German Chocolate Cake Recipe

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/21/22
Tested by
Danielle Centoni
Danielle Centoni
Tested by Danielle Centoni

Danielle is a James Beard Award-winning food writer and editor based in Portland, Oregon.

Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
German Chocolate Cake on a platter

The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Cooling Time: 90 mins
Total: 2 hrs 40 mins
Servings: 12 to 16 servings
Yield: 1 cake
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
557 Calories
31g Fat
66g Carbs
8g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12 to 16
Amount per serving
Calories 557
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 31g 39%
Saturated Fat 12g 59%
Cholesterol 77mg 26%
Sodium 373mg 16%
Total Carbohydrate 66g 24%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Total Sugars 47g
Protein 8g
Vitamin C 1mg 4%
Calcium 132mg 10%
Iron 3mg 19%
Potassium 246mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Germany is famous for many desserts, including Black Forest cake and bee sting cake, but the German chocolate cake is not one of them. Samuel German, a Texas baker, developed Baker's German's Sweet Chocolate in the mid-1800s. A recipe using Mr. German's Baker's chocolate was then created by a Dallas woman named Mrs. George Clay, and original dubbed German Sweet Chocolate Cake. The cake, with its light, sweet chocolate flavor, honors Mr. German and his signature chocolate.

This version uses cocoa powder, giving it a slightly deeper chocolate flavor with plenty of that classic coconut-pecan filling between the layers. It's an easy cake to make from scratch, and it's always an excellent choice for holidays and celebrations. It doesn't even require a mixer to make the cake or filling. Just prepare and bake the cakes, cook the frosting and filling, and assemble. It's a piece of cake! 

The cake is beautiful as-is, but add a layer of the optional ganache or chocolate buttercream to the sides and pipe a decorative border around the edge if you want to get fancy. Or add a border of perfect toasted pecan halves. 

German Chocolate Cake Recipe/Tester Image

"This impressive cake results in a very rich, sweet dessert. The cake is fudgy, yet light and can be made ahead. Just wrap the layers individually and they’ll stay perfectly moist. I made all the components a day in advance, and it was easy to assemble and serve the cake even after a busy workday." —Danielle Centoni

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

For the Coconut Pecan Filling:

  • 1 1/2 cups evaporated milk (from one 12-ounce can)

  • 4 large egg yolks

  • 1 1/2 cups (300 grams) packed light brown sugar

  • 3/4 cup (170 grams) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

  • 2 2/3 cups shredded or flaked sweetened coconut, one 7-ounce bag

  • 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans, preferably toasted

  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

  • 1 dash fine salt

For the Cake:

  • Cooking spray

  • 2 cups (255 grams) all-purpose flour

  • 1 3/4 cups (348 grams) granulated sugar

  • 2/3 cup (60 grams) unsweetened natural cocoa powder

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 3/4 teaspoon fine salt

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1 cup buttermilk, well-shaken

  • 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil

  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

  • 1 cup boiling water

  • 1 teaspoon espresso powder, optional

For the Optional Ganache:

  • 2 cups (340 grams) semisweet chocolate chips

  • 1 cup heavy cream

  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Steps to Make It

Prepare the Coconut Pecan Filling

  1. Gather the coconut-pecan filling and frosting ingredients.

    Coconut Pecan Filling ingredients in bowls

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  2. Combine the evaporated milk and egg yolks in a large saucepan (off heat) and whisk until well blended. Add the brown sugar and whisk to blend.

    Evaporated milk, brown sugar and egg yolks in a large saucepan with a whisk

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  3. Add the pieces of butter. Place the pan over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly until the butter melts and the mixture thickens, about 12 to 15 minutes,

    Evaporated milk mixture with butter in a saucepan on a burner, with a whisk

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  4. Remove the pan from the heat and add the coconut, pecans, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir to blend and set aside to cool for about 1 hour. The filling will thicken as it cools. Meanwhile, make the cake.

    Coconut Pecan Filling in a saucepan on a towel

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

Make the Cake

  1. Gather the ingredients for the cake.

    Cake ingredients

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  2. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 350 F. Spray three 8-inch round cake pans and line with parchment paper.

    Parchment paper in cake pans

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  3. Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl.

    Flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk the eggs with the buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract.

    Eggs with the buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract in a bowl with a whisk

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  5. Add the egg-buttermilk mixture to the flour-cocoa powder mixture, stirring until blended.

