My Grandma’s Oatmeal Cake is an old-fashioned cake made with rolled oats and a delicious coconut almond topping. As they say, “an oldie, but a goodie”!

This recipe comes straight from my grandmother’s recipe box, and it’s been one of our family’s favorites for decades! Other recipes I love that came from my grandmother include: Baked Rice Pudding, Fresh Apple Cake, and Peach Cobbler.

A slice of oatmeal cake on a white plate, with a fork, and I bite taken out of it.

Grandma’s Oatmeal Cake

I have so much love for this delicious cake! It’s in a league of it’s own as far as taste–it’s uniquely delicious, and most people haven’t tried it before and go crazy for it! I think the best part is the coconut/almond topping that gets broiled at the end. It adds a sweet crunch that pairs so well with the extra moist oatmeal cake.

How to make perfect oatmeal cake:

  • Add oatmeal and butter to a bowl and pour boiling water on top. Set aside.
  • Combine wet ingredients. In a mixing bowl combine the eggs, brown sugar, and white sugar and beat well.
  • Combine dry ingredients. In a separate bowl sift together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt. Add to the bowl with wet sugar mixture and stir to combine.
  • Add oatmeal mixture and stir to combine.
  • Bake for about 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

Four process photos with text on them for making oatmeal cake. A mixing bowl the oatmeal, butter and boiling water, another bowl with sugars and egg, flour added to the bowl and then the oatmeal mixture added.

  • Make the coconut frosting. While the cake is baking, make the topping by combining all the ingredients in a bowl.
  • Broil. Remove the cake from the oven and turn the oven to high broil.  Spread the topping evenly over the warm cake and place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes or until the coconut is golden brown.

Baked oatmeal cake in a glass 9x13 inch dish next to the cake with coconut almond topping added on top.

Making Oatmeal Cake Ahead of Time:

This cake can definitely be made in advance. In fact, it tastes just as good if not better made one day ahead of time.  Allow it to cool to room temperature and store it on the counter tightly, covered in tinfoil.

A pan of oatmeal cake with coconut almond topping, cut into squares.

TWO Things that set this recipe apart from the others:

  1. No quick-cooking oats.  You’ll notice many recipes call for quick oats.  I think true old-fashioned oatmeal cake deserves old-fashioned rolled oats.  Plus the texture and flavor are better with rolled oats.
  2. Coconut Almond topping.  I love the flavor and crunch of the chopped almonds in the topping. You could also use walnuts (walnuts were used more often in my Grandma’s day), but I like the almonds better for this cake.

Oatmeal cake served on a white plate with a fork, on a white marble board.

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Recipe

A slice of oatmeal cake on a white plate, with a fork, and I bite taken out of it.
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 40 minutes
Total 50 minutes
Save Recipe

Ingredients
  

For the topping

  • 6 Tablespoons butter , room temperature
  • 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
  • 1/2 cup evaporated milk
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 cup nuts
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13'' pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Add the oatmeal and butter to a bowl and pour boiling water on top. Set aside.
  • In a mixing bowl combine the eggs, brown sugar, and white sugar and mix well.
  • In a separate bowl sift together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt.
  • Add to the bowl with eggs and sugars and stir to combine. 
  • Add the oatmeal mixture and stir to combine. 
  • Bake for about 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
  • While the cake is baking, make the topping by combining all the ingredients in a bowl.
  • Remove the cake from the oven and turn the oven to high broil. 
  • Spread the topping evenly over the warm cake and place under the broiler for 2-4 minutes or until the coconut is golden brown.

Notes

This cake tastes great made 1-2 days in advance, if you'd like!  It's perfect for bringing to potlucks and parties! 

Nutrition

Calories: 399kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 5gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 52mgSodium: 298mgPotassium: 172mgFiber: 2gSugar: 38gVitamin A: 385IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 62mgIron: 1.5mg

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RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.

 

I originally shared this recipe July 2015. Updated August 2019.

Grandma's Oatmeal Cake-- seriously one of the best cakes ever. Super moist with a delicious coconut almond topping. Recipe from TastesBetterFromScratch.com

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About The Author

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I love this cake! My friend gave me the recipe years ago. Anyone who has ever had it loved it as well.

  2. I love old fashioned oatmeal cake and want to try this but grandson has a nut/peanut allergy. Any suggestions for altering topping?

    1. For the oatmeal cake topping, since your grandson has a nut/peanut allergy, you can easily modify it by leaving out the nuts. The topping will still be delicious with the butter, coconut, evaporated milk, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. If you want to add a bit of texture similar to nuts, you might consider using seeds like pumpkin or sunflower seeds, if those are safe for him. These can provide a nice crunch without the allergen concerns. Enjoy baking the oatmeal cake, and I hope it turns out wonderfully for you and your grandson!

