Best Ever German Chocolate Cake is a moist chocolate cake with traditional coconut pecan frosting, layer upon layer of goodness.
This Best Ever German Chocolate Cake, or, as my grandpa said, “the best damn cake ever!” A double-layer chocolate cake with a classic German Chocolate Cake frosting.
Today’s recipe is a tribute to my Grandpa, who passed away at the age of 80.
My Grandpa was one of my biggest cheerleaders, and I honestly can’t think of a time he didn’t praise what I was doing. He especially loved my baking. He had a few favorites—really anything I made—but he would often call and offer to pay me to make biscotti. On his last few birthdays, I would make him his favorite: German Chocolate Cake.
Grandpa loved these German Chocolate Cake Cookies and I wish I would have made the German Chocolate Cake and cookies for him more often.
I have the best memories of my Grandpa while I was growing up. Rode in my first convertible with him, talked on my first car phone in that very same convertible, went to my first flea market, and even learned to barter with him. I got my good business sense from him.
My sister, Nicole, and I would fly out to see him and my grandmother in Arizona and make up dance routines in his hot tub. He said we would be famous… and we were to him.
One of the most vivid memories I have was with my first school dance and date, my parents were out of town and I was staying with my grandparents. While I was getting ready, my Grandpa made it clear what would happen to this boy if there was any “fooling around”, and he wasn’t joking.
(That was the last date with that boy. My grandpa read people very well).
My grandpa always had to be somewhere other than where he was and this got worse as he got older. “When are we gonna go grandma?” “Time to get home Betty.” Even though he was always eager to go, we knew he loved being around all of us, especially his 9 great-grandchildren.
He loved to play cards, ride his bike, fish, and he loved people. He worked as a claims adjuster for Prudential and All-State and was passionate about his job!
My grandpa was an American hero, serving in the Korean War as a medic in the Army. After returning from the war, he married his “Marilyn Monroe” – my grandma.
He was proud of my grandma, and over the years, he relied on her to tend to him as he battled many illnesses, including cancer. My Grandpa was a proud Eagle Scout and had recently given all of his scout stuff to my husband, a scoutmaster. He was super proud when my son Aiden recently achieved his Arrow of Light in Cub Scouts. In fact, when Aiden was given the news of his G-pa’s passing, Aiden went and got out G-pa’s Boy Scout sash and said he would wear it in honor of him.
There are many great memories I will cherish, and every time I go to make my biscotti, cookies, and German chocolate cake, he will be next to me, asking for a bite or offering me 5 bucks for a slice.
Love and miss you G-pa! XOXO San
See how easy this German Chocolate Cake is to make.
How do you make German Chocolate Cake?
Chocolate Cake
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Preheat oven to 350º F. Grease 3-8 or 9 inch round cake pans and lightly dust with cocoa powder. I like to make a 2 layer cake and set the 3rd aside for kids that don’t like the frosting and my sisters with nut allergies.
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In mixing bowl (I use my Kitchen Aid), add flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir until well combined.
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Add milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla to flour mixture and mix together on medium speed until well mixed. Reduce the speed to low and add boiling water to the cake batter a little bit at a time. Once the water is all mixed in, beat on high for about 1 minute.
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Evenly distribute cake batter between the prepared cake pans.
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Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
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Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and cool completely.
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Make frosting while cake is baking, as it needs an hour to cool.
Coconut Pecan Frosting
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In a large saucepan combine evaporated milk, sugar, egg yolks, margarine, and vanilla. Cook over low-medium heat until it reaches a slow boil. Stirring constantly until thick, about 12 minutes from when it starts to slowly boil. Remove from heat and stir in pecans and coconut, this frosting will thicken up as it cools.
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Let cool 1 hour then spread on cooled cake. I use 1 1/2 cups in between each layer and then use the rest to frost the outside. For easier cutting, place the frosted cake in the fridge for 30 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
Tips on making the perfect German Chocolate Cake:
Make sure your eggs and butter are stored at room temperature.
Make sure your cake is completely cool before you frost it.
Prepare the frosting a day ahead of time and store in the refrigerator. Then remove from fridge and let it sit out for an hour at room temperature before you frost the cake, this will make it for easy spreading.
It is best to store this cake in the fridge.
How do you store German Chocolate Cake?
If properly wrapped, the freshly baked chocolate cake will last for about 1 to 2 days at normal room temperature.
Wrap tightly with cling wrap or tin foil and refrigerate to extend the life of the cake.
If you’re looking for other German Chocolate inspired recipes, check out my No-Bake German Chocolate Cheesecake that is to die for. For a bite-sized version, try my German Chocolate Cake Cookies, or these German Chocolate Cake Donut Holes that are perfect for breakfast.
After making this delicious cake, be sure to try these next! Lemon Lime Layer Cake, Best Ever Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Raspberry Layer Cake, and my favorite, Double Chocolate Nutella Cake.
Don’t forget to pin this GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Love anything German Chocolate be sure to check out these A Dash of Sanity Favorites.
German Chocolate Cake Donut Holes – my grandpa would have loved these!
German Chocolate Carrot Cake – a twist that made my hubby fall in love with carrot cake.
