Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Oatmeal Cake with Gooey Coconut Topping



Since I had spent Sunday cleaning much of the day, Monday was kind of my day to relax (while the kids were at school anyways).

The house was in order, laundry was all done up, our summer yard items had been packed away in the shed and the van had been cleaned and swept over the weekend. 

So, yesterday I just wanted to curl up with my coffee, catch up on some of my shows that I had recorded, eat some leftover Slow Cooker Cheesy Potatoes with Smoked Sausage and do some baking. 

Yes, I do love days like that!  No where to go and nothing pressing to attend to.  It doesn't happen often, so I relish it when it does!

I decided on this recipe for the baking aspect of my day.  My grandmother made it often.  It was always one of my favorites!

This cake is over-the-top scrumptious!  It has an incredibly moist batter and the gooey, sugary coconut topping is well, truly the "icing on the cake!"  Once cooled, the topping becomes caramel-like and sticky ... and really seeps into the cake!  Oh, so divine!

I love oatmeal and coconut together in dessert recipes!  This one is no exception! 



Cake Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup boiling water
1 cup oats
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt

Topping Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, melted
2 cups coconut
1 cup pecans, chopped finely (optional - I omit)
1 1/2 cups brown sugar, firmly packed
8 tablespoons milk (can use evaporated milk, if desired)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Pour boiling water over oats in a small bowl.  Allow to sit for 15 minutes.


Cream together butter and sugars.  Add eggs.  Beat well.


Add in the soaked oats, vanilla, baking soda, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.


Mix well.


Pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan.



Bake for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine topping ingredients.


Pour and spread topping over cake when you take it out of the oven.  Bake under the broiler for a few minutes until top is brown.  Watch cake closely so that it does not burn.

Allow cake to cool.  As it cools, the topping will get thick and sticky ... and will really ooze down into the cake!
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42 comments :

  1. I personally do not care for coconut but my mom does so thank you so much for this great recipe.I can't wait to make it for her as a surprise.

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    1. Hi there, Raven! What a nice gesture for your mom! You'll have to update on how she likes it! Thanks for stopping and commenting! :)

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  2. I love this cake. I have made it many times. The recipe used to be found on the oatmeal pkg. It was called Lazy Dazy cake.

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    1. Hello, Vicky. I didn't know that about the recipe being on the oatmeal packaging. I just knew that my grandmother made it a lot and I always loved it. I hadn't had it in years and am so glad I found her recipe recently for it! Love the name "Lazy Dazy Cake!"

      Thank you for posting and for visiting.

      Angela

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  3. It is delicious! I made this cake a week ago and now everybody wants me to make it for Thanksgiving. If my boys like it, that is really saying something! Yummy!!!

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    1. Hey there, Beth! So thrilled you all loved the cake! And, with the cinnamon and nutmeg in it, it would compliment Thanksgiving dinner very well!

      And, don't ya just love it when a recipe pleases picky kiddos!

      Thanks for the feedback! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

      Angela

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  4. I just wanted to let you know my Mom loved the cake and my Step Father said he could eat a whole bowl of the frosting alone. Thank you again for such a great recipe Angela!!

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  5. So glad your mom loved it, Raven! And, tell your step dad that I couldn't agree more ... I, too, could stand at the counter and eat the topping by the spoonful (and have - Shhh!). :)

    I appreciate you commenting again to update on how the recipe turned out for you!

    Happy Holidays!
    Angela

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  6. Putting this in the oven shortly to have for dessert tonight. I have already cooked your Chicken and Biscuit Bake for dinner (serving with a salad) and am excited to see how it all turns out. Looking forward to a major comfort-food meal tonight :)

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    1. Sounds like a wonderful dinner tonight, Kay! (I think we're just ordering pizza - been a busy day!) Please do let me know how it all turns out and how everyone likes the dishes!

      Angela

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    2. Angela - having been a stay at home mom for several years, raising 3 children (all grown now), the oldest which is 31, when I can say (in the words of one of my fav butter loving cooks with initials being PD) "this is just de-lish ya'll", it really does mean something *giggle*. I'm always looking for different things for me and the hubby (and our dog, lol) and this was surely a winner. Thanks so much for sharing. BTW, hubby said, "you can send some of that with me to work tomorrow for lunch" and that speaks volumes as he doesn't always do leftovers willingly. Have a great weekend.

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    3. Kay ... so glad you guys loved the cake! And, I, too, love me some PD! ;)

      Isn't it wonderful when the hubby (or kids) want seconds or ask for the leftovers to be saved!

