German Chocolate Cake with Coconut-Pecan Frosting

May 3, 2023

INGREDIENTS

Chocolate Cake

  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup oil (vegetable or canola oil)
  • 2 teaspoons McNess Champion Madagascar Vanilla Compound
  • 1 cup boiling water

Coconut Frosting

  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
  • 5 large egg yolks
  • 1 1/2 cups evaporated milk
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla
  • 2 cup chopped pecans
  • 2 cup shredded sweetened coconut

INSTRUCTIONS

For the Cake

  1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease two 8 or 9-inch round baking pans.
  2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. In a separate bowl combine the eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla and mix well. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix to combine. Stir in boiling water (batter will be very thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.
  3. Bake for 25 – 35 minutes (depending on your cake pan size. The 9” pan takes less time to bake) or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean or with few crumbs. Cool 10 minutes in the pan and then invert onto wire racks to cool completely.

German Chocolate Frosting

  1. In a medium saucepan add brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, egg yolks, and evaporated milk. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a low boil over medium heat. Stir constantly for several minutes until the mixture begins to thicken. 
  2. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, nuts and coconut. Allow to cool completely before layering it on the cake.

Cake Assembly

  1. Place one of the cake rounds on your serving stand or plate. 
  2. Smooth a layer of coconut frosting over the cake layer, and then spoon half of the coconut frosting on top, spreading it into a smooth layer.
  3. Stack the second cake round on top and repeat until top and sides are covered completely.
  4. Some prefer not to have the coconut frosting on the sides, frost according to your personal preferences.