Best 7 Delicious 3 Layer German Chocolate Cake Recipes

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Welcome to the enticing world of baking, where your taste buds are in for a delectable treat! Are you ready to embark on a culinary journey to discover the remarkable "3-Layer German Chocolate Cake"? This divine masterpiece is an exceptional fusion of flavors and textures that will leave you spellbound. Prepare to indulge in layers of rich, moist chocolate cake, luscious coconut-pecan filling, and a decadent chocolate ganache frosting. This article will guide you through the process of creating this extraordinary dessert, exploring the best ingredients, techniques, and tips to ensure your cake turns out as heavenly as you imagined. Let's dive into the world of this exceptional German chocolate cake and create a sweet memory you'll cherish for years to come!

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE III



German Chocolate Cake III image

A spectacular German Chocolate cake made from scratch, using cake flour.

Provided by Dean

Categories     Desserts     Cakes     Chocolate Cake Recipes     German Chocolate Cake

Time 1h

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 20

½ cup water
4 (1 ounce) squares German sweet chocolate
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
2 ½ cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
4 egg whites
1 cup white sugar
1 cup evaporated milk
½ cup butter
3 egg yolks, beaten
1 ⅓ cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon shortening
1 (1 ounce) square semisweet chocolate

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 3 - 9 inch round pans. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In a small saucepan, heat water and 4 ounces chocolate until melted. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
  • In a large bowl, cream 1 cup butter and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in 4 egg yolks one at a time. Blend in the melted chocolate mixture and vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk, mixing just until incorporated.
  • In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold 1/3 of the whites into the batter, then quickly fold in remaining whites until no streaks remain.
  • Pour into 3 - 9 inch pans Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto wire rack.
  • To make the Filling: In a saucepan combine 1 cup sugar, evaporated milk, 1/2 cup butter, and 3 egg yolks. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in coconut, pecans and vanilla. Cool until thick enough to spread.
  • Spread filling between layers and on top of cake. In a small saucepan, melt shortening and 1 ounce of chocolate. Stir until smooth and drizzle down the sides of the cake.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 735.4 calories, Carbohydrate 88.3 g, Cholesterol 187.4 mg, Fat 40.6 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 9.1 g, SaturatedFat 21.7 g, Sodium 457.9 mg, Sugar 62.7 g

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE



German Chocolate Cake image

This chocolatey classic is all about the coconut filling. We like ours with a cooked custard so it is extra rich and creamy. Made with cocoa powder and semisweet chocolate, the cake has a light texture and a light chocolate flavor. Semisweet chocolate also flavors the simply delicious ganache frosting.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     dessert

Time 10h55m

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 20

1 cup vegetable oil, plus more for greasing the pans
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled, plus more for dusting the pans
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, roughly chopped
2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups pecans
1 cup milk
3 large egg yolks
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
1 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream

Steps:

  • For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat two 9-inch round cake pans with oil and dust with flour. Whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a small bowl; set aside.
  • Microwave the chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl on high power for 45 seconds; remove and stir. Microwave again at high power in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until the chocolate has melted completely; set aside.
  • Beat the granulated sugar, oil and eggs in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in the melted chocolate. Alternate beating in the flour mixture and the milk, adding the flour in three additions and the milk in two, starting and ending with the flour, until just incorporated. Add half the milk, and mix until just incorporated. Repeat with the remaining flour mixture and milk, making sure not to overmix. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
  • Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes, run a thin spatula around the edges and then turn the cakes out onto a cooling rack to cool completely. (They will have a sugary "crust" on the top. This is from the melted chocolate and is not a problem. It will soften once the cake is assembled or if the layers are baked the day before.)
  • For the filling: While the cakes cool, spread the pecans on a baking sheet and bake, tossing once, until toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Finely chop. Whisk together the milk and egg yolks in a medium saucepan until smooth. Add the brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, vanilla and salt, and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture has thickened and coats the back of a spoon, 5 to 6 minutes. (It will be similar to the thickness of eggnog.) Pour the mixture into a large bowl. (Don't worry if it seems thin. The coconut and nuts will bind it.) Stir in the coconut and pecans; set aside to cool.
  • For the frosting: Put the chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat 1 cup of the cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until steaming but not boiling, and pour over the chocolate. Let stand a few minutes, and then whisk until smooth; let stand at room temperature (or put in the refrigerator if your kitchen is hot) until thick but not set, 20 minutes to 1 hour. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons cream to the chocolate mixture, and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until lightened in color and fluffy, about 1 minute (do not overbeat, or it will become hard and grainy). The frosting should hold medium peaks and will continue to firm up a bit as it stands. Spoon about 1 cup frosting into a pastry bag fitted with a star tip.
  • To assemble: Put one cake layer right-side up on a serving plate, and top with half the filling. Top with the second cake layer and the remaining filling, spreading it to about 1/2 inch from the edge. Frost the sides, and decorate around the top edge of the cake with the frosting in the pastry bag.
  • Loosely cover the cake with plastic wrap and leave at room temperature overnight. Unwrap and serve.

