Classic Earthquake Cake is the kind of dessert you make when you want lots of flavor without fuss. Maybe you forgot a birthday, or you promised to bring a dessert to game night and ran out of time. Or maybe you just need a cozy, gooey treat to end a long day. Either way, this cake delivers every time. It looks wild and rustic, tastes like a hug, and uses simple pantry ingredients. If you love dramatic swirls of chocolate, cream cheese, coconut, and pecans, you are in the right place. Stick with me and I will walk you through my go to approach for a Deliciously Decadent Classic Earthquake Cake Recipe.
Earthquake Cake Recipe
What you will need
- 1 box German chocolate cake mix, plus ingredients listed on the box
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 3 to 3.5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 9 by 13 inch baking pan, parchment, and nonstick spray
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease your pan and line with parchment for an easy lift.
- Sprinkle the coconut and pecans evenly in the bottom of the pan. This creates the sweet, nutty base everyone raves about.
- Prepare the German chocolate cake batter according to the box. Pour it gently over the coconut and pecans. Try not to drag the nuts and coconut around too much.
- Beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add vanilla and salt. Slowly add powdered sugar until you have a thick, spreadable frosting. It should be creamy but not runny.
- Dollop large spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture all over the cake batter. Use a butter knife to swirl it slightly. Do not overmix. You want clear pockets of cream cheese.
- Sprinkle chocolate chips over the top for extra melty goodness.
- Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, depending on your oven. The edges should look set and lightly crisp, but the center will still have some jiggle. That gooey center is part of the charm.
- Cool on a rack for at least 20 minutes before slicing. It will look craggy and swirled, like the surface cracked during an earthquake. That is the goal.
Want a fruity twist next time? Try a pan of strawberry earthquake cake for a bright, jammy pop in every bite. And if you love easy crowd pleasers, this blueberry dump cake hits many of the same cozy notes.
The Story Behind This Recipe
I’ve spent years testing recipes for Cuts Food, and this Deliciously Decadent Classic Earthquake Cake Recipe is a keeper: big on flavor with no weird tricks. Classic Earthquake Cake is the kind of dessert you make when you want lots of flavor without fuss. Maybe you forgot a birthday, or you promised…
“I brought this to a neighborhood potluck and watched people go back for seconds. Someone asked where the frosting was, and I said it bakes inside. Their eyes got huge. That is the magic of this cake.”
Baker’s note: For a slightly less sweet cake, use 3 cups powdered sugar in the cream cheese swirl. For extra richness, choose full fat cream cheese and real butter. This is a Deliciously Decadent Classic Earthquake Cake Recipe, after all.
Why is it called an Earthquake Cake?
It gets its name from the cracked, rippled surface and those dramatic streaks of cream cheese that look like fault lines. Because the layers bake at different densities, the cream cheese sinks and swirls while the chocolate cake rises up around it. The top splits and crinkles, the middle stays gooey, and the edges turn crisp. The result looks like the ground shifted under your pan.
There is also a fun surprise element. You sprinkle coconut and pecans on the bottom, then add the cake batter, then plop on the sweet cream cheese. When it bakes, everything flips in flavor and texture. You cut a square and find a hidden candy bar moment inside. If you like playful bakes, you might also love the moody drama of these black velvet Halloween cupcakes. Different vibe, same wow factor.
One more reason for the name is that it breaks a few neat baking rules. No even frosting. No perfect layers. No need to level the top. It is rustic in the best way and never fussy. Honestly, that is why I reach for this recipe when I need something reliable yet fun. It is a showstopper without the stress of piping bags or fancy tools.
Tips for the Perfect German Chocolate Earthquake Cake
My best tricks
Use room temperature cream cheese and butter. Cold dairy will not mix smoothly and can leave lumps. Let them sit out for 30 to 60 minutes until soft to the touch.
Sift your powdered sugar. This keeps the swirl velvety and easier to dollop. Lumps cause uneven pockets that can over brown on top.
Do not over swirl. One or two gentle passes with a knife is enough. You want ribbons, not a full blend. The signature look depends on restraint.
Watch for the sweet spot doneness. Start checking at 35 minutes. A toothpick should come out with moist crumbs in the cake portion, but the cream cheese areas will be soft. If the top is getting dark too quickly, tent loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes.
Let it rest before cutting. The cake needs a little time to set so the swirls do not run. Twenty minutes is the minimum. Thirty is even better if you can wait.