  3. 2 stars
    I made this with the wrong kind of oats, too soft. I found the amount of milk too much and the pan too big. I usually use an 8X8 but this recipe called for 9 X 13. Way too thin, not enough coconut and nuts to cover. Back to my old recipe

  4. Just a note of warning – NEVER put Pyrex or any glass baking dishes under a broiler they can shatter and explode under the high heat

  5. Could you bake this in 9×5 Loaf Pan?

    My mom made one similar and used loaf pan. But I lost her recipe. She also did a coconut -nut frosting on top, put under broiler.

  6. Hi! Thanks for your recipe!
    Any way I don’t do it too moist? And what can I do so the toppings sticks to the cake? Everything I slice it, toppings come off.

  7. 5 stars
    Baked this yesterday following all the instructions except that I left off the broiled topping (can’t have those ingredients). The cake is SO moist, flavorful, and yummy; Hubby loved it, too. A definite keeper…thanks, both to you and your grandma!

  8. This has to be one of the best oatmeal cakes I’ve ever tasted! I did add some raisins I soaked in a spiced rum (1 cup), but that’s the only thing I changed. I took this cake to a birthday dinner, and people came back for seconds. I was told over and over how much they really loved this cake. Thank you for an awesome recipe!

  9. Love this recipe. Tried it last night with a little twist. I added a bit of dates to replace the sugar and it was really good. Thank you!

  10. This recipe gas also been in our family for many years.I am almost 70 and always asked my Mom to make this cake for my birthdays. After she was gone, I baked it for myself. The only thing different is that I put it in an 8×8 square pan to bake. I am making it for my granddaughter today as she has been working hard. You can’t go wrong with this cake.

  11. Soooo many compliments. Interesting cuz young adults had never tried it let alone even heard of it. It was so good and got to spend the afternoon thinking about my mom and her mom when they used to make it! My daughter just texted asking g for the recipe.

  12. 5 stars
    I’ve made this cake twice. The 1st time I made it I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out very well, the 2nd time I altered the recipe slightly. I added 1 1/2 tsp of cinnamon, 1 tsp of nutmeg and 1 tsp of pumpkin pie spice. So good!! My husband loves this cake! ( both versions)

  13. 5 stars
    Just made this with a few changes. Used diabetic sugar, but only had real brown sugar. Added a dash of pepper to enhance the cinnamon. Baked as cupcakes in my air fryer 12-15 minutes. Did not add the frosting. They don’t need it!
    You can add a dash of cinnamon to dishes like chili to enhance the pepper flavor, too.

  14. 5 stars
    This is the exact same recipe my grandma used to make her home made oatmeal cake! She used to make it for my cousins and I whenever we’d spend the night at her house. Because I loved it so much growing up, she gave me this wonderful recipe (along with several others I’d enjoyed in my youth – as she was a fantastic cook) as a wedding present nearly 50 years ago. I was pleasantly surprised to find your recipe on this site and thought I’d make it for old time’s sake. It didn’t disappoint! Still moist and delicious. My grand kids enjoyed every bite I served them and asked for more.

  15. Love this cake! As a kid we had “Mush” for breakfast. My mom would use the extra oatmeal mush for this recipe ❤️

  16. I’ve requested this as my birthday cake since I was a little girl. My grandchildren now enjoy it with me every year. The only change I make is to use a little more coconut. And I prefer pecans.

  17. I only have quick oats on hand currently. Is there anything I should change to make sure so it maintains consistency?

  18. 5 stars
    This cake was easy to make and delicious! My family loved it! Thanks for another great recipe. 🙂

  19. Do you think I could leave out the nuts? Or is there something else you’d recommend in their place? My son is allergic to all nuts but peanuts. Thank you!

  20. 5 stars
    Recipe was excellent. It’s a snowy cold day here and this was on point to warm us up for an evening snack. It was 10 out of 10 perfect. I’m sure almonds would be wonderful but I’d love pecans so I use them. And I did not have evaporated milk on hand but I did have coconut milk on hand so I just replaced that I’m probably added just a couple of more tablespoons actually. But nonetheless either way I’m sure the recipe is as perfect as what I ended up with. I will be making this forever. Thank you for sharing.

  21. 5 stars
    I love this recipe. It was so easy. I didn’t have baking soda so I substituted 3 teaspoons of baking powder and it came out delicious . Thank you for sharing it.

  22. 5 stars
    This was so easy to make. And smells Devine! I’m taking it to a family dinner tomorrow and can’t wait to try it and get their reaction! Smells just like autumn has arrived!

  23. Hi, do you think I can sub evaporated milk with something else? Am dairy intolerant and would really love trying this out!

  24. 5 stars
    This was my Mom’s go to cake for camping! Because it tasted as good the first day as the last. Now that she is gone I make it for special events when my sibs get together! Our favorite!

    1. The recipe has baking soda which is a leavener and will help the cake rise. Baking powder is just a mixture of baking soda and an acid.

  25. 5 stars
    This was delicious! I’m trying to use up some oats in our food storage, so this was great. We ate it warm with some vanilla ice cream. Thank you!

  26. This is very much like the oatmeal cake my grandmother made.
    I am really pleased to have found such a similar recipe!

