Old fashioned Oatmeal Cake just like grandma used to make. This oatmeal cake recipe is a heavenly creation that combines the rich, caramelized essence of butterscotch with the wholesome goodness of oats. 

Looking for a delicious oatmeal cake recipe?

This simple cake recipe is super easy to make and requires a handful of ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen! Plus, it's a tried-and-true recipe that's been around for a long time, even before Grandma. 

Oatmeal in cake? Well, if you think about it, we add oatmeal to cookies, so why wouldn't we add it to cake? Adding oatmeal to cake provides a hearty texture. We add oatmeal to a ton of our favorite desserts, from strawberry oatmeal bars to applesauce oatmeal muffins. If you're looking for a moist oatmeal cake recipe, you'll love this sweet cake. 

What Is Oatmeal Cake?

This old-fashioned oatmeal cake is a fun twist on the classic lazy daisy oatmeal cake, a cake that quickly became popular in the 1900s. First, we begin by boiling the oats. Then, we add our wet ingredients, then the dry ingredients, then bake. We finish the cake off with our toppings, let it cool, and serve!

What you'll love about this recipe:


  • FAMILY FAVORITE – The flavors and textures in this cake make it an instant family favorite. 
  • OLD-FASHIONED RECIPE – This cake recipe has stood the test of time, starting in grandma's kitchen and making its way into your own. 

What You Need to Make Oatmeal Cake

  • Quick cooking rolled oats – adds texture and heartiness to the cake. 
  • Boiling water – for cooking the oats. 
  • Granulated sugar & Brown sugar – add sweetness. 
  • Butter – use unsalted butter. 
  • Eggs – bind the cake batter together. 
  • All-purpose flour – adds structure to the cake. 
  • Baking soda – acts as a leavening agent. 
  • Zested orange peel – provides a citrusy twist. 
  • Salt
  • Butterscotch chips – add a deep, caramel-like sweetness. 
  • Sliced almonds – provide crunch and texture. 

How to Make Oatmeal Cake

  • First, heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Next, take a large bowl and add the oats to it.
  • Then, pour the boiling water over the oats and let them sit for about 10 minutes.
  • While you wait, grease and flour a 13x9-inch baking pan.
  • After the oats have soaked, add the sugars and butter to the bowl with the oats and stir until the butter melts.
  • Now, mix in the eggs until everything is combined.
  • Add flour, baking soda, orange peel, and salt to the oat mixture and stir well.
  • Fold in 1 cup of the butterscotch chips.
  • Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan.
  • Sprinkle the sliced almonds on top.
  • Bake everything in the oven for about 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Once it's done, sprinkle the remaining butterscotch chips on top of the cake, pressing them gently into the surface.
  • Finally, let this delicious cake cool completely in the pan before cutting and serving.

Expert Recipe Tips


  • For a moist cake, make sure you don't bake the cake for too long. If you don't trust your oven, set the timer 5 minutes beforehand and keep checking until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. 
  • Play around with toppings ingredients. Traditional oatmeal cakes include a coconut pecan topping, which you're welcome to add if you like. You can also omit the butterscotch chips and add white chocolate or regular chocolate chips if you like. Or omit them completely. If you're not a fan of orange, leave the peel out too.

How to Store Leftovers & Reheat

Store leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature on the counter for up to 5 days. Freeze the baked cake for 2-3 months. When you're ready to eat it, let it thaw in the fridge overnight.

To reheat, place a piece of cake on a plate and microwave for at least 10 seconds or until warm. 

What to Serve with a Piece of Warm Cake

A cup of coffee or a scoop of ice cream would pair perfectly with this kind of cake. 

This oatmeal cake is tasty, comforting, and just downright delightful. Give it a try, share it with your friends and family, and savor every last crumb! If you try this recipe, please rate the recipe card and leave a comment down below to help out the next reader! 

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Butterscotch Chip Oatmeal Cake

From BHG Special Interest Publications Fall Baking

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
  • 1 ¾ boiling water
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup butter,cut up and softened
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 ¾ cups flour
  • 1 teas baking soda
  • 1 teas zested orange peel
  • ½ teas salt
  • 1 12oz package butterscotch chips
  • ¾ cups sliced almonds

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place oats in a large bowl. Pour boiling water over oats and let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, grease and flour a 13x9" baking pan.

Add sugars and butter to the oat mixture and stir until the butter is melted. Stir in eggs until combined. Stir in flour, baking soda, orange peel, and salt. Fold in 1 cup of the butterscotch chips.

Pour batter into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle with sliced almonds. Bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Sprinkle the remaining butterscotch chips, pressing gently. Cool completely in pan before serving.

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Recipe FAQs

Yes, you can make this oatmeal cake gluten-free by using a gluten-free flour blend instead of all-purpose flour.

Nope. You can use a hand mixer or just a spoon and bowl.

8 Comments

  1. Oh, your pets are so cute! Keep talking about them. For us, animal lovers, there's never too much of pet talk.

  2. Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says:

    Love the simplicity to this cake! It looks lovely.

  3. RavieNomNoms says:

    This cake looks delectable!! So yummy and totally perfect for Fall. Your fur babies are so adorable!

  4. Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says:

    Aw it's okay I talk about my cat a lot too, although you have more pets than I do so therefore have more to talk about!

  5. amanda @ fake ginger says:

    Aww, I wanna adopt a cat now. I wonder if my husband would notice...

    Mmm butterscotch! I ate all the butterscotch dumdums out of the Halloween candy basket last night so I think I need to make this.

  6. Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says:

    Your furball friends are so cute.

  7. Russell at Chasing Delicious says:

    I'm not sure what I like more, all the cat pictures or the cake. Hmmm.

  8. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says:

    OMG, love these! Damn, they look so good!

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