German Chocolate Cake Recipe (Beginner-Friendly)

German Chocolate Cake Recipe (Beginner-Friendly)

Servings: 10–12 slices
Prep Time: 25 min
Cook Time: 35 min
Total Time: ~1 hour

Ingredients

For the Cake:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup buttermilk (or milk + 1 tbsp vinegar, let sit 10 min)
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch process)
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 4 large eggs (room temperature)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

For the Coconut-Pecan Frosting:

• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 egg yolks, beaten
• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups sweetened shredded coconut
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

1. Make the Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 9-inch round pans.
2. In a bowl, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
3. Add butter, oil, eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk. Mix until smooth.
4. Gradually pour in boiling water — the batter will be thin (that’s normal!).
5. Divide evenly into pans and bake 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Cool completely on a rack before frosting.

2. Make the Frosting:

1. In a saucepan, combine evaporated milk, sugar, egg yolks, butter, and vanilla.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened (about 10–12 minutes).
3. Remove from heat and stir in coconut and pecans.
4. Let it cool to room temperature before spreading.

3. Assemble:

• Place one cake layer on a plate, spread frosting on top.
• Add the second layer and frost the top (you can also cover the sides if you like).
• Garnish with extra pecans or chocolate shavings for a fancy touch!

Tips for Beginners

• Don’t overmix the batter — mix until just smooth.
• Always cool the cake fully before frosting.
• The frosting thickens more as it cools, so be patient!