This cake is one of my favorites. It is the ugly step-sister of cakes because it isn't pretty to look at but when you take a bite a little love affair will start. It is very moist and a little dense which makes it a perfect dessert to have during the cold fall and winter months. We had company over last night so I wanted to make a cake that I knew would impress. It starts with a baked oatmeal cake and a caramel glaze. After the cake is baked you pour the glaze on top and broil it until the coconut browns ever so slightly. When the cake cools the topping is a little chewy. So good. Make this next time you want to impress guests. This recipe is a keeper.
This is what the cake looks like as you put it in the oven.

When there is 5 minutes of baking time left start on the caramel glaze. Pour the glaze on the hot cake.

Cake with caramel coconut topping ready to go into an oven set to broil.




Watch the cake while it is under the broiler. Do you see those yummy caramel bubbles? Let cake broil until the coconut is slightly browned and caramel is bubbly. Fantastic!

Oatmeal Cake
*Amy W.

1 1/2 c water
1 c. oatmeal
1 cube butter, softened
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 t. vanilla
1/4 t. nutmeg
1/4 t. cinnamon

Directions:
1. Set oven to 350 degrees
2. Boil water and add oatmeal. Stir and let sit 15 min.
3. Mix together all other ingredients and add oatmeal. Pour into greased 9x13 pan. Bake 30 minutes (don't overbake). Turn oven to broil while preparing caramel glaze for cake.

Carmel Glaze
1 cube butter, softened
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. evaporated milk
1 c. coconut

1. Cook top three ingredients until boiling.
2. Add coconut and continue boiling 1 minute.
3. Pour over warm cake.
4. Place cake in oven (watching closely) until coconut is lightly browned.

Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipping cream. Printable recipe.

My neighbor knows I like to cook. When I went to visit her the other day she had this recipe for me. She said that someone brought this cake to her and they could not stop eating it. I thanked her profusely for a tried and true recipe. I decided to make it Sunday night. I can not tell you how delicious this cake is. It is kind of dense - with a bread pudding consistency. I doubled the recipe for the caramel glaze. Serve it warm with real whipping cream.


Caramel-Glazed Apple Cake
*Easy Cooking the Costco Way

Cake
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
3 eggs
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
5 Granny Smith, Golden Delicious or Jona Gold apples Peeled,
cored and cut in 1/2 inch pieces
1 1/4 cups chopped pecans
2 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Caramel Glaze
4 Tbs. butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
pinch of salt
1/2 cup heavy cream

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 325. Butter and flour a 9x13 inch pan.

2. To prepare the cake, beat both sugars and oil in a mixing bowl until very well blended. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; gradually add to egg mixture, mixing just until blended. Stir in apples, pecans and vanilla; pour into pan.

3. Bake for 50 to 75 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan while preparing the glaze.

4. To prepare the glaze, melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in both sugars and salt; cook over medium-low heat for 2 minutes. Add cream and boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

5. Poke holes in the cake with a skewer or toothpick. Pour on the glaze. Serve warn or at room temperature. Top with whipped cream or ice cream if desired. Makes 12 servings. Printable recipe.

I love birthdays. We try to make birthdays in our family really special. For each of my kids birthdays I let them pick out a cake they want me to (attempt) make. Each of my three kids have picked out some really fun cakes that fit their personalities. A few years ago I came across this website and thanked my lucky stars for Karen Tack. She is the genius that wrote Hello, Cupcake and What's New, Cupcake? Take a look at some of the cakes I've made. Keep in mind I'm a cake-making novice.

Morgan's purse cake


Nate's monkey cake

Morgan's pizza cake

Andrew's horsey cake

Nate's space ship cake

Nate's sail boat cake


Andrew's snake cake

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I'm a little excited mainly due to the fact that I get to legally cook with pumpkin. I love this pumpkin bar recipe. It isn't overly sweet but it has great mixture of spices. I found the little pumpkin on top in the cake decorating aisle of my grocery store. Or, sprinkle the top with cinnamon or cupcake sprinkles. It makes a ton so invite your friends over for a "calm before the holiday storm" party. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Bars

4 eggs
1-2/3 cup sugar
1 cup oil
2 cups pumpkin
Mix together until fluffy, then add:
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soda
1 tsp nutmeg
Mix well
Pour in greased jelly roll pan and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

When cool frost bars with butter cream frosting.
Frosting:
3 oz cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
Mix together well and spread on bars when cooled. Printable recipe

My family has a favorite cake. We love this cake more than any other cake in the world. I got this recipe from my friend Suzy while we lived in Dallas. We loved it so much we can finish a pan off in one weekend. We have made it for friends and neighbors and taken it to church functions etc. I get requests for this recipe constantly. I know there are a lot of recipes out there for Texas Sheet Cake but take it from a Texas family: This is the best Texas Sheet Cake you will ever sink your teeth in.

Texas Sheet Cake
By Suzy S.

2 cubes butter
1 cup water
4 Tbsp. cocoa
Mix together and boil

In a separate bowl mix:
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tsp soda
1 tsp vanilla
Stir hot mixture into bowl two.
Pour in jellyroll pan and sprinkle generously with cinnamon. Cook 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

Frosting:

1 cube butter
4 Tbsp cocoa
6 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
Combine on stove until butter is melted. Mix with 1/2 bag powdered sugar until smooth. Pour on warm cake. Sprinkle with nuts if desired. Printable recipe