Here’s a classic German Chocolate Cake recipe—rich, moist, and topped with that iconic coconut-pecan frosting! 🍫🥥
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 4 oz (115 g) German sweet chocolate (or semi-sweet chocolate), chopped
- 1/2 cup (115 g) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, separated
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/3 cups (160 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) buttermilk
For the classic coconut-pecan frosting:
- 1 cup (200 g) brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup (115 g) unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) milk
- 3 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded coconut
- 1 cup (120 g) chopped pecans
Instructions
1. Make the cake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Melt chocolate and butter together in a small saucepan over low heat. Let cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, beat egg yolks with sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy.
- Stir in melted chocolate mixture.
- Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually add to chocolate mixture.
- Stir in buttermilk until smooth.
2. Whip egg whites:
- Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
- Gently fold into cake batter, keeping as much air as possible.
3. Bake:
- Divide batter between the prepared pans.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool completely on a wire rack.
4. Make the frosting:
- In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter, and milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens (about 5–7 minutes).
- Slowly whisk in egg yolks. Cook 2–3 minutes more.
- Remove from heat; stir in vanilla, coconut, and pecans. Let cool slightly.
5. Assemble the cake:
- Place one cake layer on a serving plate, spread half the frosting on top.
- Add second cake layer and frost the top with remaining frosting.
💡 Tips:
- Use sweetened shredded coconut for the classic texture and flavor.
- Let the cake rest for a few hours for the flavors to meld—it tastes even better the next day.
- Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra treat.
If you like, I can also give a quick one-bowl German Chocolate Cake recipe that’s faster and uses a simple box cake mix but still has homemade coconut-pecan frosting.
Do you want me to share that version too?
