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German Chocolate Cake Recipe
Rahat

German Chocolate Cake

German Chocolate Cake is a decadent masterpiece that combines rich, velvety chocolate with a luscious coconut-pecan frosting. With just 45 minutes of prep and 45 minutes of baking, this indulgent dessert is surprisingly simple to make yet feels like a luxurious treat.
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 minute
Servings: 15 slices
Calories: 784

Ingredients
  

Chocolate Cake
  • 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (215 g)
  • 1 cup light brown sugar firmly packed (200 g)
  • 1 cup sugar (200 g)
  • 3/4 cup natural cocoa powder (75 g)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons instant coffee
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup neutral cooking oil I use avocado oil, but canola or vegetable oil would also work (120 ml)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted (113 g)
  • 2 large eggs room temperature preferred
  • 1 large egg yolk room temperature preferred
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup buttermilk (236 ml)
  • 1/2 cup very hot or boiling water (120 ml)
Coconut Caramel Filling
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 1 cup evaporated milk (236 ml)
  • 8 Tablespoons unsalted butter cut into 8 pieces
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100 g)
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar firmly packed (100 g)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cups chopped pecans preferably toasted (125 g)
  • 2 cups sweetened shredded coconut (160 g)
Chocolate Frosting
  • 1 cup salted butter softened (226 g)
  • 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar (440 g)
  • 1/2 cup natural cocoa powder (50 g)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 Tablespoons evaporated milk (30 ml)

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and prepare two 9" round cake pans by lightly greasing and flouring I also recommend lining the bottom of each pan with a round of parchment paper. Set aside.
  2. Combine flour, sugars, cocoa powder, instant coffee, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl (or in the bowl of a stand mixer) and use an electric mixer to stir until well-combined.
  3. Add oil and melted butter and stir well (mixture will be very thick), then stir in eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla extract.
  4. Gradually add buttermilk, stirring until completely combined.
  5. Slowly add hot water (be careful not to splash yourself!), stirring until ingredients are well-combined. Pause occasionally to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula to ensure all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
  6. Evenly divide batter into prepared pans. Transfer to oven and bake on 350F (175C) for 25-30 minutes and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Allow cakes to cool for 15 minutes before inverting onto cooling rack to cool completely before filling and frosting.
  7. Once your cake is in the oven, begin preparing your coconut/caramel German Chocolate Cake Filling. In a medium-sized saucepan, combine egg yolks and evaporated milk and whisk until eggs are lightly beaten.
  8. Add butter, sugars, and salt and place saucepan over medium/low heat (keep heat low so you do not cook your eggs!). Stir constantly until mixture is a light golden brown and thickened (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract, chopped pecans, and shredded coconut.
  9. Allow to cool completely before spreading over cake.
  10. In the bowl of a stand mixer OR in a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar and cocoa powder until completely combined. Stir in vanilla extract and milk.
  11. Once your cake layers have cooled and your coconut/caramel filling is no longer warm to the touch, you can assemble your German Chocolate Cake!
  12. Place one cake round on serving tray or cake platter. Use your chocolate frosting to spread or pipe a border around the edge of the cake. Fill the border with half of your coconut/caramel filling.
  13. Top with second cake round. Frost top and sides of entire cake with remaining chocolate frosting.
  14. Top off cake with remaining half of coconut/caramel frosting.
  15. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 784kcalCarbohydrates: 91gProtein: 6gFat: 44gSaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 155mgSodium: 445mgPotassium: 118mgFiber: 2gSugar: 76gVitamin A: 23IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 4mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!