German Chocolate Cake (Cake Mix Recipe)
If you are looking for an amazing easy German Chocolate Cake, you will love this ultra moist and flavorful cake mix version!
Table of Contents
What is German Chocolate Cake?
Many are surprised to learn that German Chocolate Cake didn't originate in Germany.
The cake, which was originally known as German's chocolate cake, is an American dessert which was named for Sam German, the chocolate maker who developed a formulation of dark chocolate that is commonly used in the recipe.
German Chocolate Cake is a light, layered chocolate cake that is filled and topped with a decadent coconut pecan frosting.
We are so happy to have a cake mix version to go along with our scratch German Chocolate Cake already in our recipes section. You cannot go wrong with either recipe- SO delicious!
How to Make German Chocolate Cake (Doctored Cake Mix Version)
This German Chocolate Cake is very easy to make from a cake mix, but the additional ingredients give it a wonderful texture, and also provide enough batter for a three layer, 8 inch cake.
*You can find the full, printable recipe card further down in this post. Here is a quick look at our steps!
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease and flour three (8x2 inch) round pans. We like to line the bottoms with circles of parchment paper as well.
- In the bowl of your mixer, add the cake mix, all purpose flour, sugar, and chocolate pudding mix. Whisk to blend.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl. Mix on low speed for about 30 seconds.
- Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed and mix on medium speed for two minutes.
- The batter should look well blended. Divide between the three prepared cake pans.
- Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached.
- Let the cake layers cool in the pans for 5-10 minutes on a wire rack before turning out.
Coconut Pecan Filling and Topping
For me, the BEST part of a German Chocolate Cake is the decadent coconut pecan filling and topping.
This delicious filling is a custard made from egg yolks, evaporated milk, and vanilla.
After cooking the mixture in a saucepan over medium heat for 10-12 minutes, the coconut and pecans are folded into the thickened custard and allowed to cool.
This filling will thicken as it cools. We like to spread it into a baking dish when we need for it to cool more quickly!
Assembling the German Chocolate Cake
German Chocolate Cakes are often unfrosted around the sides. This makes assembly quick and easy!
- Place the first cake layer on the cake plate or pedestal. Spread with coconut pecan frosting.
- Repeat for the next two cake layers, so that the cake is filled and topped with the coconut pecan frosting.
Next, we added a simple pecan border around the top edge of the cake.
Super simple and so delicious! Your friends and family will want to dive right in!
Here's a look at the inside.
...and finally, a beautiful slice! Nobody would guess that this German Chocolate Cake is from Cake Mix!
Decorating Variations
For our scratch German Chocolate Cake, we frosted the sides with chocolate buttercream. This is an option you may also like!
Finally, some bakers frost the entire cake with the coconut pecan filling/frosting. If you would like to go this route, you can double the coconut pecan filling recipe so that you will have plenty to work with!
More Classic Cakes
In addition to German Chocolate Cake, we have many tried and true classic cake recipes that are sure to please! Make sure to check these out!
Carrot Cake from Scratch & Carrot Cake Doctored Mix
Italian Cream Cake & Italian Cream Bundt Cake (Doctored Mix)
Hummingbird Cake & Hummingbird Cake (Cake Mix)
Make sure to check out our other favorite Cake Mix Recipes!
Some of our most popular are our Chocolate Mousse Cake, Lemon Cake from Cake Mix, and easy Strawberry Cake from Cake Mix!
Have you made this? We would LOVE for you to leave a ⭐️ rating as well as a comment and photo below! We really appreciate your feedback!
German Chocolate Cake (Doctored Cake Mix)
Ingredients
For the German Chocolate Cake Layers
- 1 (15.25 oz) German Chocolate Cake Mix
- ½ cup (60g) All Purpose Flour
- ½ cup (100g) sugar
- 1 (3.9 oz) Box Chocolate Instant Chocolate Pudding- We use Jello Brand- Do not make the pudding, just add the powder.
- 1 cup (242g) Sour Cream
- ¼ cup (54g )Vegetable Oil (we use canola)
- 1 ¼ cup (302g) water
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon (4g) vanilla extract
For the Coconut Pecan Filling and Topping
- 1 ½ cups (171 g) pecans, chopped
- 2 ⅔ cup (198 g) flaked coconut
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon (4g) vanilla
- 12 oz Evaporated Milk
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 stick (113g) Butter (We used unsalted)
- *Additional whole pecans for border around the top of the cake- optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease and flour three (8x2 inch) round pans. We like to line the bottoms with circles of parchment paper as well.
- In the bowl of your mixer, add the cake mix, flour, sugar, and pudding mix. Whisk to blend.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl. Mix on low speed for about 30 seconds.
- Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed and mix on medium speed for two minutes.
- The batter should look well blended. Divide between the three prepared cake pans.
- Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached.
- Let the cake layers cool in the pans for 5-10 minutes on a wire rack before turning out.
Coconut Pecan Filling and Topping
- Whisk egg yolks, milk and vanilla in a saucepan until blended.
- Add sugar and butter and cook over medium heat for 10 to 12 minutes or until thickened, stir constantly.
- Remove from heat and stir in the coconut and nuts. Allow to cool before spreading on the cake.
- This is enough to fill and top the cake layers. *See Notes
Notes
- The coconut pecan filling and topping was just enough to fill and top our chocolate cake layers. German Chocolate Cakes are often unfrosted around the sides, which is what we did today.
- For our scratch version of this recipe, we applied chocolate buttercream around the sides (and piped a dam of frosting around the edge of each cake layer before filling with the coconut pecan frosting).
- Another popular way of serving this cake is to frost the entire cake with coconut pecan frosting. If you go this route, you will need to double the recipe.
Looks awesome! My Dad's from Germany and he loves German Chocolate Cake ;-)
Thanks Teri! ;0)
Can this recipe be made in a bundt pan?
Hi Linda! We haven't tried baking it in a bundt pan but it should work fine. You won't have quite as of the coconut-pecan frosting per slice as you would with a layer cake, but even using it as a topping or frosting for the outside would still give you good flavor. Let us know if you give it a try!
I am so excited over this recipe! This past weekend I was literally looking for a doctored German Chocolate cake mix recipe. I don't trust anyone's doctored recipes but yours, so I am so excited to try this recipe.
In my previous comments, I forgot to ask what brand of German Chocolate Cake Mix you use? Thank you.
Hi Rachel, We used Duncan Hines 15.25 oz. German Chocolate Cake Mix. I hope you will enjoy the cake.
Thank you.
I’m making this into cupcakes. Do you think the coconut pecan filling recipe will be enough to fill 24 cupcakes ?
Can I use brewed coffee instead of water ?
Hi Christina- I haven't tried it with this recipe but I don't see why not. Hope you enjoy it!
Hi! I can’t wait to try this recipe!
If you use Betty Crocker Cake Mix with the pudding in the mix, would you still add the chocolate pudding mix from Jello? Thank you so much!
Hi Stephanie, I haven't used Betty Crocker (pudding in the mix) with this recipe--I need to try this. I'm sure it would still be good, just a bit more dense than it would be otherwise. If you prefer a lighter crumb, you may want to either leave out the pudding or just use half of a small box instead.
If I have extra frosting, can I freeze it for later?
Hi Beth, I've never tried to freeze- it seems like it would be fine but I can't say for sure.
Could you make this cake in a 9 x 13 pan?
Hi Patricia! Yes that would be fine. You can use the bake times listed on the back of the box as a guide and then adjust time as needed. Hope you enjoy it!
Love the enhanced cake mix recipes.