Oatmeal Cake {Old Fashioned Recipe} - Cooking Classy (2024)

Published May 11, 2018. Updated January 6, 2020

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Oatmeal Cake is the perfect dessert to make for your mom this weekend! It’s an old fashioned style recipe, like a delicious cake your grandma might have made you growing up. It’s an oatmeal based cake, and since they oats are soaked in boiling water it softens them up perfectly so you end with a moist and tender crumb in every bite.

Love oat recipes? Be sure to try my Oatmeal Cookies too, they’re a reader favorite!

Oatmeal Cake {Old Fashioned Recipe} - Cooking Classy (1)

Oatmeal Cake

There are many reasons I love this cake. First, like I said, it reminds me of something my grandma would have made. Second, the taste is simply divine – talk about savoring every bite.

And third could cake get any easier? You don’t even need to make a frosting, and bonus that means you don’t have to wait hours for a cake to cool.

Ingredients Needed for Oatmeal Cake

  • Boiling water
  • Oats
  • Butter
  • Brown sugar and white sugar
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla
  • Cinnamon and nutmeg
  • Baking Soda
  • Salt
  • Flour
  • Milk
  • Coconut

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How to Make the Best Oatmeal Cake

  • 1. First you’ll add the boiling water to the oats and let them soak until the mixture cools.

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  • 2. Then in a separate mixing bowl (or the bowl of an electric stand mixer) whip together the butter and sugars until pale and fluffy.

Oatmeal Cake {Old Fashioned Recipe} - Cooking Classy (4)

  • 3. Mix in eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla.

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  • 4. Blend in that cooled oat mixture.

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  • 5. Sprinkle in baking soda, salt and flour and mix.

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  • 6. Pour into pan and bake.

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  • 7. Meanwhile stir together the topping mixture in a mixing bowl.

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  • 8. Once cake is set add the topping then return to oven and broil for a minute or two.

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  • 9. Let cool as long as you can handle then cut into slices and serve.

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How to Store Oatmeal Cake

  • Store oatmeal cake covered at room temperature for up to 2 days
  • Ir cover and chill in the refrigerator for about 5 days, bring to room temperature before serving.
  • Cake can also be frozen for 2 months in an airtight container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Possible Variations

  • If you hate coconut it can be omitted.
  • If you don’t like nuts those can be omitted, if you love them feel free to double them up.
  • For a more caramely flavor in the cake use all brown sugar and omit the granulated.
  • Add raisins if you like raisins in cake.
  • Use cream or half and half in place of the milk for even more richness.
  • Skip the nutmeg if you don’t have it.

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More Cake Recipes to Try

  • Carrot Sheet Cake
  • Banana Cake
  • Birthday Cake (Funfetti Cake)
  • Fresh Strawberry Cake
  • Chocolate Cake

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16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

Oatmeal Cake {Old Fashioned Recipe} - Cooking Classy (14)

5 from 16 votes

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Oatmeal Cake

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A soft and amazingly moist oatmeal based cake that tastes just like what grandma would have made! It has a delicious spiced flavor and it's finished with a super easy, sweet coconut topping.

Servings: 12

Prep15 minutes minutes

Cook32 minutes minutes

Cooling time20 minutes minutes

Ready in: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Topping

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 by 9-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray (a 7 by 11-inch dish would work as well).

  • Add oats to a medium mixing bowl the pour boiling water over oats, let rest until cool.

  • Meanwhile in a large mixing bowl using an electric hand mixer (or use electric stand mixer), whip together butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy.

  • Mix in eggs, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg then mix in cooled oat mixture.

  • Sprinkle baking soda and salt across top then pour in flour and mix until combined.

  • Pour into prepared baking dish, bake in preheated oven until just cooked through, about 30 minutes.

  • Meanwhile in a medium mixing bowl stir together melted butter, milk, vanilla, brown sugar, coconut, and pecans.

  • Remove cake from oven once cooked through and pour and spread mixture evenly over top.

  • Preheat oven to broil then return cake to oven (in center) and broil until mixture is bubbly and coconut is just starting to toast on ends, about 1 - 2 minutes (don't walk away from it while broiling!).

