Ohhh, you picked a legend 🍫🥥
German Chocolate Cake is all about rich (but mild) chocolate layers and that gooey coconut-pecan frosting. This is a from-scratch, bakery-quality version—moist, tender, and not overly sweet.
Let’s make the best one, period.
🍫🥥 The BEST Homemade German Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake Layers (3 × 9-inch rounds)
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4 oz German sweet chocolate (or semi-sweet), chopped
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1/2 cup boiling water
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1 cup unsalted butter, softened
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2 cups granulated sugar
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4 large eggs, separated
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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2 1/2 cups cake flour
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1 tsp baking soda
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1/2 tsp salt
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1 cup buttermilk
Coconut-Pecan Frosting (The Star ⭐)
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1 cup evaporated milk
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1 cup granulated sugar
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3 large egg yolks
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1/2 cup unsalted butter
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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1 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
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1 cup chopped pecans
👩🍳 Instructions
Step 1: Prep
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C)
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Grease and line cake pans with parchment
Step 2: Melt Chocolate
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Pour boiling water over chopped chocolate.
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Stir until smooth. Cool slightly.
Step 3: Make Cake Batter
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Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
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Beat in egg yolks, one at a time.
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Stir in melted chocolate and vanilla.
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Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt.
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Add dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk.
Step 4: Whip Egg Whites
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Beat egg whites to stiff peaks.
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Gently fold into batter (this makes the cake ultra-light).
Step 5: Bake
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Divide batter evenly among pans.
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Bake 22–25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
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Cool completely.
🥥 Make the Frosting
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In a saucepan, whisk evaporated milk, sugar, yolks, and butter.
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Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick (10–12 min).
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Remove from heat; stir in vanilla, coconut, and pecans.
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Cool to spreadable consistency.
🎂 Assemble
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Spread frosting between layers and on top only (traditional style).
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Leave sides unfrosted or lightly crumb-coated.
⭐ Pro Tips (What Makes This the Best)
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Cake flour = tender crumb
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Egg whites folded in = bakery texture
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Evaporated milk is non-negotiable
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Toast pecans lightly for deeper flavor
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Cake tastes even better the next day
🔁 Optional Enhancements
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Add a thin chocolate ganache layer between cakes
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Use dark rum or espresso (1–2 tbsp) in frosting
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Make it as a sheet cake or cupcakes
This is the kind of cake people remember—and request again and again.
If you want, I can also give you:
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A simpler 9×13 version
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A super-moist oil-based version
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Or a German Chocolate Cheesecake hybrid