🍫🥥 German Chocolate Cake
Despite the name, this famous dessert is actually American, known for its rich chocolate cake layers and a sweet coconut-pecan frosting. It’s moist, nutty, and perfect for celebrations.
🧾 Ingredients
Cake
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs (separated)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 120 g (4 oz) baking chocolate, melted and cooled
- 1 cup hot water
Coconut-Pecan Frosting
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3 egg yolks
- ½ cup butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1⅓ cups shredded coconut
- 1 cup chopped pecans
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare the cake
- Preheat oven to 175°C / 350°F.
- Grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans.
2️⃣ Make the batter
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in egg yolks one at a time.
- Add vanilla and melted chocolate.
3️⃣ Combine dry ingredients
Mix flour, baking soda, and salt in another bowl.
4️⃣ Mix batter
Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture alternately with buttermilk. Stir until smooth.
5️⃣ Beat egg whites
Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form, then gently fold into the batter.
6️⃣ Bake
Divide batter between pans and bake 25–30 minutes.
Cool completely before frosting.
🥥 Make the Coconut-Pecan Frosting
- In a saucepan combine evaporated milk, brown sugar, egg yolks, and butter.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick (about 10–12 minutes).
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, coconut, and pecans.
- Let cool until spreadable.
🎂 Assemble the Cake
- Place one cake layer on a plate.
- Spread coconut-pecan frosting on top.
- Add the next layer and repeat.
- Frost the top (traditionally the sides are left unfrosted).
💡 Baker’s Tip:
Toast the pecans and coconut for 3–5 minutes in the oven before adding them to the frosting—this makes the flavor much richer. 🌰
If you’d like, I can also show you:
- 🍫 Super moist bakery-style German chocolate cake
- ⚡ Easy German chocolate cake using cake mix
- 🧁 German chocolate cupcakes with coconut frosting.
