I originally got this recipe from my Grandmother but I saw it again today on facebook posted by a friend and endorsed heartily by another friend! So I made the cake. Partially because my grand daughters were coming over and partially because it really holds a lot of nostalgia for me.oatmeal cake

Since my Kitchen Aid died this morning, I was forced to make the cake by hand too. I used my Mother’s old hand mixer…. no not the electric kind the old egg-beater kind. Goodness, it was dusty. I had to climb up a a few feet in the pantry to even find it.  It was the first mixer I ever used and its seen many a cake.

My son walked through and asked, “What is that?”  I explained what it was and what it was capable of.  It was like I was selling a new car and drawing attention to all its fine points.

“See this large gear? Its made so that a small rotation here, will cause a larger rotation here and you get more turning power for your energy.”

“And its really quiet.”

I figured silently that as long as I have use of my arms and hands, I should not mourn the demise of the Kitchen Aid and just use this mixer while I can.

The slow process of combining and measuring ingredients and the quiet kitchen took me back about 45 years when I stood in this very kitchen and made cakes with my Mother and used this hand mixer. I almost felt her presence as I measured out all the ingredients and the fresh vanilla aroma wafted all around me. I smiled at the thought of her getting all upset and excited when someone would stomp through the house and cause a cake to fall.

After the cake was mixed and in the oven and the icing made and waiting, I washed the mixer lovingly and dried it off. I will look for a better place to store it than way the dickens up on the top shelf of the pantry.

The aroma of the cake slowly spread throughout the kitchen and living room. It brought people from far and wide.  Ad far as the back bedrooms.

Then, when I took that first bite…. I thought of Grandma and Mother and laughter…

Here is the recipe. I reduced the amount of sugar in the icing but not in the cake. Its definitely not a health conscious kind of dessert but I think it might become one of your family’s favorite cakes.

Oatmeal Cake

1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
1 – 1/2 cups boiling water
1 – 1/3 cups all- purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla

mixer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grease a 9×13 inch pan and set aside.

Combine the oatmeal and the boiling water and allow to sit for 20 minutes.
While its sitting, combine the sugars and the butter and beat til light and fluffy.
Beat the 2 eggs and add them and the vanilla to the butter/sugar mixture, blend well.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, soda, cinnamon and nutmeg, set aside.

Beat in the oatmeal mixture and then the flour mixture. Mix well.

Pour the batter in the prepared pan. Bake at 350*F for 30 minutes.
While still hot, spread the icing mixture over the top of the cake and then set it under the broiler until hot and bubbly all over. Remove from the oven, cool a bit and serve warm.

Icing
1 – 1/3 cups brown sugar (I only used about 1/3 cup and it was delicious!
6 tablespoons butter, melted
6 tablespoons heavy cream
1 cup shredded coconut
3 tablespoons chopped walnuts or pecans

Combine all. Spread over top of baked cake and broil.