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A homemade slice of German chocolate cake with rich, moist chocolate layers, gooey coconut pecan filling, and thick, glossy chocolate frosting on top, served on a white plate.

German chocolate cake

4 from 2 votes
This decadent German chocolate cake features impossibly moist chocolate layers paired with a rich, nutty coconut-pecan frosting. A timeless classic perfected over generations, it’s the ultimate celebration cake that's surprisingly easy to make from scratch.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Cooling + Frosting Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 12
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 620
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 oz Baker’s German’s sweet chocolate - Chopped
  • ½ cup Boiling water
  • 1 cup Unsalted butter - Softened
  • 2 cups Granulated sugar
  • 4 Large eggs - Separated
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • 2 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon Baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • 1 cup Buttermilk - At room temperature
For the Coconut Pecan Frosting:
  • 1 cup Evaporated milk
  • 1 cup Granulated sugar
  • 3 Egg yolks
  • ½ cup Butter
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • 1½ cups Sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 cup Pecans - Toasted and chopped

Equipment

  • 9-inch round cake pans (Greased and floured)
  • Electric mixer (Stand or hand mixer)
  • Large mixing bowls
  • Medium saucepan (For frosting)
  • Measuring cups & spoons
  • Rubber spatula
  • Wooden spoon (For frosting)
  • Wire cooling racks
  • Cake stand or plate (For assembling)

Method
 

  1. Gather ingredients, preheat oven, and prep cake pans
  2. Melt German’s chocolate with boiling water
  3. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy
  4. Add yolks, melted chocolate, and vanilla
  5. Mix flour, baking soda, and salt
  6. Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk
  7. Beat egg whites and fold into batter
  8. Divide batter and bake cake layers
  9. Cool cakes on wire racks
  10. Cook frosting base until thickened
  11. Stir in vanilla, coconut, and pecans
  12. Assemble cake with frosting between layers
  13. Garnish top and serve

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 620kcalCarbohydrates: 72gProtein: 6gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 110mgSodium: 310mgPotassium: 240mgFiber: 3gSugar: 52gVitamin A: 720IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 100mgIron: 2.5mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes

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