If you love all things German chocolate-inspired, be sure to try my German Chocolate Brownies and my German Chocolate Cake Truffles next! Everybody has a favorite birthday dessert, don’t they? In my family, my mom, aunt, and brother each always requested German chocolate cake each year for as their traditional birthday cake. And it was ALWAYS made from scratch, never from a box mix or a can of frosting. This German chocolate cake recipe is an amazing way to celebrate a birthday, or to serve at any holiday gathering or dinner party. Of course, you don’t need any special reason to enjoy this rich and wonderful dessert! When you scoop up a huge forkful of moist German chocolate cake and place it in your mouth, you’ll discover the sweet, savory, rich, chocolate and sour notes all blending together to create a harmonious balance that you will have you craving more. I’m craving it, just writing about it!
What is German chocolate cake?
Despite the name, German chocolate cake is not actually a German dessert. German chocolate cake was actually created in America in 1852 and named for Samuel German, the inventor of a type of sweetened chocolate that bears his name and is a key ingredient in this cake. My recipe is based on the one on the back of the package of Baker’s German chocolate, which is what we grew up using to make this family favorite recipe. It’s a classic German chocolate cake recipe and I didn’t want to stray too far from the original, since we love it so much! Besides, so many German chocolate cake recipes that I see these days are really just a regular chocolate cake made with unsweetened cocoa powder rather than using actual German’s chocolate. I’m sorry, but slathering coconut pecan frosting on a regular chocolate cake and calling it German chocolate doesn’t count! I don’t mean to offend, but I have strong feeling about this.
How to make German chocolate cake
What is the difference between chocolate cake and German chocolate cake?
A German chocolate cake is made using German sweet baking chocolate, whereas normal chocolate cakes typically uses unsweetened cocoa powder or unsweetened baking chocolate. German baking chocolate is normally sweeter and not as intensely chocolaty as other baking chocolate.
What is a good substitute for German chocolate?
If you are absolutely dying for German chocolate cake but don’t have real German chocolate on hand, you can try mixing one tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder with one tablespoon + one teaspoon of sugar and one teaspoon of vegetable shortening. Do this for each ounce of German chocolate called for in a recipe. While this is a decent substitute, it may still not taste quite the same as using actual German chocolate.
How do you frost a German chocolate cake?
Sometimes you will see German chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting around the outside, especially at restaurants. But personally, I not only prefer the look of a “naked cake” where you can see the coconut pecan filling between the layers, I also like the taste better without the extra chocolate frosting fighting with an otherwise perfect balance of moist and light German chocolate cake layers and coconut pecan frosting. A third option, and the one my family usually chose when I was growing up, is to double the batch of coconut pecan frosting so that there is enough to cover the outside of the cake entirely. Frankly, it gets a little messy and the presentation isn’t always the prettiest, but if German chocolate cake frosting is your favorite part about this dessert, then I say go for it!
How to Make Coconut Pecan Frosting for German Chocolate Cake
Does German chocolate cake need to be refrigerated?
While this cake can be stored for a day or two at room temperature, I would keep it in the fridge for any longer than that. Just be sure to store the leftover cake in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.
Can I freeze German chocolate cake?
You can definitely make the cake layers in advance and freeze them for up to 1 month. Just let them cool completely, then wrap each layer individually in plastic wrap and lay them flat on a baking sheet to freeze. Once frozen, store the layers in freezer-safe ziploc bags for extra protection. You can assemble the cake without bothering to thaw the layers, which is actually helpful if you are trying to avoid getting crumbs in your frosting! Just be sure to leave enough time for the cake to thaw before serving if you take this approach. I do not recommend freezing this cake once it has been assembled and frosted. The results are okay, and while the thawed cake tastes alright, the presentation is usually not great.
Tips for Making German Chocolate Cake
Always use room temperature ingredients. It actually does make a difference in how well the cake mixes together and results in a lighter, moister cake. If you are like me and tend to forget to pull ingredients out ahead of time, I often stick the eggs in a bowl and cover them with hot tap water for a few minutes and microwave the butter for 10-12 seconds while I’m pulling the other ingredients out.Don’t overmix. Definitely go ahead and cream the butter and sugar, but once you start adding the flour and dry ingredients to the wet ingredients you only want to mix until combined. And with this particular cake, the last step is to just fold in fluffy egg whites for an extra light texture.Don’t overbake. A common problem a lot of bakers experience when making a cake from scratch is that it turns out dry. This can be avoided by making sure not to overbake your cake layers. Test with a toothpick and remove the cake layers when the toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs sticking to it. If it comes out completely clean, chances are the cake may already be a bit overdone.Make the frosting in advance. The coconut pecan frosting will thicken as it cools, so it’s a good idea to make it ahead of time. If you try frosting the cake while your frosting is still warm, chances are your layers are going to slide all over the place.Buttermilk substitution: If you don’t have buttermilk, add 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice to a 1 cup measuring cup, then fill the rest of the way with whole milk. Stir and let sit for 5 minutes before using in place of the buttermilk in the recipe.
More Cake Recipes
Yellow Cake with Chocolate FrostingDevil’s Food Chocolate CakeVintage Cherry Chip Layer CakeBest Red Velvet Cake
Homemade Funfetti Cake
Luscious Lemon Layer Cake
Aunt Becky’s Black Forest Cherry Cake
Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
