Family German Chocolate Cake

German Chocolate Cake
Decadent, deeply chocolatey, and layered with a luscious coconut-pecan frosting, this German Chocolate Cake is a timeless favorite. With its moist crumb and rich flavor, it’s perfect for celebrations or anytime you want to impress with a classic dessert.

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🧁 Ingredients

For the Chocolate Cake

Ingredient	Quantity
All-purpose flour	2 cups
Granulated sugar	2 cups
Unsweetened cocoa powder	¾ cup
Baking soda	2 tsp
Baking powder	1 tsp
Salt	½ tsp
Buttermilk	1 cup
Vegetable oil	½ cup
Large eggs	2
Vanilla extract	2 tsp
Hot water or coffee	1 cup

For the Coconut-Pecan Frosting

Ingredient	Quantity
Evaporated milk	1 cup
Granulated sugar	1 cup
Egg yolks (large)	3
Unsalted butter	½ cup
Vanilla extract	1 tsp
Sweetened shredded coconut	1½ cups
Chopped pecans	1 cup

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👩‍🍳 Directions

1. Bake the Cake Layers

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans.
• Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• Add Wet Ingredients: Stir in buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until fully combined and smooth.
• Add Hot Liquid: Slowly pour in the hot water (or hot coffee), mixing gently. The batter will be thin—that’s expected.
• Divide & Bake: Pour the batter evenly into the pans and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Cool Completely: Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool fully.

2. Make the Coconut-Pecan Frosting

• Create the Custard Base: In a medium saucepan, whisk together evaporated milk, sugar, egg yolks, and butter over medium heat.
• Thicken: Stir constantly for 10–12 minutes until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
• Finish the Frosting: Remove from heat. Mix in vanilla, shredded coconut, and chopped pecans. Let cool to room temperature—it will thicken more as it sits.

3. Assemble the Cake

• First Layer: Set the first cake layer on a serving platter. Spread one-third of the frosting evenly across the top.
• Stack and Repeat: Add the second layer and another third of the frosting. Top with the final cake layer and finish with the remaining frosting.
• Optional Decoration: Traditionally, the sides are left bare to showcase the cake layers, but feel free to frost the sides or drizzle with ganache for a richer finish.