Lazy Day Oatmeal Cake
Ingredients:
**For the Cake:**
– 1 cup (90 g) old-fashioned oats
– 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) boiling water
– 1/2 cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
– 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
– 1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar, packed
– 2 large eggs
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1 1/2 cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
– 1 teaspoon baking soda
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
– 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
**For the Topping:**
– 1/2 cup (115 g) unsalted butter, melted
– 3/4 cup (150 g) light brown sugar, packed
– 1/4 cup (60 ml) heavy cream or milk
– 1 cup (85 g) sweetened shredded coconut
– 1/2 cup (60 g) chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Instructions:
1. **Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan:**
– Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch (23×33 cm) baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
2. **Soak the Oats:**
– In a medium bowl, combine the oats and boiling water. Stir and let the mixture sit for about 20 minutes to soften and cool slightly.
3. **Prepare the Cake Batter:**
– In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
– Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract.
– In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
– Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
– Fold in the soaked oats, mixing gently until incorporated.
4. **Bake the Cake:**
– Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly.
– Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
5. **Prepare the Topping:**
– While the cake is baking, mix together the melted butter, brown sugar, heavy cream (or milk), shredded coconut, and chopped nuts in a medium bowl.
6. **Broil the Topping:**
– Once the cake is done baking, remove it from the oven and switch the oven to broil.
– Spread the topping evenly over the hot cake.
– Return the cake to the oven and broil for 2-3 minutes, or until the topping is bubbly and lightly browned. Watch closely to prevent burning.
7. **Cool and Serve:**
– Let the cake cool slightly before serving. It’s delicious warm, at room temperature, or even chilled!
Tips:
– **Storage:** Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. This cake also freezes well; just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil before freezing.
– **Serving Suggestion:** Serve the cake on its own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra special treat.
Enjoy!
This **Lazy Day Oatmeal Cake** is an easy, nostalgic dessert that comes together quickly and tastes like it took hours to make. The combination of a soft, moist cake with a rich, caramelized coconut topping makes it the perfect indulgence for any lazy day!