      Thank you for your kind words and coming back to update on how it turned out for you!

      Happy Holidays to you and yours!
      Angela

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  7. What kind of oats do you use? Quick cooking?

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    1. Hi, Amy. Yes, for this recipe you'd want quick cooking. Thanks for the question!

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  8. This was my first cake, and I made it quite often for years. We never did the topping, just put a basic powdered sugar/butter frosting on, and even though I love coconut gooey toppings, I like this cake better with the plain frosting. It is addicting! PS We credit this cake with my going from flunking 3rd grade math to passing with flying colors every math class thereafter. Fractions, baby!

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    1. Hello, Gail. Thank you for sharing your memories that surround this cake. I've never had it with a basic powdered sugar frosting like you mentioned, but I'm sure it would be delicious, as well! Thanks for stopping by and posting!
      Angela

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  9. I saw this on pinterest and clicked over because I've never seen anyone else make this cake! My grandma used to make this cake often too, and it is my dad's favorite, and now my sister-in-law's favorite as well. My dad still asks my mom to make it for him every year for his birthday :). We don't put pecans in ours either.

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    1. Hi, Jena. This cake seems to be one that goes way back in many people's memories as a family favorite! So glad you've stopped by! Thanks for sharing! :)

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  10. Love. This. Cake. One of my friends and I RAVE about it! I first tried it when she brought some over because I was sick and it was still delicious even though I could hardly taste anything! Now I make it for all my friends when they have their babies. Heck, I can't believe I haven't blogged about how amazing it is! I better get on that... because everyone needs to try this cake! Thanks for sharing it with us!

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  11. I just found this on Pinterest and plan in trying to this week but I have one crazy question.....how do you store leftover? Fridge or countertop?

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    1. My mother always stores in in a cake pan with a lid on the counter. I prefer cake cold typically, so I like to store it in the fridge. So it's really a preference thing I suppose.

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  12. My former mother-in-law made a cake like this only it had chopped or shredded apples in it. Has anyone seen this variation for this cake? I think I might just try adding a chopped apple and see how it comes out. Thanks for any input.

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    1. I have not tried it with apples, but I think it would be delicious! I would use grated apples ... but, either should work. If you do try it, you will have to let us know how it turns out. :)

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    2. Yes! My mother in law makes an Apple Cake called Knobby Apple Cake. I think it's the one you're looking for and it's amazing! :)

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    3. My nana always used to make Knobby Apple Cake. I’ve never tasted a better cake, so if this is anything like that I’m all in!

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  13. Do you use sweetened or unsweetened coconut?

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  14. Family made this cake for 40 years plus. It's better if you make it the day before you want to serve it. I had pecans and walnuts mixed. :)

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  15. My Mema use to make this cake all the time when I was a little girl! It was a family favorite! Now I get to make it for my grand kids. :) Thanks for all the lovely memories.

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    1. Oh, how neat. I love when food is tied to childhood memories. Hope you love making this cake. And,thank you for stopping to comment.

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    2. Oh, how neat. I love when food is tied to childhood memories. Hope you love making this cake. And,thank you for stopping to comment.

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  16. I got this recipe in a cookbook over 30 years ago. My mom found an old handwritten copy in get grandma's stuff so old it called for oleo. Still one of my faves many years later.

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  17. My Mom used to always make this special cake for my birthday and I absolutely loved it. My Mom has passed now but my birthday is this next week so I’m thinking I will make it for myself. She always called it “The Oatmeal Cake.” Happy Baking!!

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  18. My Mom used to make this cake for me on my Birthday. It was and still is my favorite cake ever. Since my Mom has passed and birthday is this week I plan to make it for myself. 🎂🎂🎂. Thank you for posting the recipe.

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  19. This is a great cake. However...
    30 minutes is not long enough for this cake to bake. I baked mine for 50 minutes and it was perfect.

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  20. Wow!! I ran across this recipe on Pinterest and so I was intrigued since I had never heard of this cake before. I made it yesterday and my husband and I were both surprised how moist and how DELICIOUS this cake was! It is scrumptious to say the very least. And so easy!! I will be making this cake from now on!! Thank you for posting this recipe on Pinterest and all the steps pictorially.

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  21. Love oatmeal cake but I agree this one is too sweet. May try again with less sugar and half the coconut

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  22. This cake is absolutely delicious this time I made it with chocolate chips and pecans love it

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  23. Do you use old fashion oats or quick

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  24. is it self rising flour?

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    1. Nope - just regular all purpose flour

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