Oatmeal Cake with Broiled Coconut Topping

📜 Collection: UK3 | ✍️ Attribution: Unknown | 📂 Category: Desserts A wonderfully moist, old-fashioned oatmeal cake featuring a rich flavor from brown sugar and spices. The single-layer spice cake is finished with a gooey, caramelized topping of coconut, nuts, and brown sugar.


Prep TimeCook TimeInactive / Chill TimeYield / Servings
15 mins40 mins20 mins1 9x13 cake

🔪 Key Equipment

  • 13x9 inch baking pan
  • Medium bowl
  • Large bowl
  • Separate bowl
  • Small bowl
  • Wire rack

Ingredients

For the Cake

MeasurementsIngredientsPrep / Notes
1 CupOatmealQuick or old-fashioned
1 ⅓ CupsWaterBoiling
1 CupBrown SugarPacked
1 CupWhite SugarNone
½ CupShorteningNone
2EggsLarge
1 ½ CupsFlourNone
½ tspCinnamonNone
½ tspSaltNone
1 tspBaking SodaNone

For the Topping

MeasurementsIngredientsPrep / Notes
6 TbspButterMelted
½ CupBrown SugarPacked
¼ CupMilkOr cream
1 CupNutsChopped
1 CupCoconutShredded
1 tspVanilla ExtractNone

Instructions

Step 1: Prep and Soak

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 13x9 inch baking pan.
  2. In a medium bowl, pour the 1 ⅓ cups boiling water over the 1 cup oatmeal. Stir and let it stand for 20 minutes.

Step 2: Mix the Batter

  1. In a large bowl, cream together the 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup white sugar, and ½ cup shortening until light and fluffy.
  2. Beat the 2 eggs into the creamed mixture one at a time.
  3. Stir the soaked oatmeal mixture into the wet ingredients.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the 1 ½ cups flour, ½ tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp salt, and 1 tsp baking soda.
  5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes.

Step 3: Make the Topping and Finish Baking

  1. While the cake is baking, combine all the topping ingredients: 6 tbsp melted butter, ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup milk, 1 cup nuts, 1 cup coconut, and 1 tsp vanilla extract in a small bowl. Stir well.
  2. After 30 minutes, remove the cake from the oven. Immediately spread the topping mixture evenly over the hot cake.
  3. Return the cake to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the topping is bubbly and lightly golden.
  4. Let the cake cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting and serving.

💡 Make-Ahead & Storage: Store the cooled cake covered at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days.


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