Ah, German Chocolate Cake — a decadent, layered chocolate cake with a rich coconut-pecan frosting 🍫🥥. Despite the name, it’s actually an American creation named after Sam German, who made the chocolate! Here’s a classic recipe:
🍫 German Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake (2–3 layers, 9-inch)
- 4 oz (115 g) German sweet chocolate, chopped (or substitute semisweet)
- 1/2 cup (115 g) butter
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs, separated
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
Coconut-Pecan Frosting
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 egg yolks, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/3 cups sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F / 175°C. Grease and flour 2–3 9-inch cake pans.
- Melt chocolate & butter: In a saucepan, melt chocolate and butter with water over low heat. Cool slightly.
- Mix cake batter:
- Beat egg yolks with sugar until thick and pale.
- Stir in melted chocolate mixture and vanilla.
- Combine flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually add to chocolate mixture.
- Beat egg whites: Whip egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold gently into the batter.
- Bake: Divide batter into prepared pans. Bake 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.
- Make frosting:
- In a saucepan, combine evaporated milk, sugar, egg yolks, and butter.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened (about 10 minutes).
- Remove from heat; stir in vanilla, coconut, and pecans. Let cool slightly.
- Assemble cake:
- Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a portion of frosting over it.
- Repeat with remaining layers and frosting on top.
- Serve: Can be slightly warm or room temperature.
Tips
- Coconut-Pecan Frosting: Stir constantly while cooking to avoid curdling the eggs.
- Make ahead: Cake layers can be baked a day ahead; frosting can be prepared in advance too.
- Variation: Frost the sides lightly or leave layers exposed for a rustic look.
- Chocolate alternative: Use high-quality semisweet chocolate if German sweet chocolate isn’t available.
I can also give a simpler, one-bowl “quick” German chocolate cake version that uses boxed chocolate cake mix but still keeps the classic coconut-pecan frosting.
Do you want that quick version?
