German Chocolate Cake

Traditional German chocolate cake recipe with dark chocolate cake, coconut pecan frosting and creamy buttercream. Make this cake as a sheet cake or as a layer cake.

German Chocolate Cake Recipe

German chocolate cake is a classic. This version has three layers of chocolate cake, each topped with cooked coconut pecan frosting and then frosted on the outside with chocolate buttercream. Don’t be fooled…this gorgeous cake is easier to make than you think. Let’s walk through the steps.

Dark Chocolate Cake

This cake boasts three ultra-moist, chocolate cake layers with deep, rich chocolate flavor. This cake recipe is 100% from scratch but is one of the easiest cakes to make. I’ve never had it turn out poorly. It calls for coffee to enhance the chocolate flavor. Don’t like coffee? Don’t worry… you won’t taste it in this cake. However, if you are set against using coffee, just use water. I highly recommend the coffee, though.

Buttermilk keeps this cake soft and helps it to rise. If you don’t have buttermilk, simply add a tablespoon of vinegar into a measuring cup, then fill it the rest of the way with milk. Allow it to sit for a few minutes and voila…you have an easy substitute for buttermilk!

German Chocolate Cake Frosting

German chocolate cake traditionally has a classic coconut pecan icing. We explain how to make this frosting in detail right here. If you have have people who don’t like coconut or large pieces of nuts, simply run the coconut through and nuts through the food processor to chop it a little more finely. My kids couldn’t tell there was coconut in this cake!

German Chocolate Layer Cake

We show this cake batter divided between three 8″ cake pans for a smaller around, but taller cake. If you’d like two layers, use 9″ round cake pans. This will take about the same amount of time to bake.

How do you know when a cake is done baking? Touch the top center of the cake and if it springs back, it’s done.

German Chocolate Sheet Cake

If you’d like, you can bake this cake in a 9×13 cake pan or sheet cake pan. A 9×13 cake will take a little longer to bake. Set the timer for 27 minutes and check it, adding more time as needed. If you bake it in a 9×13 pan, you can leave off the chocolate buttercream and just frost it with the coconut pecan icing. This will save on calories!

Tools to Make the Cake:

• • Stand Mixer: A hand mixer will work, but I always find it easier to make frostings with a stand mixer.
  • Cocoa Powder: We love this raw cacao powder for baking. A guilt-free superfood.
  • Buttermilk: If you don’t keep buttermilk on hand, use this dry buttermilk powder. It keeps longer!
  • Beater Blade with Scraper: The best invention ever!
  • Grated Coconut: One of my favorite brands.

• • 8” Round Cake Pans: I love this size cake pans since it makes the cake a little taller than using a larger cake pans.

• • Straight Icing Spatula: The long straight spatula makes it easy to smooth frosting.

• Wire Cooling Racks: This will help your cakes cool more quickly.
• Wilton 1M Tip: For piping pretty swirls on cupcakes.

German Chocolate Cake

4.65 from 14 votes

Traditional German chocolate cake recipe with dark chocolate cake, coconut pecan frosting and creamy buttercream. Make as a sheet cake or layer cake.

Servings 12

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 23 minutes minutes

Total Time 53 minutes minutes

---

Print RecipePin RecipeReview Recipe

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

 

For the Coconut Pecan Frosting:

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/3 cups shredded coconut
• 1 cup chopped pecans

For the Cake:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 2 large eggs (at room temperature)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup freshly brewed strong coffee cooled

For the Chocolate Buttercream:

• 1 cup butter (softened)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 tablespoons heavy cream

Instructions

 

For the Coconut Pecan Frosting:

• Combine the cream, butter, sugar, egg yolks and vanilla in a medium saucepan.
• Cook and stir the mixture over medium heat until it is thick (about 12-15 minutes).
• Add the coconut and pecans. Mix well and allow to cool.
• Once the mixture is at room temperature, beat the mixture for 2-3 minutes. Set aside.

For the Cake:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 3 round 8-inch cake pans.
• For the cake, put flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl and mix well.
• In a stand mixer, mix the buttermilk, oil, eggs, vanilla together. Slowly add in the mix of dry ingredients while the mixer is on low. Add the coffee and make sure everything is combined. The batter will be very thin.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake for about 23-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• Allow the cakes to cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Turn the cakes out onto a cooling rack.

For the Buttercream:

• In a stand mixer with the beater blade, beat the butter for 1-2 minutes until it is smooth, creamy and nearly white in appearance.
• Add in the salt and vanilla. Mix until incorporated.
• With the mixer on low speed, slowly add in the powdered sugar and cocoa powder.
• Add the heavy cream, a tablespoon at a time, mixing slowly until it is the consistency that you'd like.
• Beat for 1 minute on medium speed until smooth and creamy.

Assemble the Cake:

• Frost the top each cooled cake layer with the coconut pecan frosting.
• Stack the layers together. Then frost around the outside of the cake with chocolate buttercream.
• Pipe stars using Wilton tip 1M on the top outer edge of the cake.
• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Video

Notes

The calories shown are based on the cake being cut into 12 pieces, with 1 serving being 1 slice of cake. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate.

Nutrition

Calories: 926kcal | Carbohydrates: 108g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 55g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Cholesterol: 174mg | Sodium: 750mg | Potassium: 326mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 86g | Vitamin A: 1220IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 2.8mg

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Calories 926

Have you tried this recipe?

Share a review below or share on Instagram with the tag #tastesoflizzyt.