Oatmeal Cake with Vanilla Sauce

Old-fashioned oatmeal cake like mom used to make but taken up 10 notches with the tastiest, rich homemade vanilla sauce. 

After this Oatmeal Cake, try Blueberry Cake and Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting!

You all know growing up my mom made some amazing dishes. Meals that are forever seared into my brain as some of the best foods I’ve ever eaten, ones that I’ve recreated here to get them written down and to pass them on for others to enjoy. Her baking was no different — especially this oatmeal cake. It’s a throwback for sure but top it with a delicious, rich vanilla sauce and it brings this cake into a whole new era! 

Here’s How You Make It 

1. First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and then grease a 9×13 inch baking pan. (not pictured)
2. Then, take out a medium mixing bowl and combine the oats with the hot water, stir them together, and let them soak while you move on to the next steps. (photo 1)
3. In another medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nuts (if you’re including them in this oatmeal cake recipe). (photo 2)
4. Now, get out a large bowl and cream together the butter, brown sugar, and sugar for 2-3 minutes. Then to that mix in the eggs and the vanilla. (photos 3-4)
5. Add the oatmeal to the wet ingredients, then mix in all of the dry ingredients just until combined. (photo 5)
6. Spread the mixture evenly in a prepared pan. Put it in the oven to bake for 35 minutes or until it’s set and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with no wet batter. Allow the oatmeal cake to cool for 15-20 minutes. While the cake is cooking, you can prepare the vanilla sauce. (photos 6-7)
7. In a thick-bottomed, medium saucepan (do not use stainless steel) set on the stove over medium heat, combine the butter, sugar, heavy cream, vanilla, and salt. Stir the sauce continuously for about 5 minutes or until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. (photo 8)
8. Finally cut the cake into squares, drizzle the vanilla sauce over the top, and serve. (see below)

Why This Recipe Works

Simple — Don’t let the various bowls you have to get out throw you. It’s a super simple cake to make and one bite of this oatmeal cake and you’ll see how simple — and worth it — it is!
Vanilla sauce — Okay this vanilla sauce is next-level. You’ll want to make this and put it on top of all the things. So rich and creamy and with just the right amount of vanilla. So. Good.
Rich and creamy — The oatmeal cake is rich and creamy, the vanilla sauce is rich and creamy, put these two together and it’s just the best cake ever.
Fan favorite — By “fans” I mean mostly my family (right now). I’ve been asked to make this oatmeal cake recipe for just about every family gathering (immediate and extended). 

What Is Oatmeal Cake? 

Oatmeal cake is an old-fashioned recipe if you will. Flip through your mom’s or grandma’s recipe books and you’ll be sure to find it. Instead of making a cake with all flour, you use half flour and half cooked oats. The oats help make the cake not only tasty but moist and tender, too. 
The oats are first soaked in boiling water to cook them and then added to the wet ingredients before adding the rest of the dry ingredients in to make the cake. Sometimes coconut is added to this recipe too, or nuts. I prefer my cake with pecans or walnuts. 

What Can I Make with Old Fashioned Oatmeal?

Oatmeal isn’t just for breakfast. In fact the possibilities are nearly endless! Try these delicious treats made with plain, old fashioned oatmeal: 

• Apple oatmeal cookies 
• Apple (or berry) crisp 
• Oatmeal pancakes
• Oatmeal pie
• Oatmeal crackers
• Oatmeal raisin cookies 
• Peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip bars
• Salted caramel pecan oatmeal fudge bars
• Baked oatmeal (with peanut butter, chocolate, or both)
• Oatmeal craisin breakfast bars
• Choco-berry oatmeal
• Oatmeal raisin (or apple) muffins 
• Oatmeal banana bread

Expert Tips

• Be sure to use old fashioned rolled oats in this recipe. If you use steel cut, the cake will not work. Steel cut oats take a long time to cook and the oats will taste nutty and seedy in the cake. You need the whole grains and moistness of the soaked oatmeal. 
• This oatmeal cake will keep in the fridge, covered, for up to 5 days. 
• Other ways to top this oatmeal cake include a cream cheese frosting, a buttercream frosting, or a simple vanilla glaze. 
• You can freeze this oatmeal cake for up to 3 months, though it won’t thaw and be nearly as moist, it will still taste delicious! 

More Dessert Recipes

• Cake Batter Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Blueberry Cake
• Carrot Cake Cookies
• Carrot Cake Bread
• Best No Bake Cheesecake

For more amazingly delicious desserts, check out my popular posts for Spice Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting, Raspberry Crumb Bars, and One Bowl Lemon Cake.

If you make this old fashioned oatmeal cake, please come back and let me know what you think by leaving a comment and rating the recipe! And be sure to snap a photo and email it or tag me on social media, I love connecting with you and seeing your CDLC creations!