Well friends, we're a week away from St. Patty's Day and just in case you are hosting a party or simply celebrating your Irish (or non-Irish) heritage, this cake is tops for any occasion. Let's face it, everyone's Irish on St. Patty's day, right? Even if only for the beer.
Since I have already brought you Irish stout cupcakes and the best ever Irish soda bread, this year I knew I had to change it up a bit. After a bit of brainstorming, I realized that I just had to make something with Irish oatmeal. It's one of my favorite ways to eat oats. And of course, it wouldn't be a celebration without some cake. Am I right or am I right?
This cake is extremely moist and sweet. As Shaun (aka Mr. No Sweets) claimed, it's comparable to eating a soft oatmeal cookie with sweet frosting. And I couldn't find a thing wrong with that claim. The cake has a great textrue while tasting like oatmeal with cinnamon. But in a cake form. Oh and the Bailey's frosting? I mean, you cannot go wrong with this one. Pour yourself a whiskey and cut a giant slice of cake because friends, it's time to celebrate the Irish the best way I know how...with food!
Irish Oatmeal Cake + Irish Cream Frosting
*Adapted from McCann's Irish Oatmeal
For the cake:
1 C quick cooking Irish oatmeal (I used McCann's)
1 1/2 C boiling water
1 C brown sugar (I made my own)
1 C granulated sugar
1/2 C butter, softened
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 C all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
For the frosting:
4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
4 oz cream cheese, softened
2 C confectioners' sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp Bailey's Irish coffee creamer (or 1 tsp Bailey's Irish Cream liquer)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the boiling water and oatmeal; set aside for 10 minutes. Next, add the butter and mix together until combined. Add brown sugar, sugar, vanilla extract and eggs. Mix well. Pour in the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Mix gently until completely combined. Pour into a greased 9x9" baking dish. Bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
While it's cooling, make the frosting. Mix the butter and cream cheese together until fluffy. Add the sugar, 1 cup at a time and mix on medium-high until combined. Add vanilla and Bailey's, until your desired flavor is reached. I used the coffee creamer because I had it on hand, but the liquer would have been divine as well (Note: Use significantly less liquer than creamer since it's more concentrated flavor).
Spread over the cooled cake and serve!
So there you have it. A quick and simple sweet cake that's perfect for any St. Patty's Day celebration. Or a Tuesday night. Or any day that's not St. Patty's Day. So what do you think? Do you celebrate St. Patty's Day?