Best Ever German Chocolate Cake
Video
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup cocoa
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
Coconut Pecan Frosting (makes 5 1/2 cups)
- 2 cups evaporated milk
- 2 cups white granulated sugar
- 6 egg yolks beaten with 2 teaspoons water
- 1 cup butter or margarine
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups chopped pecans
- 2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
Instructions
Chocolate Cake
- Preheat oven to 350º F. Grease 3-8 or 9 inch round cake pans and lightly dust with cocoa powder. I like to make a 2 layer cake and set the 3rd aside for kids that don't like the frosting and my sisters with nut allergies.
- In mixing bowl (I use my Kitchen Aid), add flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir until well combined.
- Add milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla to flour mixture and mix together on medium speed until well mixed. Reduce the speed to low and add boiling water to the cake batter a little bit at a time. Once the water is all mixed in, beat on high for about 1 minute.
- Evenly distribute cake batter between the prepared cake pans.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and cool completely.
- Make frosting while cake is baking, as it needs an hour to cool.
Coconut Pecan Frosting
- In a large saucepan combine evaporated milk, corn starch, sugar, egg yolks, margarine, and vanilla. Cook over low-medium heat until it reaches a slow boil. Stirring constantly until thick, about 12 minutes from when it starts to slowly boil. Remove from heat and stir in pecans and coconut, this frosting will thicken up as it cools.
- Let cool 1 hour then spread on cooled cake. I use 1 1/2 cups in between each layer and then use the rest to frost the outside. For easier cutting, place the frosted cake in the fridge for 30 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
Gpa with some of his great-grandkids Christmas 2014.
Help! Quick response needed. About ready to put the cake mix in the oven and since this is my first time making a German cake from scratch I am a little clueless. Is the mix suppose to be runny more so then a cake from a box?
Thank you, thank you, thank you SO MUCH Sandra. This is a cake for my son’s 22nd Birthday! Charisse~
Hello,
I have never made a cake from scratch before. Yours was the first. I can’t believe how delicious this cake is! G-Chaocalte is my favorite, and now I can make it whenever….how dangerous is that? Thank you!
Just starting making this cake and have not yet out it all together but have tasted the cake. It is the most delicious chocolate cake I have ever eaten! I could eat the entire cake unfrosted! Thats how good it is! Thank you for the recipe! I will never buy another boxed chocolate cake again!
I’ve never made anything from scratch but since it was hubby’s birthday gave it a shot. It turned out amazing! So moist n and everybody loved it! He even said its just like how his grandma used to make it! N fyi he’s the cook in this household, I burn even biscuits lol. Now he wants me to make this all the time lol! Thank you so much for the recipe and our new birthday tradition, making memories!
i LOVED this cake! It’s my moms favorite and I made it for her birthday. It was hit.
I did wonder if anyone else had trouble with the frosting thickening? I thought I followed it to a T but it never thickened. I even tried adding more cornstarch but it didn’t work. It was still awesome!
I love german chocolate cake and I’m drooling just looking at it.
I just made this for the first time, haven’t tried it yet but wanted to ask about the icing because I stirred on low heat for a least 15 mins and it didn’t thicken up much. I cooled it to see if that would make the difference but it didn’t seem to. I just added more cornstarch to try and thicken it more, which it did a smidge but it’s a runny mess and I have a ton of it now. I found this via Pinterest and directions sounded simple so I printed it. Now, after finishing, I scrolled through the comments and saw you mention at one point the icing will come to a boil. Perhaps that’s the step I was missing. At this point, I don’t intend to make this icing recipe again. If there’s additional information for making the icing please think of revising the recipe and it may be helpful to specify by your meaning of “thick” for it. Thick like pudding? Thinner or thicker??? Thank you
Wow!!!!! So easy to make. Moist and delicious. I will never make this from a box again. Made it for my hubby for his bday and he loved it. Not overly sweet as well.
this cake is amazing!!!! Could you do 2 8×8 and cupcakes for the rest?
I have always done two 9 in but I’m making it for someone and the rest of the family does not like coconut so I though I could do 2 8in and make cupcakes out of the others to do different frosting a on those.
I made this cake for my father-in-law 2 days ago. He and his wife have almost eaten it all just between the 2 of them. Rave reviews!
I am planning to make this for my father’s birthday. I love German chocolate cake, and yours look delicious! Is there any substitute I can use for cornstarch?
I made your cake for my husband’s birthday. It is fabulous!!! Super moist and just delicious. I followed your instructions and baked for 30 minutes. The frosting was so good and I had enough to frost a double layer cake. It was a little thin on the sides, but I got them covered. We are down to our last two slices and it is still moist a week later. I will definitely make it again. Best ever recipe!!!
So sorry your Grandpa died. I loved reading about him! I just posted about my Grandma and a cake. Love happy grandparent stories! Your cake looks lovely. German chocolate cake always makes me think of my dear mother-in-law who died 8 years ago.
I am making this recipe as we speak and everything has turned out great! I doubled the frosting to the T like the recipe states to, but it is not thick enough. I have added evaporated milk and cornstarch and it’s back cooling, we will see.
Hi Sandra,
I found your recipe via Pinterest and made it yesterday for my partner’s birthday. We both agree it is the best german chocolate cake either of us have tasted. This is a lovely tribute to your grandfather and I’m so glad you shared the recipe!
~ Susan
Those are wonderful memories of your grandfather. My grampa used to ask me to make Black Forest Cake for every occasion – now whenever I make it I think of him.
And for the comment about the cake not being German Chocolate – this cake was a fairly names after Samuel German – an American chocolatier and was originally called German’s Chocolate cake. So yes this truly is a German Chocolate cake.