This Easy German Chocolate Cake Recipe is a simple, yummy, and easy-to-make cake—just FIVE ingredients—but the results are spectacular! It is among one of my favorite cake recipes, and it just might become yours, too!

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Update: This Easy German Chocolate Cake recipe has been a family favorite for a long time, so I’ve updated it with a video and new photos and am sharing it again for new readers who may have missed it the first time around or haven’t made it yet.
So confession time—I’m a little bit picky about my chocolate cake. I love a good chocolate cake, as you can see by looking at all the cake recipes I have! It’s gotten to the point where each of my kids has a different favorite chocolate cake—my daughter prefers an old Hershey’s Chocolate Cake recipe that’s a little milder, while the boys prefer a rich Old-Fashioned Dark Chocolate Cake that really features the dark cocoa flavor.
And then there’s my husband who is crazy about this German Chocolate Cake. He always wants this cake for his birthday and he wants it to taste just like Mom used to make. My mother-in-law gave me her recipe for Coconut-Almond Frosting for German Chocolate Cake when we were first married, and I’ve been making it ever since!
We’ve tried several German Chocolate Cake recipes over the years. By far, the best and easiest we’ve found is Anne Byrn’s Chocolate from the Cake Mix Doctor, which has a recipe for German Chocolate Cake from a mix that is moist and delicious, even though it starts from a box. When combined with my mother-in-law’s Coconut-Almond Frosting, it is irresistible!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Minimal ingredients: This recipe only calls for 5 ingredients! You might already have a few of them in your pantry.
- Rich and decadent: This cake includes layers of moist chocolate cake topped with a gooey coconut-pecan frosting!
- Customizable: This recipe is easy to adapt with different nuts or chocolate types.
Recipe Ingredients
Cake:
- German chocolate cake mix
- Buttermilk
- Vegetable oil
- Large eggs
- Pure vanilla extract
Coconut-Almond Frosting
- Butter
- Sugar
- Evaporated milk
- Eggs
- Vanilla
- Sweetened flaked coconut
- Sliced almonds
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How To Make German Chocolate Cake




Recipe FAQs
I know some people prefer pecans in their German Chocolate frosting, and you can substitute pecans for the almonds in this recipe. However, if you’ve never tried German Chocolate Cake with an almond frosting, I strongly encourage you to give it a try!
If you prefer, you can make the cake in 13 x 9 baking dish. Bake the cake 38–42 minutes until the cake springs back when lightly pressed. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
Add Chocolate drizzle on top! I just melt about ¼ cup of chocolate chips, put it in a Ziploc storage bag, snipped the corner, and drizzled a bit on top.
Expert Tips
- Baking layered cakes: If you’re making this cake for a special occasion, head on over to my Tips for Baking Layer Cakes post. It’s a handy guide I wrote up with all the tips and tricks I’ve picked over the years.
- For parties: You can also make German Chocolate Cupcakes, which makes the cake easier to serve.
- For easier mixing: You can also warm up the butter, sugar, and evaporated milk and temper the eggs before adding them to the saucepan.
- Don’t overmix: Don’t overmix the batter as it keeps the cake tender and prevents toughness.
More Cake Recipes To Consider
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Easy German Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 15.25 ounce package German chocolate cake mix
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Coconut-Almond Frosting
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 7 oz. package sweetened flaked coconut
- 1 cup sliced almonds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º. Mix the cake mix, buttermilk, oil, eggs and vanilla in a large mixing bowl on low speed for one minute until combined. Beat at medium speed for two minutes more.
- Pour into two greased and floured 9 inch round pans. Bake for 30 – 35 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes and remove from pans. I like to line my round cake pans with parchment paper before adding batter for easy removal from the pan
- You can also baked the cake in a greased and floured 13 x 9 baking dish. Bake 38–42 minutes until the cake springs back when lightly pressed. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
Coconut-Almond Frosting
- Combine butter, sugar, evaporated milk and eggs* in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for about 12 minutes or until thickened. Add vanilla, coconut and almonds. Cool to room temperature before frosting cake.
Video
Notes
- You can also warm up the butter, sugar, and evaporated milk and temper the eggs before adding them to the saucepan.
- Chocolate drizzle, optional – I just melted about ¼ cup of chocolate chips, put it in a Ziploc storage bag, snipped the corner, and drizzled a bit on top.
- Chill before serving: Firms up the frosting for neater slices.
- Use a serrated knife for clean, even cuts when serving.










Bethie
My husband would LOVE this!!
MaryMoh
I have not tried German chocolate cake. Looks moist and delicious. I love the topping with coconut and almond. Thanks for sharing.
Kat
I love the idea of the almonds in the frosting. Thanks so much for posting. If you get a chance, please take a peak at my baking blog. I am hosting a giveaway for a beautiful vintage recipe box. Thanks so much.
http://sweetkatskitchen.blogspot.com/
Taste of Beirut
How funny! That is quite a testament to how good that cake was! I can't say I like cooking from mixes either but you have convinced me that this one is worth it!
Bonnie
German Chocolate is my husband's favorite. I only make it for his birthday because no one else in the family likes it. This recipe, however, does look good. You may make converts out of us.
tspegar
my grandmother loved german chocolate cake and this just makes me miss her and want to watch her lick her fingers clean 🙂 it really looks tasty barbara!
Mags
It's been a long time since I've had German chocolate cake. My mom used to make it all the time…. brings back memories.
Kathleen
German Chocolate is my fav! I love your doctored up cake mix version.
Lynn
That cake and frosting sound heavenly! Must print it out 🙂
The Double Dipped Life
Your frosting looks amazing! This is one of our favorite cakes too!
JG
The remaining piece looks so good! I'm surprised there was any left. Thanks for sharing a family favorite. Those are the best recipes!
Holly
I love using the box mixes and adding extra stuff to them:) Your dessert looks really good:)
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
I've heard so much about German chocolate cakes but never made one or tried one (we don't really have them here). As always you help out on that front mum! Oh and Happy Mother's Day for Sunday! xxx
livestocreate
Love the almonds also… I feel the same way about cake mixes, but your doctored up version looks great. Your photo is still awesome.
Sue Sparks
I think you already have an "Oh Wow" photo right here! That frosting looks oh, so good!
Faith
My mom is a huge fan of this cake as well…she used to make it all the time when I was a kid! The frosting was always my favorite part. 🙂 Yours looks delicious!
heartnsoulcooking
WOW!!! I love your frosting recipe. I alway do pecans, but I love the idea of almonds. YUM!!! YUMMY!!!
Cool Lassi(e)
Tut Tut Barbara! You leaked a family recipe that has been passed secretly from one generation to another..even if its just that almond-coconut frosting!Hey, guess what? I received the very same book that you are talking about via mail today. The kind generous female is BangaloreBaker who blogs at versatile kitchen.
Bridgett
The frosting sounds amazing! Such a delicious cake.
Jessica @ How Sweet
Never had German chocolate cake, but I know that I would just ADORE it!