GERMAN CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE



German Chocolate Layer Cake image

Looking for an impressive dessert that doesn't take all day? This German Chocolate Layer Cake is the recipe! Three layers of fudgy chocolate cake filled with gooey, sweet coconut-pecan filling make this cake a five-star masterpiece, and you don't have to take our word for it! More than one reviewers has declared this to be the "best German chocolate cake ever" and we can't argue! A decadent filling made of butter, sugar, eggs, coconut flakes, pecans, milk and vanilla yields a mixtures so rich, you'll definitely want to lick the spoon. Top this special-occasion confection with a drizzle of rich and creamy chocolate frosting and watch the rave reviews trickle in, because this cake is destined to be a hit!

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Dessert

Time 2h50m

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ German chocolate cake mix
Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
4 egg yolks
1 package (7 oz) flaked coconut (2 2/3 cups)
2 cups chopped pecans
3 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy chocolate frosting (from 1-lb container)

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottoms only of 2 (9-inch) round cake pans with shortening. Make and bake cake mix as directed on box for 9-inch round pans, using water, oil and eggs. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely.
  • In 3-quart heavy saucepan, mix sugar, butter, milk and egg yolks. Heat to simmering over medium heat, stirring frequently. Cook 9 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in coconut, pecans and vanilla. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
  • Cut each cake layer horizontally into 2 layers. On serving plate, place 1 layer, cut side up. Spread with about 1 1/3 cups filling. Repeat with second and third layers and 2 2/3 cups filling.
  • With serrated knife, cut remaining cake layer into 1 1/2-inch-wide strips. Cut strips into irregular pieces. Place cake pieces randomly over filling to cover top of cake, pressing gently into cake and fitting snugly together. Refrigerate cake several hours before serving, if desired.
  • In small microwavable bowl, microwave frosting 10 seconds on High until thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle over top of cake. Store covered in refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 582, Carbohydrate 60 g, Fat 7, Fiber 3 g, Protein 6 g, SaturatedFat 13 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 427 mg

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE



German Chocolate Cake image

According to my husband, this is the best German chocolate cake recipe in the whole world. Every bite has a light crunch from the pecans, a sweet taste of coconut and a drizzle of chocolate. -Joyce Platfoot, Wapakoneta, Ohio

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 1h

Yield 12 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 21

4 ounces German sweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup water
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, separated, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-1/2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
FROSTING:
1-1/2 cups sugar
1-1/2 cups evaporated milk
3/4 cup butter
5 large egg yolks, room temperature, beaten
2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
1-1/2 cups chopped pecans
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
ICING:
1 teaspoon shortening
2 ounces semisweet chocolate

Steps:

  • Line three greased 9-in. round baking pans with waxed paper. Grease waxed paper and set aside. In small saucepan, melt chocolate with water over low heat; cool. , Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in 4 egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in melted chocolate and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition., In a small bowl and with clean beaters, beat the 4 egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold a fourth of the egg whites into creamed mixture; fold in remaining whites., Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 24-28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a small saucepan, heat sugar, milk, butter and egg yolks over medium-low heat until mixture is thickened and golden brown, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in coconut, pecans and vanilla extract. Cool until thick enough to spread. Spread a third of the frosting over each cake layer and stack the layers. , In a microwave, melt chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Drizzle over cake.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 910 calories, Fat 53g fat (28g saturated fat), Cholesterol 237mg cholesterol, Sodium 511mg sodium, Carbohydrate 103g carbohydrate (76g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 11g protein.

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE FROSTING FOR TRADITIONAL 3 LAYER CAKE



German Chocolate Cake Frosting for Traditional 3 Layer Cake image

This recipe makes a lot of frosting so that you will have plenty to put between each of the 3 layers of round cake. If you are a lover of this frosting like I am then even if you place them on a large single layer cake you will have enough. In my humble opinion it is the frosting which makes German Chocolate Cake so special. Substitutions don't work for me when it comes to this frosting. Especially NOT those canned versions.

