutes.... IT IS INSANELY GOOD! :DCatherine Maxey
This is a great recipe.i used a 9x9 pan. Topping is so much easier than the ones that you make and put under the broiler.Susie Gall
Hello Catherine. Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Cake is one everyone would love if they would just try it. It is one of my all-time favorite cakes and, like you said, the icing is so easy (as is the cake). Thanks so much for stopping by Simply Sated. Susie