Oatmeal Cake

This moist, simple coffee cake has been a favourite of mine for decades. Soaking the oats makes the cake texture fluffy, and it’s easy to whip up in no time.

• Recipe Information •

Serves 12 to 16 (Makes one 9-inch/23 cm round cake)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 to 50 minutes

• Ingredients •

Cake:

• 1 cup (100 g) regular rolled oats
• 1¼ cups (310 mL) boiling water
• 1 cup (200 g) packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• ¼ cup (60 mL) vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1½ cups (225 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• Pecan-Coconut Topping
• ½ cup (100 g) packed light brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp (15 g) cornstarch
• ½ cup (125 mL) whipping cream
• 3 Tbsp (45 mL) pure maple syrup
• 3 large egg yolks
• ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter
• 1½ cups (150 g) sweetened flaked coconut
• 1 cup (100 g) toasted chopped pecans (or walnuts)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of fine salt

• Directions •

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch (23 cm) round cake or springform pan and line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
2. Measure the oats into a large bowl and pour the boiling water over top. Let sit for about 10 minutes to allow the oats to plump up and the water to cool. Stir in the brown sugar, granulated sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla by hand.
3. In a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt and add the dry ingredients all at once to the oats, stirring until evenly blended. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake the cake for 45 to 50 minutes, until a tester inserted in the centre comes out clean. Cool the cake on a cooling rack to room temperature.
4. For the filling, whisk the brown sugar and cornstarch in a medium saucepan to combine. Whisk in the cream, maple syrup and eggs and heat over medium-high, whisking constantly until thickened and the filling just begins to bubble, about 6 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and whisk in the butter, then stir in the coconut, pecans (or walnuts), vanilla and salt. Scrape the filling into a bowl, cool and then chill completely before using.