This is a coconut-lover’s dream! Our rich scratch chocolate cake is layered not once, but three times, with our delicious homemade German Chocolate cake frosting. The signature coconut-pecan recipe is both the filling and frosting for this classic cake. Whether you’re brand-new to baking or you’ve been around the kitchen once or twice, trust Betty’s easy fool-proof recipe and helpful tips to create a cake that may look like it came from a bakery, but you know better…and we’ll be high-fiving you with our red oven mitt for your success!
The irresistible, indulgent flavors of this cake have made it a holiday tradition with many families, particularly for Christmas or Easter. But it’s not hard to make—why enjoy it only for a holiday meal? Bring it out as the end to any special dinner, whether it’s celebrating a new job or an anniversary, to commemorate the event with style!
See what each ingredient brings to the table to create the most scrumptious German Chocolate Cake:
Sweet Baking Chocolate: Found in the baking aisle (also known as German chocolate), it brings the signature chocolatey flavor this cake is known for.
All-Purpose Flour: Added to give structure to the cake.
Baking Soda: Provides some of the lift this silky cake needs for a cake with a fine crumb texture.
Sugar: Adds sweetness but also tenderness to this amazing scratch chocolate cake and sweetness to the filling and frosting.
Butter: Add rich buttery flavor and tenderness to the cake and filling/frosting.
Eggs: Adds richness and provides lift for the batter, as the egg whites are beaten until stiff, which contributes to the cake's structure. And egg yolks help thicken the cooked filling and frosting.
Vanilla: Brings out the chocolate flavor and acts as a “friend of a friend”, to bring together the flavor of the cake with the rich frosting.
Buttermilk: Enhances the chocolate flavor and deep brown color of the cake.
Evaporated Milk: Adds a background of dairy notes to the filling/frosting with just the right amount of liquid.
Flaked Coconut: Less sweet than shredded coconut, flaked coconut adds the rich tropical nutty flavor without making the cake overly sweet.
Pecans: Add crunch and flavor that goes so well with the coconut and chocolate flavors!
Our luscious German cake recipe described in detail the easy steps, so your scratch cake will be moist and delicious…right down to the very last crumb on your plate! Here are the basic steps—but you’ll want to follow the well laid-out recipe to ensure you’ll bake up the best cake possible:
Making the Cake: Melted sweet chocolate is mixed with the other cake ingredients with an electric mixer, alternating adding the flour mixture with buttermilk. Egg whites are beaten until stiff and folded into the cake batter, for fluffy, light cake texture. The cake is baked in 3 smaller pans (for a 3-layer cake). Or two larger ones.
Making German Chocolate Frosting: Egg yolks, sugar, butter, evaporated milk, and vanilla are cooked in a saucepan until thick and bubbly. Chopped pecans and flaked coconut are stirred in and the delightful mixture is cooled until it’s spreadable.
Filling and Frosting the Layers: The coconut-pecan mixture is spread just on top of each layer of cake, for the signature look.
Leftover German Chocolate Cake stores beautifully in either the refrigerator or freezer, to enjoy later.
Refrigerator Storage: Wrap any remaining cake with plastic wrap in one piece, if possible, to help it retain its moisture. Try to wrap the sides tightly, since they do not have any frosting to help hold in the moisture of the cake. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezer Storage: Place any remaining cake on the serving plate in the freezer unwrapped. Freeze for 1 hour or until the top is firm; remove from plate. Wrap cake tightly with plastic wrap and a layer of foil. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw cake, unwrap foil and loosen plastic wrap from the bottom of the cake. Place on a serving plate (with the top and side still wrapped in plastic). Let it thaw in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.
If you love a great homemade chocolate cake like German Chocolate Cake, then try some of our other chocolatey favorites! Chocolate Turtle Cake pairs chocolate cake with a caramel topping, pecans, and chocolate chips, for a decadent treat. Or Chocolate Rum Cake adds real rum to both the chocolate cake and dreamy, creamy whipped cream topping, with coconut and pecans. Like the denseness and moistness of a great flourless cake? Then Flourless Chocolate Cake is the ticket!
For even more scrumptious cake recipes, from those that start with a Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ cake mix or when you love to get out your canisters of flour and sugar and whip one up from scratch, we have cake recipes for every occasion. Whether you have 15 minutes to get it in the oven or want to immerse yourself in baking for a few hours, we have the perfect recipes you’ll love to serve your family and friends.
| Food Component / Nutrient | Amount | % , Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | 40g | 62% |
| Saturated Fat | 21g | 107% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | % Value Not Available |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 12g | % Value Not Available |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3&½g | % Value Not Available |
| Omega-3 | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Cholesterol | 190mg | 63% |
| Sodium | 550mg | 23% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 83g | 28% |
| Dietary Fiber | 2g | 10% |
| Soluble Fiber | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Insoluble Fiber | 2g | % Value Not Available |
| Sugars | 62g | % Value Not Available |
| Protein | 9g | % Value Not Available |
| Vitamin D | Value Not Available | 10% |
| Calcium | Value Not Available | 10% |
| Iron | Value Not Available | 10% |
| Potassium | 250mg | 7% |
| Vitamin A | Value Not Available | 20% |
| Vitamin C | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Vitamin E | Value Not Available | 6% |
| Thiamin | Value Not Available | 20% |
| Riboflavin | Value Not Available | 20% |
| Niacin | Value Not Available | 8% |
| Vitamin B6 | Value Not Available | 6% |
| Folic Acid | Value Not Available | 15% |
| Vitamin B12 | Value Not Available | 6% |
| Pantothenic Acid | Value Not Available | 8% |
| Phosphorus | Value Not Available | 20% |
| Magnesium | Value Not Available | 10% |
| Zinc | Value Not Available | 10% |
| Manganese | Value Not Available | 45% |
| Selenium | Value Not Available | 25% |
| Copper | Value Not Available | 15% |
| Beta-Carotene | Value Not Available | % Value Not Available |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | ||
