This is one of Chef Dad’s and Chef Grandpa’s favorite kind of cake. That being said, we needed to come up with a really good recipe that would “take the cake” with Chef Grandpa and Chef Dad. This German Chocolate Cake recipe has a rich chocolate cake, with a creamy oh-so-delicious frosting. The trick to this cake, it to make it at least one day before you will be eating, wait…lets not kid ourselves….devouring this cake! This recipe is, and we quote from Chef Grandpa, “the BEST German Chocolate Cake I’ve ever had”.
The Little Chefs first mixed up the cake – and yes we did use a cake mix, but made it ohhh sooo much better!! We added a few more ingredients, then poured the cake batter into two pans. The Little Chefs love when there is frosting inside the cake – so they decided to make a layered cake! Perfect choice!!
The Little Chefs were so anxious to have Chef Dad and Chef Grandpa taste our German Chocolate Cake – it did take a bit of time to cool and cook. But in the end, it was all worth it! They LOVED it! Click the Next button below to get the recipe.
46 Replies to "German Chocolate Cake"
Winnie June 29, 2013 (12:30 pm)
It’s a wonderful and rich cake 🙂
I just prefer to make it from scratch….
Christine September 30, 2013 (7:30 pm)
Hi! Just wanted to tell you that I tried this recipe and it is probably the best German choc cake I’ve had. Everyone loved it. I made one little adjustment… replaced the water with cold coffee (which I often do for chocolate cakes to give it a richer flavor). Everything else was exactly the same. Thank you so much for posting it!!!!
morgan October 5, 2013 (9:10 am)
did you use 2 circle pans or a 9×13? what if im in high altitude? im assuming adding flour?
Brenda January 12, 2015 (7:12 pm)
Going to try the coffee ….idea …great suggestion !
Taylor February 22, 2014 (8:27 am)
What size can of sweetened condensed milk did you use?
Kimberly FiveLittleChefs February 22, 2014 (4:36 pm)
14 ounce.
megan April 23, 2014 (7:23 am)
I’m so excited. I baked this cake Monday night and frosted it yesterday. I made this cake as a birthday cake for my boss. My icing was a bit runny but I’m sure it will be good. I may use less butter next time (personal taste) and I will chop up the pecans a bit more the next time I make it. It took all my of self control not to just eat the cake!!! The cake for sure will get made again. This recipe was so easy. Thank you so much!
Kimberly FiveLittleChefs April 23, 2014 (9:17 am)
Glad you liked it!
Andrea August 5, 2014 (10:04 am)
Why do I need to put the cake in the fridge ten minutes after? Won’t it dry out?
Kimberly FiveLittleChefs August 25, 2014 (9:15 pm)
Putting the cake in the fridge will make it more moist and delicious.
Cindy February 7, 2015 (1:36 pm)
My daughter dated a young man that worked in a bakery in St. Louis Missouri. They put all cakes in the freezer as soon as they came out of the oven. It made them very moist.
Bethany September 28, 2014 (2:54 pm)
The Center did not seem to get “done”. Was it the choc chips? Or did I do something wrong?
beckie September 28, 2014 (4:36 pm)
How many servings?
Teri October 3, 2014 (8:14 am)
Did you use sweetened or unsweetened coconut flakes?
Audrey October 9, 2014 (3:23 pm)
How do you test this cake for doneness?
Mimi October 31, 2014 (8:54 am)
Can the cake be left in the fridge overnight and frosted the next morning?
Lacy Russell November 9, 2014 (9:11 pm)
Would it be ok to leave the cakes in the fridge overnight before icing?
Ashley November 24, 2014 (4:55 pm)
I’m weird about textures. Can I omit the chocolate chips?
Kimberly FiveLittleChefs January 3, 2015 (7:56 am)
Yes you certainly can.
Cal December 20, 2014 (10:35 pm)
Hi there! I just used your recipe to make my first German chocolate cake and it was a huge hit!! Thank you!
Dina D December 22, 2014 (3:36 pm)
Seriously folks, this by far is the most DELICIOUS German Chocolate Cake we ever had! My Husband’s Bday was yesterday and I wanted to do something different for him. We both like German Chocolate Cake but we live in an area that really has no Bakery’s so it’s not always easy for us to treat ourselves to this cake. I love to Bake so I figured why not try this! After searching through Pinterest, I came across this one. I made it late Saturday night. I used 2 round cake pans (making it a layer cake) and just using the icing in between layers. Now, for those of you wanting to try this. It is true that you must allow that icing to cool completely. I didn’t want to take any chances of ruining this cake so I waited. I didn’t get to icing it until almost midnight and then I didn’t know if I should leave it out so I placed it inside my plastic cake dome/carrier and put it in the fridge- when I realized that doing this seemed to make the icing really hard, I got worried that I would ruin it so I took it out and let it sit on the table at room temp. Thankfully, it was perfect!!! everyone LOVED THIS CAKE! It was super super moist, and believe me.. for all of you that are hesitant with German Choc. cake because of the normally super sweet icing, this icing is seriously PERFECT! It is not sickening sweet like those store brand kind. I chopped my pecans pretty small and fine, and it just all went well together. This is definitely a keeper!!!! Thank you so much for sharing!!
wiki44 December 29, 2014 (2:01 pm)
So I have to put the frosting over after the 4 hours?
