A classic German Chocolate Cake recipe, featuring a mild, sweet chocolate cake made tender with buttermilk and folded egg whites, and smothered in its signature gooey coconut-pecan frosting.

Author

Unknown


Recipe

Cake

MeasurementsIngredients
1 (4 oz) packageGerman’s Sweet Chocolate
1 cupBoiling Water
2 1/2 cupsCake Flour
1 teaspoonBaking Soda
1 cupShortening
2 cupsSugar
4Eggs, separated
1 cupButtermilk
1 teaspoonVanilla

Filling

MeasurementsIngredients
1 cupEvaporated Milk or ½ pint Whipping Cream
1 cupSugar
3Egg Yolks, beaten
½ cup (1 stick)Butter
1 cupCoconut
1/2 cupPecans

Instructions

Cake

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans.
  2. Melt the German chocolate in the boiling water. Set aside to cool completely.
  3. In a large bowl, cream the shortening and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the 4 egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each.
  4. Stir in the cooled chocolate mixture and the vanilla.
  5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the cake flour and baking soda.
  6. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour.
  7. In a clean, dry bowl, beat the 4 egg whites until stiff peaks form.
  8. Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the cake batter.
  9. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.

Filling

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine the evaporated milk (or cream), sugar, beaten egg yolks, and butter.
  2. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens (about 10-12 minutes). Do not let it boil.
  3. Remove from the heat and stir in the coconut and pecans.
  4. Let the filling cool until it is thick enough to spread.
  5. Spread the filling between the cooled cake layers and over the top of the cake. The sides are traditionally left unfrosted.