Sexier Than It Sounds: Oatmeal Cake with Broiled Coconut Recipe Review

The first time I tried this cake I wasn't expecting anything much. A friend made it for her sister's birthday, as it was their traditional family birthday cake. I love oatmeal, of course, but oatmeal cake? Eh. Sounded a little too non-indulgent for my birthday tastes.

And then I tried it, and... wow! It was moist and delicious inside, with rich spices and buttery goodness, and a creamy, gooey topping of broiled coconut and sugar. Heaven!

I tracked down the recipe, which is in a cookbook I actually grew up with (More-With-Less). It's an easy cake: just a few ingredients. It bakes up in large quantities quite easily; this is perhaps my favorite cake to make for a crowd. And then there's that deliciously gooey broiled topping — it's different and yet oh so good. It's similar to German chocolate cake, and some people think that's what this is, when they try it. But there's no chocolate — just plenty of brown sugar and cinnamon.

So don't let this cake's humble name and even more humble appearance fool you. It's hiding so much flavor, and it's a bomb of a crowd-pleaser.

• Get the recipe: Oatmeal Cake - This recipe is the closest to the version I have made. But it does have a couple of differences. I add an extra 1/2 cup of white sugar (for a total of two cups - 1 cup brown, and 1 cup white) and I also add a full teaspoon of baking powder in addition to the soda.

(Images: Faith Durand)

I have a similar recipe for no-bake oatmeal, peanut butter, chocolate cookies.

Essentially boil sugar, butter, milk, & cocoa powder together, add oats and peanut butter and smooth out into a pan. Quite decadent and fast!

posted by cashba on August 24th 2009 at 7:46pm
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I've been making this cake for more years than I care to mention. The Broiled Coconut Frosting is my favorite all time frosting...easy and oh so delicious.

posted by kalajo on August 24th 2009 at 7:58pm
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Mmm. I love and adore coconut. And oatmeal. And cinnamon. And think of all the sexy-looking cakes that just...aren't. This is definitely one to try.

posted by cmcinnyc on August 24th 2009 at 8:14pm
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The recipe says to broil cake topping for 2-8 minutes. Do you put the topping on the cake and put the whole thing back in the oven to broil?

posted by MSN on August 24th 2009 at 8:21pm
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Wow does this bring back memories... this was one of my favorite things to eat as a child and I had almost forgotten it! Thanks for the delicious reminder!

posted by prometheanne on August 24th 2009 at 8:42pm
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The BEST!!

I love you, Faith Durand!

posted by AnnieR on August 24th 2009 at 9:30pm
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Oh - I forgot to mention that while the recipe probably assumes that you'll use sweetened coconut, I invariably use unsweetened. So the cake is quite sweet, and the topping is sweet too, but not tooth-achingly so.

And yes, you put the cake back in the oven to broil with the topping on it. I usually broil it for about 4 minutes.

posted by faith on August 24th 2009 at 9:54pm
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Yum! I ran right home and made a half-recipe last night, and it is almost all gone now! I increased the cinnamon, and added cloves and nutmeg - next time, I will add even more.

The only coconut I had had been dyed green from a cake decorating episode a while back, so mine was even less sexy than you might imagine, but oh so tasty!

posted by lemonadefish on August 25th 2009 at 8:52am
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I want to make that so much! I've made all kinds of coconut cakes (like this one: http://www.biggirlssmallkitchen.com/2009/03/baking-for-others-lotus-necklace.html), but never one with oatmeal. Thanks!

posted by smallkitchcara on August 25th 2009 at 9:08am
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Has anyone ever made it with old-fashioned instead of quick-cooking oats?

posted by cmcinnyc on August 25th 2009 at 10:33am
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cmcyinnyc, I always use old-fashioned oats. There isn't too much of a difference between quick-cooking and old-fashioned in baking; instant oats are another matter entirely.

posted by faith on August 25th 2009 at 10:43am
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Oh my, this brings back memories. Mom's cookbook had broiled icing cake hand written in the back for a yellow cake. The warm frosting was our favorite treat straight out of the oven. I've never tried the oatmeal variety, but the yellow cake version is fabulous.

posted by lona on August 25th 2009 at 6:19pm
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