Flavor twists. Swap German chocolate mix for devil’s food if you prefer deeper cocoa notes. Add a pinch of espresso powder to the cake batter for a café style kick. For holidays, drizzle warm caramel over each slice, or try a round of old fashioned Swiss chocolate cake later in the week to keep the chocolate love going.
Serving ideas. A small scoop of vanilla ice cream or lightly sweetened whipped cream makes each square extra dreamy. Fresh berries cut through the richness. If you are in a vanilla mood, bake a moist vanilla cake for a lighter companion dessert.
With these tips, your Deliciously Decadent Classic Earthquake Cake Recipe will come out crinkly on top, creamy in the middle, and loaded with texture at the bottom. That contrast is what makes this cake special.
How to Store Leftover Cake
This cake stores like a dream. Because of the cream cheese swirl, I recommend covering the pan and refrigerating leftovers after the first day. In my house, a 9 by 13 pan rarely lasts more than two days, but here is how to keep it fresh if it does.
Room temperature for day one is totally fine if your kitchen is cool. Just cover the pan or keep slices in an airtight container. After that, move it to the fridge for up to four days. The top will stay a little crisp along the edges, and the middle stays nicely gooey.
Want to freeze? Slice the cake into squares and wrap each piece in plastic, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to two months. To serve, thaw overnight in the fridge, then let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes. You can also warm a slice in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds to revive the creamy pockets. It tastes just baked.
One more storage note for this Deliciously Decadent Classic Earthquake Cake Recipe. If you added caramel or extra chocolate on top, layer parchment between slices before chilling so they do not stick together.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Earthquake cake is a treat, and it tastes like one. A modest square, about one twelfth of the pan, lands around 420 to 480 calories depending on your cake mix and the amount of powdered sugar you use. Expect roughly 6 to 7 grams of protein, 24 to 28 grams of fat, and 45 to 55 grams of carbohydrates. There is calcium from the cream cheese and some fiber from the pecans and coconut. If you want to lighten it a bit, use 3 cups powdered sugar, reduce chocolate chips to three fourths cup, and cut slightly smaller squares. Enjoy mindfully and savor every bite.
Common Questions
Q: Can I make this without nuts?
A: Absolutely. Swap pecans for extra coconut, or use crushed pretzels for a salty crunch. The cake still sets up beautifully.
Q: What if I only have a chocolate cake mix, not German chocolate?
A: Use it. Your cake will be a bit richer and less sweet. I actually like that version when I serve it with ice cream.
Q: My cream cheese swirl sank to the bottom. What happened?
A: That usually means the cream cheese mixture was too thin. Next time, add a bit more powdered sugar to thicken or dollop slightly smaller scoops.
Q: Can I add peanut butter or caramel?
A: Yes. Warm a quarter cup peanut butter or caramel until pourable and drizzle over the batter before baking. Swirl lightly. If caramel is your thing, you might also like this no fuss salted caramel cheesecake.
Q: How do I keep the top from over browning?
A: Tent the pan lightly with foil during the last 10 minutes. Also make sure your oven rack sits in the center of the oven.
Baking it all together
Earthquake cake is the rare dessert that gives you layers of flavor and texture without extra steps. You toss everything into one pan, swirl, bake, and out comes a rustic showpiece that tastes like a bakery secret. If you want to compare methods or explore variations, the folks at Classic Earthquake Cake | 12 Tomatoes have a helpful take too. However you spin it, this Deliciously Decadent Classic Earthquake Cake Recipe is all about big comfort and easy joy. I hope you make a pan soon and share it with your favorite people.
Overnight Orange Roll Casserole
Ingredients
Method
- Butter a 9×13 baking dish.
- Zest and juice one orange, saving the zest for the filling and juice for both filling and glaze.
- Open the dough tubes and cut each roll into quarters, then drop the pieces into the dish, spreading them evenly.
- Melt butter and stir in brown sugar, half the orange zest, a pinch of salt, and 1 to 2 tablespoons of fresh orange juice. Pour this over the dough pieces and toss gently.
- Sprinkle on optional add-ins like pecans or dried cranberries if desired. Cover tightly with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- In the morning, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Uncover the dish and bake for 25 to 35 minutes until the pieces are puffed, golden at the edges, and set in the center.
- Beat softened cream cheese until smooth, then mix in the icing packets from the dough, powdered sugar, a splash of vanilla, the remaining zest, and enough orange juice to reach a pourable consistency.
- Drizzle over the warm casserole and serve immediately.