  • Let cool on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes then cut into slices and serve.

  • Recipe source: inspired by Allrecipes

Nutrition Facts

Oatmeal Cake

Amount Per Serving

Calories 456Calories from Fat 162

% Daily Value*

Fat 18g28%

Saturated Fat 10g63%

Cholesterol 58mg19%

Sodium 247mg11%

Potassium 175mg5%

Carbohydrates 66g22%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 32g36%

Protein 6g12%

Vitamin A 405IU8%

Calcium 48mg5%

Iron 2.5mg14%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Oatmeal Cake

Author: Jaclyn

Categorized:

  • Desserts

Tagged:

  • brown sugar
  • butter
  • cinnamon
  • coconut
  • flour
  • nutmeg
  • pecans
  • sugar

You Might Also Like:

  • Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies
  • Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Old Fashioned Iced Oatmeal Cookies
  • Banana Pecan Baked Oatmeal

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49 Comments

  • Chris

    Can this be made in springform pan (9 inch)? Would I have to double the recipe? My sister absolutely oatmeal cookies, so I wanted to try this for her birthday cake. Can this be unmolded without breaking apart?

    • Jaclyn

      Oatmeal Cake {Old Fashioned Recipe} - Cooking Classy (19)

      It should work in a 9-inch pan as long as it’s leak proof. And it should be just fine to unmold after it’s cooled a little while, just be sure to butter the sides well then run a knife around edge before unmolding.

  • Kt

    Yum, this cake is delicious. It was so fluffy and moist. I had all the ingredients and it came together quickly. Thank you! Do the leftovers need refrigeration?

    • Kt

      Oh my bad, I just read over your storing tips. Thanks again!

  • Chris B

    #daddysfavorite

  • NEmeema

    Classic oatmeal cake recipe. My guests gobbled it up. Super simple and delicious.

    • Jaclyn

      Oatmeal Cake {Old Fashioned Recipe} - Cooking Classy (20)

      Thanks for your review! So glad your guests enjoyed it!

      • Laura

        I added chopped walnuts and raisins to the batter and then sprinkled it with powdered sugar instead of the frosting. Yum!

  • Mariam

    Hi. Nice recipe 👍
    Can i use unsweetened coconut flakes insteaf?

    • Jaclyn

      Oatmeal Cake {Old Fashioned Recipe} - Cooking Classy (21)

      Yes that would be fine.

  • A

    Yum yum, cooked this for my Mum, next, stories of Mum’s childhood were being told. Thanks for the recipe; food brings back memories of joy and good times.

    AF

More Comments

Oatmeal Cake {Old Fashioned Recipe} - Cooking Classy (2024)

FAQs

How do you make oatmeal more interesting? ›

10 Ways to Make a Bowl of Plain Oatmeal Taste So Much Better
  1. Bake your oats. You don't always have to go the top-of-the-stove route. ...
  2. Brew your oats in tea. ...
  3. Top it off with frozen fruit. ...
  4. Raid your spice cabinet. ...
  5. Grate in some cheese. ...
  6. Mix in some hearty veggies. ...
  7. Stir in some yogurt. ...
  8. Top it off with eggs.
Feb 6, 2024

What spices are good in oatmeal? ›

Add different spices, such as nutmeg, ginger, allspice, or cloves. Add different sweeteners, such as honey, maple syrup, brown sugar, or coconut sugar. Top your oatmeal with nuts, seeds, dried fruit, or fresh fruit. Add a dollop of yogurt or Greek yogurt to your oatmeal for extra creaminess and protein.

How do you dress up oatmeal? ›

Drizzle date syrup, agave nectar, or buckwheat honey for a more nuanced sweetness than straight-up sugar. Cook oats with fresh fruit like blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries for added texture, flavor, and plenty of beautiful color.

What not to mix with oatmeal? ›

High-sugar toppings like chocolate, syrup, and dried fruit

As Best points out, "some of the worst ingredients that are mistakenly added to healthy overnight oat recipes include chocolate sauce, sugar, syrup, and dried fruit."

