Dr. Pepper Oatmeal Cake with Pecan Coconut Icing

Notes: root beer can be substituted for the Dr. Pepper. This cake would also be great with a cream cheese frosting.

Serves 16.
From The Homesick Texan. 

Cake:
1 1/4 cups Dr Pepper (not diet)
1 cup rolled oats (not instant)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of ground allspice
Pinch of ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Icing:
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup buttermilk or half and half
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup roughly chopped pecans

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. and grease a 9x9 cake pan. 

Pour the Dr Pepper over the oats and let it sit for 10 minutes or until the oats are hydrated.

Cream together the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until well blended. Add the beaten eggs and vanilla and stir until fluffy. Sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and kosher salt. Add flour mixture and Dr Pepper and oatmeal to the creamed butter and eggs, and stir until a thick batter is formed.

Pour the cake batter into the pan, and bake uncovered for 35-45 minutes, or until an inserted knife comes out clean.

Ten minutes before the cake is done, make the icing. On low heat, melt the butter, and then stir in the brown sugar, buttermilk, cinnamon, salt, coconut and chopped pecans.

When the cake is done, turn on the broiler. While still warm, spread on top of the cake the icing, and place the iced cake under the broiler for 15-30 seconds are until lightly browned.