A traditional German Chocolate Cake Recipe made with German sweet chocolate and topped with a caramel-y coconut pecan frosting. One of our family favorites!
Traditional German Chocolate Cake
This past weekend was Mr. Gracious’ birthday, so I have another magnificent cake recipe for you! Traditional German Chocolate Cake is Mr. Gracious’ absolute favorite, so of course, I had to make some for him! And thankfully, his Granny has an absolutely fantastic Traditional German Chocolate Cake recipe that was passed down to us.
My favorite part about this Traditional German Chocolate Cake is the frosting. It tastes kind of like caramel with coconut and pecans mixed in, and it’s ooooh sooo goood. In fact, the method used to make the frosting is the same way you make homemade caramel.
A couple notes before we get to the recipe:
- The recipe calls for egg whites, beaten stiff. Think meringue. It’s not difficult to do. Just continue beating the egg whites at medium to high speed until they’re the consistency of whipped cream.
- The recipe calls for cake flour, which I never have on hand. Here’s a cake flour substitute, if you need one like I always do.
Traditional German Chocolate Cake Recipe
Traditional German Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 2 1/2 cups cake flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 egg yolks unbeaten
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 egg whites beaten stiff
- 4 ounces German baking chocolate (1 bar)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Coconut Pecan Frosting
- 2 cups evaporated milk
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 6 egg yolks
- 1 cup butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3 cups shredded sweet coconut
- 2 cups chopped pecans
Instructions
- German Chocolate Cake
- Sift or mix flour, salt, and baking soda together in a bowl. Set aside.
- Melt chocolate in a small bowl in the microwave for 20 seconds at a time. It will take a few times to get it all the way melted, but it's really important not to burn the chocolate. So keep it in short increments, stirring each time. When chocolate is fully melted, set aside to cool a bit.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Mix in cooled chocolate and vanilla.
- Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk (So add about a third of the flour mixture, followed by 1/3 cup of milk, and continue until both are entire mixed in). Beat after each addition until smooth.
- Fold in stiff egg whites.
- Bake at 350° in a lined and greased cake pan for 30-40 minutes, until cooked through. This recipe will make about three 8-inch layers or two 9-in layers.
Directions for Coconut Pecan Frosting:
- Mix all ingredients, except coconut and pecans, together in a medium to large saucepan.
- Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened, about 12 minutes. Frosting will thicken a tiny bit more after cooling. Remove from heat when frosting has thickened.
- Add coconut and pecans. Stir to incorporate. Allow frosting and cake to fully cool before frosting the completely cooled cake.
Nutrition
Did you like this Traditional German Chocolate Cake recipe? Find more on Cakes & Cupcakes and Desserts boards on Pinterest!
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19
Adrian says
October 6, 2014 at 10:20 amLove this recipe! German Chocolate Cake is also MY husband’s favorite kind of cake and his birthday is coming up in November! Pinned! I am definitely using this recipe to make his Bday Cake!
Michelle says
October 6, 2014 at 11:32 amSeriously, this cake was awesome. It’s my husband’s great grandma’s recipe, and my husband is still talking about how amazing it was 4 days later! lol I hope you enjoy it! Let me know if you have questions! And thanks for stopping by!
Patty Haxton Anderson says
October 6, 2014 at 4:04 pmI am so glad you have the REAL frosting that belongs on this cake!
Elizabeth says
October 7, 2014 at 1:57 pmYum. I love german chocolate. One of my favorites for sure!! I have to leave out the pecans because of nut allergies, but I love this!!
Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk) says
October 8, 2014 at 5:51 amThanks for the tip! The recipe that I know uses different flour thats is not available here. This is so helpful for when I am doing something that needs cake flour =) The cake looks so lush! I can already imagine how sweet and yummy it taste! #TastyTuesdays
My Family Ties says
October 8, 2014 at 12:36 pmWhat a great recipe, I haven’t heard of this before but it sounds delicious! 🙂 #TastyTuesdays
Hayley @ Hay In A Day says
October 8, 2014 at 3:54 pmOoo would love to try this! Love the sound of the coconut pecan frosting 🙂 #tastytuesdays
Alexis AKA MOM says
October 9, 2014 at 9:06 amMy dad’s favorite dessert. This looks so amazing!!
