Willard Family German Chocolate Cake

This moist German chocolate cake is made from scratch with luscious layers of chocolate cake and coconut pecan frosting for a family favorite!

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 50 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins
• Calories: 809 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup margarine, softened
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 4 eggs, separated
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 cup margarine
• 0.5 cup boiling water
• 2.5 cups sifted all purpose flour
• 1.3333333730698 cups sweetened flake coconut
• 1 (4 ounce) package sweet baking chocolate (such as Baker's German's Sweet Cho

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bake in the preheated oven until the cakes have browned lightly and a toothpick inserted into the center of a cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Allow the cakes to cool in pans before removing.

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 8-inch cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper.

Step 3

To make the chocolate cake: Place chunks of chocolate into the boiling water and stir until the chocolate has melted; set aside to cool.

Step 4

Beat 1 cup of softened butter with 2 cups of sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until lighter in color and fluffy. Stir in 4 egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and cooled chocolate mixture until thoroughly blended.

Step 5

Sift flour, baking soda, and salt into a bowl; mix into chocolate cake batter, alternating with buttermilk, in 3 or 4 additions. Beat until batter is smooth, about 1 minute.

Step 6

Beat egg whites in a metal or glass bowl until stiff peaks form when the beaters are lifted straight up; gently fold into chocolate cake batter, keeping as much volume as possible. Pour batter into prepared cake pans.

Step 7

To make the pecan coconut frosting: Pour evaporated milk into a large saucepan. Mix in 1 cup of sugar, 3 egg yolks, 1/4 cup of butter, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and cook until thickened, stirring constantly, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat, and mix in coconut and pecans, beating until frosting has cooled and is spreadable.

Step 8

Spread frosting between each layer and on top of the cake. Enjoy!