Oatmeal Cake with Broiled Icing

This old fashioned Oatmeal Cake with Broiled Icing recipe is the kind of cake that can be served for breakfast or holiday brunch, with a cup of coffee for a midday treat or as a delicious dessert.

What’s Oatmeal Cake Made Of?

This oldie but goodie cake is made using pantry staples beginning with quick oats and all purpose flour along with warm spices, eggs and evaporated milk. The origin of this cake isn’t exactly clear, but like many vintage cakes it likely originated out of a need to use simple pantry ingredients to make something delicious for dessert. The decadent broiled coconut pecan frosting is what sets this oatmeal cake apart and takes it over-the-top.

Ingredients to Make Oatmeal Cake with Broiled Icing Recipe

Oatmeal cake is one of those vintage cake recipes that needs to be preserved because it’s so darn delicious! This oatmeal cake recipe has a rich flavor, tender crumb and soft fluffy texture due to the combination of oatmeal and flour in the batter. This cake is one that can take you from breakfast and brunch to a mid-morning snack with a mug of coffee or tea. And of course, dessert. Ingredients to make old-fashioned Oatmeal Cake Recipe with Broiled Coconut Icing: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

• Oatmeal: One cup quick oats softened with one cup boiling water for the cake batter.
• Flour: All-purpose flour forms the batter.
• Leavening: One teaspoon baking soda and salt give lift to the batter.
• Seasonings: Ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg give warm spice to the flavor.
• Butter: Salted or unsalted butter for richness.
• Liquid: Evaporated milk makes the batter rich and creamy.
• Sugar: One cup light brown sugar and 3/4 cup granulated sugar for sweetness.
• Whole Eggs: Large eggs bind the batter.
• Flavoring: Two teaspoons vanilla extract.
• Broiled Coconut Icing: Two cups flaked coconut.
• Nuts: Chopped pecans or walnuts for crunch.
• Butter: Salted or unsalted butter.
• Sugar: Light brown sugar for sweetness and a caramel flavor.
• Liquid: Three tablespoons evaporated milk to thin the icing.
• Flavoring: One teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

How to Make the BEST Oatmeal Cake with Broiled Icing Recipe

• Soften Oatmeal – Pour boiling water over the quick oats. Let stand until softened.
• Heat Oven and Prep Cake Pan – Spray a 13×9-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
• Dry Ingredients – In a medium bowl use a whisk to sift together all purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, salt and nutmeg.
• Creamed Ingredients – Using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream together butter, evaporated milk, brown sugar, white sugar and teaspoon vanilla extract in a large bowl. Add the eggs.
• Combine – Add the cooled oatmeal and flour mixture to creamed butter. Beat on medium speed to combine.
• Pour Cake Batter into the Prepared Baking Dish or Pan -Bake per the cook time in the recipe until a toothpick inserted into the center shows moist crumbs.
• Make Broiled Coconut Icing – Melt butter in the microwave. Mix with coconut flakes, pecans, brown sugar, tablespoons milk, vanilla extract and ground cinnamon. Stir to combine. (You can also use a medium saucepan on the stove.)
• Spread on Cake While Warm – Spread the coconut-pecan topping onto the top of the cake immediately after it’s removed from the oven, then place it back under the oven broiler until light golden brown.
• Serve – Slice and enjoy oatmeal cake warm or serve at room temperature.

Tips for Making Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cake

• Kitchen Tools You’ll Need: 13×9-inch baking dish or cake pan, stand mixer or hand mixer, small saucepan , large bowl, medium bowl, small bowl, whisk, nut chopper, measuring cups and spoons.
• Allow the Oatmeal to Cool: To make this cake you begin by softening the quick cooking oats in hot water before adding them to the batter. It’s important to allow ample time for them to cool so the cake will bake evenly.
• Keep an Eye on the Icing: The coconut-pecan topping for this cake is broiled in the oven. It’s important that once you place it under the broiler in the oven that you don’t walk away. It could burn easily due to the brown sugar in the topping.
• How to Serve Oatmeal Cake: This cake can be served warm, at room temperature or chilled.

Recipe Variations

• Oatmeal: I prefer quick oats for this recipe. You could use rolled oats instead but you may need to add a smidge more hot boiling water to soften the oats.
• Baking Chips: This cake is pretty much perfection just as it is. That said, you could add cinnamon baking chips or chocolate chips to the cake batter.
• Fruit: You might enjoy adding 1/2-1 cup raisins to the batter.
• Nuts: You could use walnuts, almonds or macadamia nuts in place of pecans.
• Evaporated Milk Substitution: You can use whole milk, half and half or heavy cream for the topping in place of evaporated milk.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers: Store leftover Oatmeal Cake with broiled icing covered with foil or plastic wrap or in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It will keep on the counter for up to 3 days.
• Freezer Storage: You can make the cake up to 2 months in advance and freeze it. Thaw in the fridge and make the broiled icing just before serving.

More Southern Style Cake Recipes to Make

Sheet cakes are one of my go to desserts to make and you can find me baking year-round regardless of the season or weather. More homemade single layer cake recipes you may like to try:

• Texas Sheet Cake with it’s decadent fudge icing is an all time favorite.
• Carrot Cake Poke Cake begins with a cake mix and no one will ever know.
• This Raspberry Layer Cake is stunning!
• Easy Honey Bun Cake recipe is another cake that can be served any time of day.
• Cherry Coca Cola Cake is a Southern classic with a cherry twist.
• I worked on this Italian Cream Cake recipe until it was perfected.
• My Buttered Rum Cake is a holiday must-make.
• My recipe for Pineapple Upside Down Cake is made with fresh pineapple.
• Apple Butter Pound Cake from Southern Living.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Stand Mixer
• Cooling Racks
• Measuring Set
• 13×9-inch Pan