German Chocolate Cake
Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users
Servings
12
Prep Time
165 minutes
Cook Time
90 minutes
Our German Chocolate Cake is a lavish dessert perfect for celebrations and special occasions. This three-layered cake features moist dark chocolate layers, a delectable coconut-pecan filling, and an incredible dark chocolate glaze that envelops the cake in pure decadence. With a total time of 4 1/4 hours and a 12-serving yield, this mouthwatering cake will impress your guests and satisfy even the most discerning sweet tooth.
Using premium dark chocolate, sweetened flaked coconut, and coarsely chopped pecans, our German Chocolate Cake strikes the ideal balance between rich chocolate and nutty, sweet filling. The velvety glaze adds a touch of elegance, making it a show-stopping dessert that is not only delicious but also visually stunning.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups (180g) all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
5 1/4oz (149g) dark chocolate, chopped
3 tablespoons (43g) butter, melted
1 1/2 cups (245g) sugar
1 large egg, room temp
1 large egg yolk, room temp
3/4 cup (178ml) whole milk, room temp
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon almond extract
3/4 cup boiling-hot water
7 ounces (198g) sweetened flaked coconut
1 cup (114g) coarsely chopped pecans
14oz can (397g) sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 sticks (8oz, 227g) salted butter (if using unsalted butter, add ½ tsp salt)
8oz (227g) dark chocolate, chopped
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
Cake Layers
Filling
Glaze
Directions
Cake Layers
Preheat oven to 350°F and oil three 8” or 9” cake pans. Line bottoms of pans with rounds of parchment or wax paper.
In a heat-proof bowl, melt together butter and chocolate on 50% power in the microwave, stirring at 30 second intervals (or in top of double boiler set over 1” of barely simmering water) until melted and smooth. Let cool for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a bowl. Whisk together whole milk, whole egg, yolk, vanilla, and almond extract in another bowl. Beat sugar into chocolate mixture until combined, then add egg mixture and beat until incorporated. Add flour mixture and mix on low speed, then beat on high speed 1 minute. Reduce speed to low and beat in water until just combined (batter will be thin). Divide batter among cake pans (about 1 1/2 cups per pan) and bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of pans and rotating them 180 degrees halfway through baking, until a tester comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes total.
Cool layers in pans on racks 15 minutes. Run a thin knife around edges of pans and invert layers onto racks. Carefully remove parchment or wax paper and cool layers completely.
Filling
Reduce oven temperature to 325°F. Spread coconut in a large shallow baking pan and pecans in another. Bake pecans in upper third of oven and coconut in lower third, stirring occasionally, until golden, 12 to 18 minutes. Remove pans from oven.
Increase oven temperature to 425°F. Pour condensed milk into a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate and cover tightly with foil. Bake milk in a water bath in middle of oven 45 minutes. Refill baking pan with water to reach halfway up pie plate and bake milk until thick and brown, about 45 minutes more.
Remove pie plate from water bath. Stir in coconut, pecans, and vanilla and keep warm, covered with foil.
Glaze
Melt butter in a 3-quart saucepan. Remove pan from heat and add chocolate and corn syrup, whisking until chocolate is melted. Transfer 1 cup glaze to a bowl, reserving remaining glaze at room temperature in pan. Chill glaze in bowl, stirring occasionally, until thickened and spreadable, about 1 hour.
Assemble
Put 1 cake layer on a rack set over a baking pan (to catch excess glaze). Drop half of coconut filling by spoonfuls evenly over layer and gently spread with a wet spatula. Top with another cake layer and spread with remaining filling in same manner. Top with remaining cake layer and spread chilled glaze evenly over top and side of cake. Heat reserved glaze in pan over low heat, stirring, until glossy and pourable, about 1 minute. Pour glaze evenly over top of cake, making sure it coats sides. Shake rack gently to smooth glaze.
Chill cake until firm, about 1 hour. Transfer cake to a plate.