This old fashioned oatmeal cake recipe is topped with a delicious coconut and pecan frosting. Easy to make, this lightly spiced cake can be eaten hot or cold, and it’s always a crowd pleaser.
When it comes to cake, you can’t beat an old fashioned recipe that has been passed down through the generations, and this oatmeal cake has been made in my family for years. Subtly spiced and the frosting is to die for!
Table of Contents
How to Make This Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cake Recipe
FOR THE OATMEAL CAKE:
Place the oats and butter in a large bowl with boiling water and let stand for 20 minutes.
In a separate bowl mix the flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, apple pie spice and cinnamon.
Once the oatmeal has rested add in the sugars and eggs and mix. Add the flour mixture and combine.
Pour into a pan and bake.
Remove the baked cake and pour the frosting over the top.
FOR THE COCONUT-PECAN FROSTING:
In a pan on a medium hit, bring the cream, sugar and salt to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the coconut, pecans vanilla and lemon juice.
How long does this cake keep?
Once the cake has completely cooled, transfer it to an airtight container. Keep it in the fridge and it will keep well for two days. The cake can then be eaten cold, or you can gently reheat it in the oven just before serving.
What do oatmeal cakes taste like?
This oatmeal cake recipe is so perfectly moist with a soft crumb texture, it’s just like Grandma used to make! The cake itself is lightly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and apple pie spice and it’s perfectly soft. The coconut and pecan frosting adds a delicious sweetness to the cake, as well as a crunchy texture.
What do you serve with this cake?
This oatmeal cake recipe is perfect on its own with a mid afternoon cup of coffee, or served as a dessert. However, I love serving it warm out of the oven with a generous scoop of ice cream. Heaven! It’s perfect with any of these homemade ice cream recipes:
- Red Velvet Ice Cream (Cream Cheese Ice Cream)
- Easy Homemade Pumpkin Ice Cream Recipe
- Snow Ice Cream
- Skinny Almond Joy Ice Cream
Top tips to make this oatmeal cake recipe
- Be sure to grease your pan before adding the cake mixture for easy removal.
- Don’t over mix when adding the dry ingredients to the wet, as this could cause the cake to become too stiff.
- The frosting should be warm when you pour it over the cake.
- If making ahead of time, allow the cake to cool fully before storing.
For more delicious cake recipes:
- Salted Caramel No Bake Cheesecake Recipe
- Iced Lemon Loaf Cake Recipe
- Pecan Pie Pound Cake Recipe
- Hummingbird Cake Recipe with Dried Pineapple Flowers
Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cake Recipe
Ingredients
For the Oatmeal Cake:
- 1 cup quick oats
- ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 1¼ cups boiling water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon table salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Coconut-Pecan Frosting:
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup heavy cream or half ‘n half
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup sweet coconut toasted
- 1 cup chopped pecans toasted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice juice of ½ lemon
Instructions
For the Oatmeal Cake:
- Heat oven to 350°F and adjust oven rack to middle position. Spray an 8x11 ½ x 2-inch pan with nonstick baking spray.
- Place oats and butter in a large bowl and pour boiling water on top. Stir, cover and let the oatmeal mixture stand 20 minutes.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, apple pie spice and cinnamon.
- After the oatmeal mixture has rested 20 minutes, add granulated sugar, brown sugar and eggs; stir until incorporated.
- Add flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix just until the flour in incorporated.
- Pour mixture into the prepared pan and bake at 350°F for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- While the cake cooks, prepare the frosting so it is ready to pour over the cake after removing it from the oven.
- Remove the cake from the oven and pour the warm frosting over the top. Spread out the frosting to cover the entire cake.
- The cake can be served after 15 minutes (delicious with a scoop of ice cream) or served cold. I love it both ways.
- Allow cake to cool completely before covering for storage. Keep refrigerated in an airtight container up to 3 days.
For the Coconut-Pecan Frosting:
- Heat butter, cream, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan set over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook 15 seconds.
- Remove from the heat and add coconut, pecans, vanilla and lemon juice. Mix well.
- Reheat and stir the frosting to warm right before pouring over the warm cake.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Be sure to grease your pan before adding the cake mixture for easy removal.
- Don't over mix when adding the dry ingredients to the wet, as this could cause the cake to become too stiff.
- The frosting should be warm when you pour it over the cake.
- If making ahead of time, allow the cake to cool fully before storing.
Nutrition Information
Thank you
I’ve made it, so tasty, rich and soft.
I’m glad you loved it so much!
I love oatmeal cake but I really love your pan! Where did you get it?
Love the cake pan. Where did you get it?
What a beautiful cake! So soft & moist & you are right, the frosting is to die for!! Love the pecans mixed with it!
I’m so happy to hear that you loved it!
Such an awesome oatmeal cake! Really easy to make too. Thanks for sharing! :)
Thank you, Matt!! I’m glad you loved it!
I can see why this recipe has lasted through the ages. It’s so delicious!
Thank you, Jen! That means a lot!