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READY IN 30 mins

Frosting for German Chocolate Cake

Read Reviews (42)

"This is a yummy frosting to top a German chocolate cake with. It is a traditional recipe with coconut and walnuts." — Sierra

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Sugar and Sweeteners

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All about Eggs

Original recipe makes 2 cups Change Servings

1 cup half-and-half
1/2 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
3 egg yolks

1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

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Directions

In a medium saucepan, combine the half and half, butter, sugar, yolks and cornstarch. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat and stir in the coconut and walnuts. Cool to room temperature before frosting cake.

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PREP 10 mins
COOK 20 mins
READY IN 30 mins

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My boyfriend started eating this frosting with a spoon it was SO good. One word of advice, wisk the cornstarch in with the half/half first so there are no lumps later. I used Pecans and toasted both them and the coconut as others suggested, it was WONDERFUL!

—BELFLOREK

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Most Helpful Critical Review

Oct 11, 2010

Tasted good but subsistancy was too loose, The melted butter seemed to appear as frosting cooled.

—Lillian

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46 Ratings

Jul 23, 2003

OH man..I could eat this frosting till I couldn't see straight anymore. I love german chocolate cake...(no one's is as good as my mema's) but the frosting makes up for that. Our regular recipe calls for either milk or evaporated milk I believe, but half and half is certainly a great substitute. Thanks so much Sierra.

—JOSIE

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Dec 16, 2003

I have been looking for a good GC frosting -- this was it! I must admit, though, I used pecans, not walnuts. I'm fairly certain (??) that tradition would have you use pecans for a GC cake... besides, I am allergic to walnuts, so that never would have worked. :) It turned out great -- thanks!

—TENSMOM

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Aug 09, 2004

Frosting was great! Tasted great on the german chocolate cake recipe. I changed one thing, I used pecans instead of the walnuts. Be sure to let it set to thicken.

—TXMUSTANG

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Mar 15, 2005

Very tasty!! This frosting is not sickeningly sugary like some frostings, and I would willingly eat it even without a cake under it... However, be VERY careful not to overheat the frosting; on one memorable occasion I ended up picking out bits of cooked yolk at the end.

—HANNAH22

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Nov 16, 2010

This is my go-to recipe for german chocolate cake frosting ... so unbelievably good! My husband's all time favorite. The eggs must be tempered or you will have cooked egg in your frosting. I get the half & half, butter, sugar & cornstarch to a near boil then take out a small amount to temper with the yolks. Slowly add the whipped egg yolks into it, then slowly add all back into the pan - be sure to stir constantly with a whisk while pouring into pan. You must bring it all to a full boil to get the mixture to a thick custard like consistency. Then add the coconut & nuts. I do add about 1-1/2 cups of coconut to get a thicker frosting like consistency. SO GOOD!!!!

—hoffmanlb

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Nov 13, 2005

I thought this recipe was fantastic! I added 1 tsp. of vanilla and substituted pecans for the walnuts. I also toasted the pecans and coconut first.

—KARENH

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Nutrition

Calories
234 kcal
12%

Carbohydrates
22.2 g
7%

Cholesterol
79 mg
26%

Fat
16 g
25%

Fiber
0.9 g
4%

Protein
2.3 g
5%

Sodium
82 mg
3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Nutritional Information

Frosting for German Chocolate Cake

Serving Size: 1/12 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 12
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 234
Calories from Fat: 144

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 16g 25 %
Saturated Fat 8.6g 43 %
Cholesterol 79mg 26 %
Sodium 82mg 3 %
Potassium 77mg 2 %
Total Carbohydrates 22.2g 7 %
Dietary Fiber 0.9g 4 %
Protein 2.3g 5 %
Sugars 19.1g
Vitamin A 7 %
Vitamin C < 1 %
Calcium 4 %
Iron 4 %
Thiamin 3 %
Niacin 4 %
Vitamin B6 3 %
Magnesium 5 %
Folate 7 %

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.