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This German Chocolate Upside Down Cake Recipe is a fun twist on a classic. It has a crunchy bottom layer, a creamy middle layer, and a fudgy top layer.
Featured with this recipe
- Ingredients in German Chocolate Upside Down Cake
- Layering Techniques
- Take Help from the Store
- For Perfectly Smooth Cream Cheese Layer
- How to Serve this Upside Down Cake
- Frequently Asked Questions about German Chocolate Upside Down Cake
- More Cake Recipes You Will Love
- How to Make German Chocolate Upside Down Cake
- German Chocolate Upside Down Cake Recipe
This German Chocolate Upside Down Cake Recipe is a really delicious twist on the classic German Chocolate Cake but with a luscious creamy cream cheese layer, chocolate ganache frosting layer and a crunchy, nutty crust on the bottom. This recipe comes from my Aunt Cathie, who was so generous to share. The fun thing about this recipe are all the layers! Surprise your guests with the hidden cream cheese layer in the rich cake batter. They’ll gobble it up!
Ingredients in German Chocolate Upside Down Cake
- Sweetened Coconut Flakes – make sure it is the sweetened coconut, I accidentally used unsweetened once and it totally threw off the flavor.
- Pecans – chopped. I buy a large bag of pecans from Costco and keep it in the freezer so I always have fresh nuts to chop up and stir into various recipes.
- German Chocolate Cake Mix – you will also need large eggs, oil, and water listed on the back of the box. Whisk the cake batter according to box directions before using in this recipe. German Chocolate Cake mix includes basic cake ingredients like flour, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa powder and salt.
- Cream Cheese – let the cream cheese rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes before mixing for the smoothest results.
- Unsalted Butter – same as with the cream cheese, use softened butter for best results.
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla – one teaspoon vanilla extract gives the frosting a rich, sweet taste that pairs perfectly with chocolate.
- Chocolate Chips – you can use semi sweet chocolate chips, milk, or dark. Or melt chocolate like chopped up sweet baking chocolate, baker’s German chocolate, regular bakers chocolate or German sweet chocolate.
Layering Techniques
- It is so easy to make and all you need is a mixing bowl and electric mixer or a large bowl and a stand mixer to help get you started.
- Avoid using parchment paper in your pan. Just grease your baking dish well with cooking spray.
- Make sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl as you’re mixing so all of the ingredients become incorporated evenly.
- Use a 9×13 pan, add the cream cheese layer on top before baking and then the chocolate cake layer bakes up and over it.
- Surprise your guests with the hidden creamy German chocolate frosting layer under the cake!
Take Help from the Store
For this recipe, I like to use a boxed German chocolate cake. You can make a homemade German chocolate cake layer if you like, and we have a delicious homemade cake recipe you can use. However, when I’m in a hurry, semi-homemade is always a great choice. With the extra cream cheese frosting, chocolate chips and the delicious toppings, this cake has so many yummy layers and textures you’ll never even know you used a boxed cake mix.
For Perfectly Smooth Cream Cheese Layer
The best tip for a creamy and smooth cream cheese layer, make sure your cream cheese and butter is at ROOM TEMPERATURE before mixing with powdered sugar and vanilla. You can also whip the cream cheese and butter for about two to three minutes until it’s light and fluffy or until stiff peaks form. Then add the powdered sugar slowly while mixing.
How to Serve this Upside Down Cake
After removing from the oven, let the pan cool on a wire rack, but don’t invert the cake. This one is best served right out of the baking pan. You can serve it warm with some vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Cover leftovers with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. I love eating it chilled straight from the fridge, but you can also let it come to room temperature to serve also.
Frequently Asked Questions about German Chocolate Upside Down Cake
The toppings of the upside down cake are layered in the middle with the cake is on the top. Plus this cake has a yummy cream cheese layer that isn’t on the classic German chocolate cake.
Nope, the frosting is in the middle of the cake. If you want, you can top it with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
In addition to the nuts and coconut on the bottom of the cake, the filling is made with a luscious cream cheese icing mixed with chocolate chips. So delicious!
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How to Make German Chocolate Upside Down Cake
German Chocolate Upside Down Cake
Equipment
- 9×13 pan
- Electric Mixer
- Mixing Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 cups sweetened coconut flakes
- 3/4 cups pecans chopped
- 15.25 ounces German chocolate cake mix prepared according to box directions
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cups butter softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 9×13 pan. Sprinkle coconut flakes and pecans over bottom of pan.
- Pour prepared cake mix over the coconut and pecans.
- Mix cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and chocolate chips. Drop the cream cheese mixture in large spoonfuls onto the top of the cake mixture.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes. Serve warm. The cake should pass the toothpick test – a toothpick should come out clean when inserted into the middle of only the cake layer. It is okay if some cream cheese mixture comes out on the toothpick.
- Top with whipped cream or powdered sugar (optional)
Notes
- Avoid using parchment paper on the bottom for this cake. Just grease the pan well.
- Let the butter and cream cheese come to room temperature before mixing for the smoothest results.
- Cover leftover cake with plastic wrap and store in the fridge.
Can you leave out the coconut and pecans and it still turn out?
We haven’t tried that, so I am not sure.
This was really AHHmazing! My kids can’t get enough of it!
Yummy! This cake was so delicious and easy! I will definitely be making this again!
Oooooh my goodness. I needed a german chocolate cake recipe for my dad for his birthday and this is IT! Thank you!
Wow this cake was perfect! Thanks for the easy recipe!