German Chocolate Cake

German Chocolate Cake what could sound better. Wait it is mid-spring and most of my time has been spent on my knees in the garden.  I was thinking of Coconut this morning while planting some more butterfly flowers. The recipe usually make a very nice 3 layer cake. BUT this time I am going to make one layer and some cupcakes. Let us call this a German Cake test run!



Ingredients for Cake

1/2 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 1/2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 egg whites
Preheat oven to 350 degrees This recipe makes one 3 layer cake.
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 mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.








Fold 1/3 of the whites into the batter, then quickly fold in remaining whites be gentle










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. I think I could have cooked it for about 5 minutes less time. The edges look to cooked to me?



Coconut Pecan Frosting

1 cup white sugar
1 12 oz. can of evaporated milk
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 egg yolks, beaten
2 1/3 cups flaked coconut
1 ½ cups chopped pecans

 

In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, milk, butter, egg yolks, and vanilla.









 Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 10 minutes.  




















Transfer to a bowl add the coconut and pecans stirring occasionally.









Allow to cool to room temperature before frosting the cake


 

I do have other pictures of this cake in layers and looking much prettier but this was a rushed cake. !