Provided by CarrolJ

Categories     Dessert

Time 30m

Yield 1 large cake, 12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 1/2 cups evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
5 egg yolks (beaten)
3/4 cup butter (not margarine)
2 1/2 cups broken pecans
2 2/3 cups flaked coconut (not shredded)
2 teaspoons vanilla

Steps:

  • In a medium saucepan place the evaporated milk, sugar, butter, and beaten egg yolks.
  • Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly.
  • When it starts to bubble and get thick, remove from the heat.
  • Add the pecans and coconut and then the vanilla.
  • Spread on cooled cake.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 506.3, Fat 37.2, SaturatedFat 15.7, Cholesterol 108.8, Sodium 191.9, Carbohydrate 41.4, Fiber 4, Sugar 32.9, Protein 6

GERMAN CHOCOLATE 6-LAYER CAKE



German Chocolate 6-Layer Cake image

Here, coconut and pecan frosting oozes from six layers of feather-light chocolate cake.

Provided by Food Network

Categories     dessert

Time 2h15m

Yield 8 to 10 slices

Number Of Ingredients 15

4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 cups sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, plus additional for greasing cake pans
4 eggs, separated
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups sugar
2 cups evaporated milk
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
6 egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 2/3 cups flaked sweetened coconut
2 cups pecans, chopped

Steps:

  • For the cake: Grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Combine the chocolate with 1/2 cup boiling water in the top of a double boiler until the chocolate is melted.
  • Cream together the sugar and butter with an electric mixer on medium speed, 3 minutes. Fold in the melted chocolate. Add the egg yolks.
  • Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. Add to the butter mixture and stir to combine, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Stir in the buttermilk.
  • Beat the egg whites in a clean bowl with cleaned beaters until stiff peaks form. Fold the egg whites into the cake batter. Divide the batter among the prepared cake pans and bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Invert the pans onto racks and cool well.
  • For the frosting: Combine the sugar, evaporated milk, butter, egg yolks and vanilla in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring continuously, being careful not to scorch the frosting. Lower the heat and cook, 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the coconut and pecans. Spread the frosting in a shallow pan, and place in the refrigerator to cool completely.
  • To assemble the cake: Slice each cake layer in half horizontally, making a total of 6 thin layers. Place the first cake layer on a cake plate, then spread about 1/4 inch of the frosting over the top of the cake. Place the next cake layer over the frosting. Repeat the layers, alternating cake and frosting, until all the layers have been used. Frost the outside of the cake.

WILLARD FAMILY GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE



Willard Family German Chocolate Cake image

This recipe has been in my family for a very long time. My great-grandma could make this with her eyes closed. My father was born on her birthday so she made this cake for him every year. Even shipped it to him in Korea when he was stationed there in the army.

Provided by K-Dub

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     German

Time 2h20m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 17

1 (4 ounce) package sweet baking chocolate (such as Baker's German's Sweet Chocolate®) - broken into pieces
½ cup boiling water
1 cup margarine, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ½ cups sifted all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup white sugar
3 egg yolks
¼ cup margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ⅓ cups sweetened flake coconut
1 cup chopped pecans

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 3 8-inch cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper.
  • Place the chunks of chocolate into the boiling water and stir until the chocolate has melted; set aside to cool. In a large bowl, beat 1 cup of softened margarine with 2 cups of sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Stir in 4 egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and the chocolate-water mixture until thoroughly blended.
  • Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt into a bowl. Beat the flour mixture into the liquid ingredients, alternating with buttermilk, in 3 or 4 additions. Beat until batter is smooth, about 1 minute.
  • In a metal or glass bowl, beat the reserved egg whites until they hold stiff peaks when the beaters are lifted straight up. Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the batter, keeping as much volume as possible. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans.
  • 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.
  • To make frosting, pour the evaporated milk into a large saucepan, and mix in 1 cup of sugar, 3 egg yolks, 1/4 cup of margarine, 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 the coconut and pecans, beating the frosting until cooled and spreadable. Frost and fill the cake with the coconut frosting.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 809.3 calories, Carbohydrate 101.8 g, Cholesterol 144.1 mg, Fat 41.8 g, Fiber 3.7 g, Protein 11.5 g, SaturatedFat 11.4 g, Sodium 617 mg, Sugar 74.4 g

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. Look for fresh butter, eggs, and cocoa powder.
  • Make sure your cake layers are completely cooled before assembling the cake. This will help prevent the frosting from sliding off.
  • If you're short on time, you can use a store-bought chocolate cake mix for the layers. Just be sure to doctor it up with some extra cocoa powder and vanilla extract.
  • Don't overbeat the frosting. It should be light and fluffy, but not stiff.
  • If you're using a chocolate ganache frosting, be sure to let it cool completely before spreading it on the cake. This will help prevent it from being too runny.
  • Garnish the cake with your favorite toppings, such as chocolate shavings, chopped nuts, or fresh berries.

Conclusion:

This 3-layer German chocolate cake is a classic dessert that is sure to impress your friends and family. With its rich chocolate flavor, creamy frosting, and decadent coconut-pecan filling, it's the perfect cake for any special occasion.

So next time you're in the mood for a delicious chocolate cake, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!

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