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German Chocolate Cake

A decadent German Chocolate Cake Recipe, made with an extra moist and fudgy chocolate cake, a rich caramel/coconut frosting, and iced with a sweet and simple chocolate frosting. Be sure to check out the how-to VIDEO below the recipe!

Prep Time
45 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
1 hr 30 mins
Servings: 15 slices
Calories: 784 kcal
Course: Dessert , Cake
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Chocolate Cake
  • 1 ¾ 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 1 1 cup sugar
  • ¾ ¾ cup natural cocoa powder
  • 1 ½ 1 ½ teaspoons instant coffee
  • 1 ½ 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • ¾ ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ ½ cup neutral cooking oil I use avocado oil, but canola or vegetable oil would also work
  • ½ ½ cup unsalted butter melted
  • 2 2 large eggs room temperature preferred
  • 1 1 large egg yolk room temperature preferred
  • 1 ½ 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 1 cup buttermilk¹
  • ½ ½ cup very hot or boiling water
Coconut Caramel Filling
  • 4 4 large egg yolks
  • 1 1 cup evaporated milk
  • 8 8 Tablespoons unsalted butter cut into 8 pieces
  • ½ ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ ½ cup light brown sugar firmly packed
  • ¼ ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1 cups Chopped Pecans preferably toasted
  • 2 2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
Chocolate Frosting²
  • 1 1 cup salted butter softened
  • 3 ½ 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • ½ ½ cup natural cocoa powder
  • 1 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 2 Tablespoons evaporated milk³

Instructions

Chocolate Cake
    Cup of Yum
  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.
Coconut Caramel Filling
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Allow to cool completely before spreading over cake.
Chocolate Frosting
  1. 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.
Assembly:
  1. 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!
  2. 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.
  3. Top with second cake round. Frost top and sides of entire cake with remaining chocolate frosting.
  4. Top off cake with remaining half of coconut/caramel frosting.
  5. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

Notes

  • ¹If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, please see my easy buttermilk substitute.
  • ²This makes enough to lightly but entirely cover the cake without much left over for decorations. Since this is such a rich cake, this amount of frosting will be sufficient for most people. However, if you intend to decorate, please increase the frosting recipe by 50%.³I recommend evaporated milk because you will likely have some over from your coconut filling if you purchased a 12 oz can. However, regular milk will work just as well!
  • German Chocolate Cake will keep at room temperature (granted you are not in a particularly hot/humid climate) in an airtight container for up to three days. It may also be refrigerated (in an airtight container) for up to a week.
  • German Chocolate Cake may be frozen, wrap well and freeze for up to several months.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1slice Calories 784kcal (39%) Carbohydrates 91g (30%) Protein 6g (12%) Fat 44g (68%) Saturated Fat 17g (85%) Polyunsaturated Fat 3g Monounsaturated Fat 12g Cholesterol 155mg (52%) Sodium 445mg (19%) Potassium 118mg (3%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 76g (152%) Vitamin A 23IU (0%) Vitamin C 2mg (2%) Calcium 19mg (2%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 15slices

Amount Per Serving

Calories 784

% Daily Value*

Serving 1slice
Calories 784kcal 39%
Carbohydrates 91g 30%
Protein 6g 12%
Fat 44g 68%
Saturated Fat 17g 85%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g 18%
Monounsaturated Fat 12g 60%
Cholesterol 155mg 52%
Sodium 445mg 19%
Potassium 118mg 3%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 76g 152%
Vitamin A 23IU 0%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Calcium 19mg 2%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.