German Chocolate Birthday Cake

Total Time

Prep: 25 min. Bake: 50 min. + cooling

Makes

15 servings

Updated: Oct. 14, 2022
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

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs, separated
  • 4 ounces German sweet chocolate, chopped
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 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, cubed
  • 1-1/3 cups sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Let eggs stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Line a greased 13x9-in. baking pan with waxed paper. Grease and flour the paper; set aside.
  2. In a microwave, melt chocolate with water; stir until smooth. Cool. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in chocolate mixture and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. In a small bowl with clean beaters, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into batter.
  3. Spread batter evenly into prepared pan. Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely. Remove waxed paper.
  4. For frosting, in a heavy saucepan, combine the milk, sugar, egg yolks and butter Cook and stir over medium-low heat until thickened and a thermometer reads 160° or is thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon.
  5. Remove from the heat. Stir in the coconut, pecans and vanilla. Beat on high until frosting is cool and achieves spreading consistency. Place cake on a serving platter; frost top and sides of cake.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 590 calories, 33g fat (17g saturated fat), 154mg cholesterol, 421mg sodium, 70g carbohydrate (50g sugars, 2g fiber), 7g protein.