Million Dollar Oatmeal Cake

Pull up a chair and bake with us! Join me and my son in the kitchen as we make Million Dollar Oatmeal Cake—a comforting dessert to share with the people you love.

Pan: 9 × 13 × 2 inches
Oven: 350°F
Bake time: About 25 minutes, plus broiling

Cake Ingredients

• 1 cup instant oats

• 1¼ cups boiling water

• 1 stick salted butter, softened

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup packed brown sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1⅓ cups unbleached all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon nutmeg

• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract

Coconut Topping

• 1 stick salted butter

• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste and ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1½ cups packed brown sugar

• 1½ cups sweetened shredded coconut

• ¼ cup evaporated milk, plus 1–2 tablespoons as needed to reach a spreadable consistency

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the oven and pan. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 × 13 × 2-inch pan that is safe to use under the broiler.

2. Soak the oats. Put the instant oats in a heatproof bowl and pour the boiling water over them. Stir and let sit until all the water is absorbed. Let the oats cool until warm, rather than hot, before adding them to the batter.

3. Cream the butter and sugars. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, sugar, and packed brown sugar until well combined and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

4. Add the eggs and vanilla. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Add the vanilla bean paste or extract, then mix in the soaked oats.

5. Combine the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

6. Finish the batter. Add the dry ingredients to the oat mixture and stir just until combined and no dry flour remains. Avoid overmixing.

7. Bake. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake for about 25 minutes. Check the center with a toothpick; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs, without wet batter. If needed, bake a little longer and check again.

8. Make the coconut topping. Melt the topping butter in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in the brown sugar and ¼ cup evaporated milk until combined. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla bean paste, vanilla extract, and shredded coconut. Add the remaining milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, only as needed to make the topping spreadable.

9. Spread the topping. Spoon the coconut mixture over the baked cake and gently spread it evenly to the edges.

10. Broil until golden. Switch the oven to broil. Place the cake under the broiler and check frequently until the topping is golden brown. Stay nearby—the topping can brown quickly. Remove the cake as soon as it reaches the color you like.

11. Cool and serve. Let the cake cool slightly so the topping can set, then slice and serve warm or at room temperature.

Watch Tiffany Make It

Watch Tiffany and her son make Million Dollar Oatmeal Cake on YouTube.