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Delicious Easy German Chocolate Cake with Coconut Pecan Frosting

German Chocolate Cake

A rich and chocolatey cake layered with a sticky, nutty coconut pecan frosting, perfect for special occasions yet simple enough for regular weekends.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Cake, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cake
  • 1 box Chocolate cake mix Or your favorite homemade chocolate cake batter
  • 3 large Eggs As required by the cake mix instructions
  • 1/2 cup Oil Or melted butter
  • 1 cup Water Or milk if preferred
For the Coconut Pecan Frosting
  • 1/2 cup Butter Unsalted
  • 1 can Evaporated milk Ensure it is not cold for best results
  • 1 cup Brown sugar
  • 3 large Egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract Pure vanilla extract recommended
  • 2 cups Sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 cup Chopped pecans Chop into bite-friendly pieces
  • 1 pinch Salt Balances sweetness

Method
 

Cake Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven and grease two 9 inch cake pans. Optionally, add parchment paper.
  2. Prepare the cake batter according to the instructions if using a mix and pour into the prepared pans.
  3. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
Frosting Preparation
  1. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the evaporated milk, brown sugar, egg yolks, and a pinch of salt.
  2. Cook the mixture gently while stirring until it thickens, around 8 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, coconut, and pecans.
  3. Let the frosting cool to a warm but not hot temperature to prevent it from sliding off the cake.
Cake Assembly
  1. Place one cake layer on a serving plate and spread a generous amount of frosting on top.
  2. Add the second layer on top and repeat the frosting process. Traditionally, the sides are left unfrosted.

Notes

Allow cake layers and frosting to cool fully before assembly. For variations, consider adding chocolate chips to the frosting or using walnuts instead of pecans.