Cake Fridays

Oatmeal in a cake?  I've made oatmeal muffins and oatmeal cookies but not an oatmeal cake.  But why not?!  The quick oats soaked in hot water create a super moist product.  Kind of a cross between a cake and a bar.

The first time I tried this cake, I wasn't sold on the texture simply because I like my cakes to have some crumb.  This dessert is very wet compared to the drier cakes I crave.  But after my second piece, I was convinced.  Its chewy, dense texture is surprisingly indulgent, which is what a treat should be.  So treat yourself extra good this Friday and make this chocolate oatmeal cake.  And don't forget the frosting.  It literally puts the icing on the cake, making it the world's best!

Unfrosted and it still looks divine

World's Best Chocolate Oatmeal Cake
Source: Pinch of Yum

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup white sugar
• ½ cup butter, melted
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten with fork
• 1¾ cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1½ tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup quick cooking oats*
• 1¾ cups boiling water
• 1 12 oz bag chocolate chips, divided
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 6 tablespoons milk
• 1½ cups sugar
• ½-3/4 cup chocolate chips
• ½-3/4 cup mini marshmallows*

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350. With an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugars. Add the eggs and mix well.
2. Add flour, soda, salt and cocoa and mix until just incorporated. The batter will be very thick.
3. Add water to oatmeal and let stand for a few minutes. Once oats are soft, add oats/water mixture to the batter and mix well. Stir in half of the bag of chocolate chips (6 ounces).
4. Pour into a greased or buttered rectangular 9×13 cake pan. Sprinkle the top of the cake with the rest of the bag of chocolate chips (6 ounces).
5. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes or until the surface springs back lightly when touched and your house smells amazing. Do not over bake. Let cool completely.
6. For the frosting, melt the butter, sugar, and milk in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a boil and boil for 30 seconds.
7. Reduce heat to low and add chocolate chips and marshmallows. Stir or whisk until frosting is smooth. Pour immediately over the cooled cake. The frosting crystallizes almost immediately as it cools so it’s important to get it on the cake while it’s still piping hot. Allow the frosted cake to cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

*You can substitute rolled oats for the quick cooking oats, but they should be soaked in the boiling water for at least 10 minutes. Also, if you use rolled oats, the texture of the cake will be different as the oats will be more noticeable. *Regular size marshmallows work, too. They just take longer to melt. 

Preparing the frosting

Yes, that is a banana in the background, and yes I do plan on eating this oatmeal cake for breakfast :)