German Chocolate Cake
Despite its name, German chocolate cake is an American invention, named after Sam German, who developed the type of dark baking chocolate used in the original 1957 recipe. Its defining feature isn't the cake itself but the topping: a cooked filling of coconut, pecans, egg yolks, and caramelized sugar spread between the layers and on top.
Ingredients
- 4 oz (115g) sweet baking chocolate, melted and cooled
- 2 1/4 cups (280g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup (225g) butter, softened
- 2 cups (400g) sugar
- 4 large eggs, separated
- 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk
- For the filling: 1 cup evaporated milk, 1 cup sugar, 3 egg yolks, 1/2 cup butter, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 1/3 cups shredded coconut, 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease three 9-inch round pans.
- Whisk the flour and baking soda together. Beat the butter and sugar until fluffy, then beat in the egg yolks and melted chocolate.
- Alternate adding the flour mixture and buttermilk, mixing just until combined.
- Whip the egg whites to stiff peaks and fold gently into the batter.
- Divide between the pans and bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool completely.
- For the filling, cook the evaporated milk, sugar, egg yolks, and butter over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 10-12 minutes until thickened. Stir in vanilla, coconut, and pecans, then cool before spreading between the layers and on top.
Tips
- Folding in whipped egg whites is what gives this cake its light texture despite the rich filling — don't skip that step.
- Stir the filling constantly while it cooks; it can scramble or scorch if left unattended.
- The filling is thick and doesn't spread to the edges — that's traditional; the sides of the cake are usually left unfrosted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this cake actually German?
No — it's named after Sam German, an American who created the type of baking chocolate the original recipe called for, first published by a Texas newspaper in 1957.
Can I use regular semisweet chocolate?
Yes, though sweet baking chocolate (like Baker's German's Sweet Chocolate) gives the most traditional, milder flavor.