Jacqui says
October 9, 2014 at 11:14 amMMM! This looks so yummy!! Thank you for linking up to Party Time and we hope to see you again next week!”
Joy says
October 9, 2014 at 2:07 pmYum! I love German Chocolate Cake! Now I just need someone to have a birthday so I have a good excuse to make this 😉 Pinning!
Audrey says
October 9, 2014 at 5:45 pmI haven’t had this in so long. Your recipe looks divine. I love the coconut pecan topping.
Thanks for sharing on Tasty Tuesdays.
carolyn | homework says
October 10, 2014 at 10:06 pmThank you so much for sharing your wonderful project on The Inspiration Board at homework. I loved your project and featured you today!
Have a wonderful weekend!
carolyn ~ homework
Michelle says
October 11, 2014 at 9:25 amAww. Thank YOU for hosting the party every week, featuring me, and stopping by! 🙂
Angie says
October 11, 2014 at 11:31 amThis looks so delicious! I found your lovely blog on Serenity Saturday.
Thanks
Angie
PS – I also wanted to invite you to the “Great Blog Train” (blog hop) – we are travelling to Colorado Springs CO this month. http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/2014/10/the-great-blog-train-22-giveaway.html
Tammy @ creativekkids says
October 11, 2014 at 1:32 pmMy dad would love this cake! I am pinning it, and I wanted you to know that your post received 12 clicks on the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party last week and will be featured on Monday’s party on all the blogs hosting the party. Thanks for linking up!
Michelle says
October 11, 2014 at 3:05 pmThank you so much! And thanks for hosting the party every week! I really enjoy joining in!
Debbie W. says
October 12, 2014 at 7:30 pmSounds sooooo good. Mom always made them for us. I’ve never tried it. Now is the time.
Sinea Pies says
October 13, 2014 at 7:48 amGerman Chocolate cake is my all-time favorite. This is getting pinned for sure! I host the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop on Ducks ‘n a Row. We go live Tuesday evenings at 7pm EDT. Would love it i if you’d stop by and share this.
Jennifer Dawn says
October 14, 2014 at 11:39 pmThis looks amazing! Well done! I’m featuring it at this week’s link party! http://www.thelifeofjenniferdawn.com/2014/10/a-little-bird-told-me-link-party-112.html
Mila says
October 16, 2014 at 2:56 pmInviting you to share your cake with my fall themed party Big Autumn Bash 🙂 :
http://milaslittlethings.com/2014/10/big-autumn-bash-the-link-party.html
xx
Mila
milaslittlethings.com
[email protected]
Angie says
November 5, 2014 at 4:40 pmCongrats – You are the “featured caboose” today on the November “Great Blog Train” blog hop! I hope that you stop by & hop on board – we are travelling to Alaska this month!
Thanks
Angie
http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/2014/11/the-great-blog-train-23-giveaway.html
Sally says
September 20, 2017 at 12:34 pmI made this today, and it tastes good, but it didn’t rise right. Any ideas of what went wrong?? :/
Plus, I made it in 2-9″ pans and it was way too much batter for the two pans.
Michelle says
September 22, 2017 at 7:56 amI’m guessing you either over-mixed, your egg whites weren’t stiff enough, or your baking soda was no good, but it’s hard to say without actually seeing. The directions also do say you need THREE 8 or 9 inch pans.
Nicole E Harris says
September 2, 2019 at 11:15 pmI’ve made this cake several times now. loved by all of my family and friends. wish I could post the pic of the results. Thank you for this amazing recipe.
Michelle says
September 3, 2019 at 9:48 amI’m so glad you love it! We love it too! I make it at least twice per year for birthdays! If you have an instagram, you can post it there and tag #TheGraciousWife so we can all see!