    Had it halfway put together and realised no coconut, just added more almonds to the topping! Turned out fantastic!

  27. 5 stars
    Very delicious!!!! I followed the recipe as is, no revisions or substitutions, and it was so easy and decadent. The broiled topping is what *makes* oatmeal cake.

  28. 5 stars
    This recipe came together so easy. Everything stirs together without a mixer. And it tastes divine. Thank you. I did use a 9×9 pan at 325 degrees for 45 minutes. (I don’t have a 0x13 here) it was fine.
    Thank you

  29. Love this cake!!!! I have been making this cake for years and is one of my family’s favorite. Thanks for the suggestion of almonds. I always use pecans or walnuts but will definitely try the almonds. Thanks. I am soooo happy that I found your sight!!

  30. 5 stars
    So excited to make this for my dad for Father’s Day this weekend! Question: The recipe says 9×13 pan, however the photo shows a smaller square pan. Please confirm size of pan. Thank you!

  31. 5 stars
    I am “grandma.” I made this cake monthly (between church potlucks, family dinners, gifts for friends). It was a family favorite for sure. Yes, it keeps well. It seems to become more moist with each passing day, but that’s just fine. Adds to the flavor. Note how easy this is to make. BTW, when I was Suzie Homemaker, we didn’t worry about whether or not our butter was salted or unsalted. In fact, I think I used Crisco if I didn’t have butter. No matter what, it’s a winner. Now I might use a tad less sugar, but I do that for many recipes these days.

  32. I’m interested in making this for our Christmas celebration. Would it be possible to make mini cakes or cupcakes instead of one large cake (May family is really into individual sized desserts).

    Also, how far in advance can this be made and does it freeze well? Thanks!

    1. Hi Alexandra,
      I haven’t tried them in cupcakes but I think it should work fine. Definitely shorten the bake time (about 15 minutes).
      Making the cake 1-2 days in advance should be fine. I also think it would freeze ok. I haven’t tried it but I think it will work. The nuts may get a little soft.

  33. 5 stars
    So glad to find this recipe!! I have made this cake for years and lost my recipe during a move?. My Mom requested this cake for her birthday. It’s always one of our favorites. If you have a mailing list, please add me to it. Thanks again!!! Jennifer

    1. This recipe has salt in it, so it is for unsalted butter. If you want to use salted butter, just reduce the salt by about 1/4 tsp.

  34. 5 stars
    Hi I just made this cake for a neighbor. I’ve made it before & I really love it, hope she does too.

  35. My favorite cake for many years! I am going to try making it chocolate. I may just add an amount of coco I think is enough. Wondered what you might do? It going to be a German chocolate cake for father’s day, husband’s request!
    Kari

  36. 5 stars
    This popped up on my iPad and I had everything to make it! I’m in love, so moist! My hubby doesn’t do nuts so we used bacon bits on a part of it, I used pecans on the rest. So very good, thanks!

  37. This looks awesome! I would need to use gluten free flour and sub in a lactose free evaporated milk recipe. Think I would also need xanthum as well? Anybody?

  38. 5 stars
    Hi Lauren, I just found this recipe today and decided to make it for our bible study tonight. It was a huge hit! I had several requests for the recipe. There was only a small piece left. Since it’s full of oatmeal I claiming it fit for breakfast ?.
    Thanks for another winner!

    1. I’m so happy to hear everyone liked it–I love this recipe! Thanks so much for commenting and following TBFS!

  39. This is in addition to my previous questions-
    The cake in the picture looks brown-like chocolate.
    But, there is no cocoa powder or anything like that listed in the ingredients….what gives it this brown chocolatey color?

    1. Hi Kimberly, I’m sorry for the confusion, I’ve updated the ingredients to be more specific–granulated sugar and regular rolled oats. The cake get’s the golden brown color from the brown sugar and cinnamon when everything is baked together.

  40. The recipe calls for white sugar-is this granulated sugar or powdered sugar? Also, specifically-what kind of oatmeal?
    Instant, 3 minute, steel cut, etc….

  41. Hi, really want to make this. Can you tell me what size of pan was used. Looks maybe like an 8 in square. Would you double the recipe for a 9 x 13 pan. thanks

    1. Hi Angie, I’m sorry, I just updated the recipe with the pan size. The recipe is for a 9×13” pan. (You can half it for an 8” pan, like I did in the photos.) I’d love to hear how you like it!

  42. Saw this on Pinterest but cannot see the recipe on your website which I am really enjoying. I’d love to try this cake but I would need the full recipie.

    1. Hi Wendy, I’m so sorry, my site is having technical problems with the recipe card when viewed on a desktop or tablet device. You will be able to see the recipe if you pull it up on your mobile phone. I’m trying to resolve the problem ASAP. Sorry for the inconvenience!

  43. Hi Lauren, this looks wonderful. Just wondered what kind of canned milk you used, evaporated, sweetened condensed, or ? Tahnks