Brenda January 17, 2015 (7:45 pm)
We totally enjoyed the German Chocolate cake ~ the recipe had so many delicious ingredients !I would definitely suggest this cake for chocolate lovers ! <3 And the suggestion of cold coffee instead of water was nice .
Kayla Pedraza January 22, 2015 (5:27 pm)
Anyone know the total amount of eggs to use for the cake? The cake box says 3 and then it calls for for 4 more?? So a total of 7 eggs or just 4 total? HELP!!
Adria January 30, 2015 (4:51 pm)
It’s just a total of 4 eggs for the cake and then 5 egg yolks for the icing. I just finished making this for my husband’s birthday and it truly is amazing!
Kristina February 11, 2015 (7:53 am)
For me it Def has been cooking and still not done after 30 min ugh
Carolyn Jones February 26, 2015 (5:14 pm)
Be sure to use the right size cake pans I had no trouble with mine not baking.
Pam February 21, 2015 (6:21 am)
Maybe it was my oven, but I found the cake layers took about 35-40 minutes to get done. Baked them yesterday, going to ice tonight.
Steph February 28, 2015 (11:12 am)
Just made this cake yesterday and it was delicious! Cake was moist, super chocolatey and icing was amazing. The only thing I deviated on from the recipe is that I toasted the coconut and pecans. Here are the things I will do differently next time I make it: 1)Use three 9″inch cake pans instead of 2 (too much batter otherwise and it mushroomed out the tops), 2) don’t wait too long to ice it (my icing once cooled was super thick and made it hard to spread, didn’t affect the taste but didn’t look great and made for uneven icing levels). Again the flavor of this cake was perfect! I am not a baker and this was my first ever attempt at making icing or not just making a cake from a box. It was easy to do and the results were far better than the box would have been with store bought icing. Thanks!
jolynn March 17, 2015 (2:04 pm)
Has anyone tried substituting part of the oil in the cake for something like applesauce?
Denise July 7, 2015 (1:04 pm)
The frosting calls for brown sugar, is that dark or light brown sugar? Does it make a difference?
Kimberly July 14, 2015 (10:03 pm)
Light brown sugar but it would probably be good with either.
Lisa McConnell September 1, 2015 (7:16 pm)
I want to make it in a regular, oblong cake pan and leave it in the pan. Have you made it that way? I’ll have to make one night and frost the next if it has to cool that long.
Kimberly September 2, 2015 (2:38 pm)
I haven’t made it that way but I bet it will turn out great.
Doris September 24, 2015 (5:51 pm)
Made this cake and it was delicious, very moist, Used my Mother’s recipe for the frosting. My husband love it.
Stephanie October 7, 2015 (7:04 pm)
I have made this cake in the past and my father loves it!! I have come back for recipe and it is not showing the recipe. Please help I have to make this in two days but need the recipe. Email me [email protected]. Thanks, Stephanie
Kimberly October 7, 2015 (9:00 pm)
I’m sorry it was broken. It is there now. Enjoy your cake! I’m glad your dad loves it!
Sherry October 15, 2015 (8:07 pm)
Can I use three 9 inch cake pans
Shanae December 1, 2015 (9:00 pm)
What did you use the chocolate pudding for?
Kimberly December 1, 2015 (9:34 pm)
The pudding mix is combined with the cake mix.
Marla Davis December 4, 2015 (5:32 am)
I’m having trouble seeing the recipe for the German Chocolate Cake. Help please????
Kimberly December 4, 2015 (8:46 am)
Sorry about that. It is working again.
Niesha O March 14, 2016 (2:59 pm)
I can’t see the actual recipe anymore
Kimberly March 14, 2016 (9:26 pm)
I think I finally figured out the problem so the recipe will not disappear anymore. Sorry about that!
Barb R July 24, 2016 (3:43 pm)
I had never made a German Chocolate cake before and a friend requested it for his birthday. With a leap of faith I used your recipe and EVERYONE agreed it was the best German Chocolate cake they’d every had! Thanks for making our party special! I have to agree…. it was easy to make too.
Kimberly August 1, 2016 (9:42 pm)
I’m glad you loved it!