“My mom knew this recipe with her eyes closed! Passed down from her mother and still going strong at every family gathering.”

This German Chocolate Sheet Cake is a classic dessert, featuring a moist chocolate cake base topped with a rich and creamy coconut-pecan frosting. It’s perfect for large gatherings and celebrations.
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Ingredients:
Ingredient | Quantity |
---|---|
All-purpose flour | 2 cups |
White sugar | 2 cups |
Cocoa powder | 1/4 cup |
Water | 1 cup |
Butter (1 stick) | 1/2 cup |
Shortening | 1/2 cup |
German baking chocolate | 4 oz |
Buttermilk | 1/2 cup |
Baking soda | 1 teaspoon |
Salt | 1/2 teaspoon |
Eggs | 2 |
Vanilla extract | 1 teaspoon |
Frosting:
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Ingredient | Quantity |
---|---|
Evaporated milk (12 oz can) | 1 can |
Egg yolks | 3 |
Butter | 3/4 cup |
Sugar | 1 cup |
Brown sugar | 1/2 cup |
Shredded coconut | 1 1/2 cups |
Pecans (roughly chopped) | 1 1/2 cups |
Vanilla extract | 1 1/2 teaspoons |
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) and grease a 15×10-inch baking sheet pan.
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, white sugar, and cocoa powder.
- In a small saucepan, add the water, butter, shortening, and German baking chocolate. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Once the mixture is smooth and fully combined, add it to the dry ingredients and whisk to combine.
- Stirring between each addition, first add the buttermilk, baking soda, salt, eggs, and then vanilla extract.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared sheet pan and bake for 20-22 minutes. Let the cake cool completely before frosting.
Frosting:
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- Add the evaporated milk, egg yolks, butter, sugar, and brown sugar to a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring the mixture to a boil and then lower the heat to a simmer.
- Stir frequently and continue cooking for 10-12 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Stir in the shredded coconut, chopped pecans, and vanilla extract.
- Let the frosting cool slightly and then spread it evenly over the cooled cake.
- Chill the cake for 1-2 hours before serving.