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German Chocolate Birthday Cake

By: Lisa Andis 
"This moist, flavorful cake was the traditional birthday cake at our house when I was growing up. Everyone requested it. I especially like the sweet coconut-pecan frosting. --Lisa Andis, Morristown, Indiana"

This Kitchen Approved Recipe has an average star rating of 4.5 Rate/Review | Read Reviews (25)

Prep Time:
25 Min
Cook Time:
50 Min
Ready In:
1 Hr 15 Min

Servings  (Help)

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Original Recipe Yield 12 servings
 

Ingredients

  • 1 (4 ounce) bar German sweet chocolate
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 4 eggs, separated
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups cake flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • COCONUT-PECAN FROSTING
  • 1 cup evaporated milk
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 egg yolks, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

  1. In a saucepan over low heat, stir chocolate and water until chocolate is melted. Cool. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add chocolate mixture and vanilla; mix well. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; add alternately with buttermilk to creamed mixture. In another mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into batter. Line a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan with waxed paper. Grease and flour the paper. Spread batter evenly in pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes; invert onto a wire rack to cool completely. Remove waxed paper. For frosting, combine milk, sugar, egg yolks, butter and vanilla in a saucepan; cook and stir over medium heat until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in coconut and pecans. Beat until frosting is cool and reaches desired spreading consistency. Place cake on a serving platter; spread frosting over top and sides.
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 view all reviews »  

The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Nov. 9, 2009 by k8cookz   view full review
I have made a better, moister cake following the recipe on the baker's sweet german chocolate...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Oct. 13, 2008 by Renee   view full review
This is a great cake I followed the recipe to the letter. The cake was so moist and the icing...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Jun. 18, 2008 by Tibby   view full review
This Recipe is so good, I made it for my dad for his birthday and he loved it. It was also the...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Jan. 10, 2011 by kprete   view full review
Excellent--my family thought it was the best cake they've ever tasted! The prep. time was...
The reviewer gave this recipe 3 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Mar. 8, 2010 by Hibiscusita   view full review
My first cake from scratch. Pros: Very moist and fluffy. Frosting was great and not too...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Oct. 20, 2009 by Christen   view full review
Light, fluffy, sinfully delicious. The cake was incredible and the frosting was even better. I...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 12, 2008 by Lyndsey   view full review
This is sooo good. And the directions are easy to follow. This was the very first cake I made...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Nov. 30, 2010 by JMac72   view full review
Just excellent! A definate favorite in this house! Becel instead of butter and Partly skimmed...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Nov. 23, 2010 by brylig   view full review
Bar None, the best cake I ever had. i didn't think I would like the icing becausee I'm not a...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.5 star rating.
Reviewed on Oct. 21, 2009 by cookingmama   view full review
I made this cake for my best friends birthday and I followed the recipe to the T. It turned...

 

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