Too "Die-4" Cake

Over 50 years ago, while my mother was on her honeymoon, a restaurant owner gave her a cake recipe. This cake recipe has become our family favorite; "Mom, please make!" cake. It is delicious, moist, with hints of spice and a topping that is sweet and sinful. The problem is Mom will not give anyone the recipe. I told her I wasn't going to wait until she died for me to get it from her recipe box.  After 25 years she has finally given in! 

(i've modified the recipe to use whole wheat flour and Splenda Baking Sugar)

1. Soak 1 cup of Quaker Oatmeal oats in 1 1-2 cups boiling water. Set a side.

2. Cream together 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, and 1/2 cup Splenda Baking Sugar. (use one cup regular sugar if you prefer).

3. Add oatmeal (step 1) with 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour, 1/2 tsp. salt, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp. baking soda. Mix together with cream ingredients (step 2).

4. Pour batter into a greased 8x8 pan. (this recipe should be doubled because you'll want seconds!) Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Use the toothpick method to check for doneness about 30 minutes.

5. While batter is baking make the frosting. In a sauce pan melt together 4 tablespoons melted butter, 1/2 cup evaporated milk, and 1 cup brown sugar until sugar is dissolved. Turn off heat and add 1 cup nuts (pecan or walnut or none if you prefer), 1 cup coconut and 1 tsp. vanilla. 

6. Remove cake from oven when done, spread frosting onto warm cake, and place back into oven for 5 minutes until coconuts browns slightly. Remove from oven and cool.

I told you this cake was "2-die-4"!

ps. you could add 1 cup choc. chips to the batter or 1/2 cup choc. chips in with the coconut and nuts.