Why do some people not like oatmeal? ›

Maybe because it's bland and not always very appetizing compared to other food. But you can do things with it to make it quite tasty. You can get the Quaker Oats flavored oatmeal but they have too much sugar. You can add your own cinnamon or brown sugar or maple syrup and cream or honey.

Why do people put cinnamon in oatmeal? ›

Eating oatmeal with cinnamon can bring several benefits according to Ayurvedic principles. Oats are considered nourishing and easy to digest, providing sustained energy without taxing the digestive system. Cinnamon, in Ayurveda, is believed to enhance digestion, support metabolism, and balance blood sugar levels.

Can you put cinnamon powder in oatmeal? ›

Yes! Eating cinnamon and oats in the morning is a great way start to your day. Oatmeal is heart-healthy, rich in carbohydrates to boost your energy for the day. Plus, it is loaded with fiber and sticks with you for a few hours curbing your appetite.

Should I put honey or sugar in my oatmeal? ›

Oatmeal's long-time compadre is a no-go if you're trying to clean up your diet. Brown sugar adds zero nutritional value—just lots of empty calories that will ratchet up your blood sugar. If you need to add a sweetener besides fresh fruit, opt for a natural one like maple syrup or honey.

How do you flavor oatmeal without sugar? ›

How To Sweeten Your Oatmeal Without Sugar
  1. 1. Fruits. Using the natural sweetness of fruits to your advantage is an easy way to add a sweet flavor to your oatmeal. ...
  2. Plant Milks. Oatmeal is delicious with plant milk like cashew, soy, or almond. ...
  3. Syrups and Nectars. ...
  4. Seed and Nut Butter. ...
  5. Spices. ...
  6. Extracts. ...
  7. Protein Powders.
Mar 7, 2023

Is it good to eat oatmeal every day? ›

The Bottom Line

Oatmeal's high fiber content and prebiotic qualities may benefit your body in more ways than one. Making oatmeal a regular part of your menu can potentially lower your disease risk, help your gut health thrive, make bowel movements easier and keep you feeling fuller for longer.

Can dogs eat oatmeal? ›

According to the American Kennel Club, you can typically feed dogs around one tablespoon (15 grams) of cooked oatmeal for every 20 pounds (9 kg) of body weight (16). Given its rich content of soluble fiber, oatmeal has also become an increasingly common ingredient in many types of commercial dog food ( 17 ).

Is oatmeal good for a diabetic? ›

A cup of cooked oatmeal (1/2 cup of dried oats) contains approximately 30 grams of carbs, which can fit into a nutritious meal plan for people with diabetes. Oatmeal is high in fiber and nutrients but low in saturated and trans fats and sugar and can help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level.

Are old fashioned oats rolled oats? ›

Old Fashioned: Also called rolled oats, old fashioned oats are flat and flakey. They absorb more water and cook faster than steel-cut oats — usually in about 5 minutes — and are the oat of choice for granola bars, cookies, and muffins.

How do you make oatmeal less bland? ›

How do you make oatmeal less bland? Make sure that you're adding salt and cinnamon into your oatmeal – at least ¼ tsp. Secondly, use a 2:1 ratio of milk to water to cook the oatmeal, this results in the best texture.

What to eat with oatmeal for weight loss? ›

Finally, being on a weight loss journey doesn't mean your food has to be bland—and enjoying oatmeal doesn't mean only eating oats. "Using the cooked oatmeal as a base, you can create your bowl by incorporating various add-ins like egg, avocado, cheese, vegetables, and spices of your choice," says Nikolakopoulos.

How do you fix oatmeal when you don't like it? ›

Raw Oats

You can change it up any way you like — toasted oat and coconut muesli? Yes. You can soak it with milk overnight (which makes it easier to digest), or not — just mix before serving. Or mix it with fruit juice, which some argue is the correct way to enjoy muesli.

What is the best oatmeal for weight loss? ›

Opt for plain or unsweetened varieties to avoid added sugars. Customize your oatmeal with fresh fruits, nuts, seeds, or a drizzle of natural honey for sweetness. Choose whole rolled oats or steel-cut oats over instant oats, as they are less processed and retain more nutrients.

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