    Cake batter in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  6. Add the boiling water (and espresso powder if using) and mix until smooth. The batter will be pretty thin.

    Cake batter with water in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  7. Divide the batter evenly among the 3 cake pans. You will have about 16 ounces of batter in each pan.

    Cake batter in cake pans

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  8. Bake the cake layers for 25 to 28 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 20 minutes.

    Baked cakes in cake pans

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  9. Remove from the pans and place on racks to cool completely.

    Cakes on cooling racks

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

Assemble the Layers

  1. Place a cake layer on a cake plate or stand and top with about 3/4 to 1 cup of filling. Add another cake layer and top with more filling.

    Cake with Coconut Pecan Filling on top of the first layer, and filling in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  2. Finish with the third layer and top with the remaining filling. Leave a little space around the edge if you plan to decorate with piped ganache.

    Coconut Pecan Filling on top of the german chocolate cake

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

Finish With the Optional Ganache

  1. Gather the ganache ingredients.

    Ganache ingredients in bowls

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  2. Place the chocolate chips in a heat-safe bowl; set aside.

    Chocolate chips in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  3. Heat the cream in a saucepan over medium heat. It should be hot and steaming, not boiling or bubbling.

    Cream in a saucepan on a burner

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  4. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips and let stand for 10 minutes without stirring.

    Chocolate chips and cream in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  5. Whisk the cream and melted chocolate chips with the vanilla extract until smooth. If you see any unmelted chocolate lumps, place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir until the ganache is smooth.

    Chocolate ganache in a bowl, on a towel

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  6. Let the ganache cool for about 1 hour, whisking every 10 minutes. The ganache should be thick enough to hold peaks. Beat the ganache with an electric mixer for about 5 minutes, until it is light and fluffy.

    Chocolate ganache in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  7. Frost the side of the cake with the whipped ganache. If desired, pipe the remaining ganache around the edge of the cake.

    German Chocolate Cake on a platter

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

Tips

  • If you don't have buttermilk, you can still make the cake with this simple substitute: Add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to a 1 cup fluid measuring cup. Add milk to the 1-cup mark. Stir and let stand for 10 minutes before using.
  • To ensure even baking, make sure your cake layers have at least 1 inch of space between the pans and the sides of the oven.
  • To avoid curdling, make sure the egg yolks are blended with the milk and sugar before cooking and be sure to stir the mixture constantly.


Recipe Variations

  • Two-layer German Chocolate Cake: Bake the cake in two 9-inch round cake pans for about 27 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the cake. Reduce the coconut-pecan filling ingredients to the following amounts: 1/2 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 3 egg yolks, 2 cups flaked coconut, 1 cup chopped pecans, a pinch of salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
  • Rectangular German Chocolate Cake: Bake the cake in a greased and lined 9-by-13-inch pan for 35 to 40 minutes. For the coconut-pecan filling, use the amounts listed for a 2-layer cake. Top the cooled cake with the coconut-pecan filling mixture.

How to Store German Chocolate Cake

  • This German chocolate cake may be stored at room temperature for 2 to 3 days and will last for up to 5 days in the fridge. Take slices out of the refrigerator 30 to 45 minutes before serving.
  • To freeze, arrange individual slices on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer. When frozen solid, wrap them individually in plastic wrap and put them in resealable freezer bags. Defrost in the fridge or at room temperature.
  • You may prepare the cake layers a day or two ahead of time. Wrap the cooled or slightly warm layers in plastic wrap. Separate the layers with cardboard cake rounds and refrigerate or freeze them until it's time to assemble the cake.
  • You may also make the filling a day or two ahead of time. Store it in the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature before spreading it on the layers.
  • You may refrigerate the ganache for up to 3 days. Let the ganache come to room temperature and then re-whip it.

What is the difference between German chocolate cake and devil's food cake?

A devil's food cake is typically made with more cocoa than a German chocolate cake, giving it a more intense chocolate flavor.

Can you use unsweetened coconut in coconut-pecan frosting?

Yes, unsweetened coconut, either shredded or flaked, is acceptable. The frosting will be slightly less sweet, but it will still be delicious.

Article Sources
The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. May 09 MO, 2018. Watch: It turns out that German chocolate cake is actually from Texas, not Germany! Southern Living.