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This German Chocolate Upside Down Cake is a rich, gooey twist on the classic German Chocolate Cake. It’s loaded with coconut, pecans, chocolate, and a surprise cream cheese layer that sinks to the middle of the cake as it bakes.
Part Showstopper Dessert, Part Magic Trick!
I’ve heard this cake recipe called many things – Earthquake Cake, Lava Cake, and Upside-Down German Chocolate Cake. It’s an upside down cake because the coconut and pecans go on the bottom of the cake, not the top, forming a crust at the base. My favorite part of this cake is the cream cheese layer that “magically” sinks to the middle of the cake as it bakes.
One thing is certain, it is a showstopper dessert that delivers BIG flavor in every bite! This recipe comes from my Aunt Cathie, a fabulous cook, who was so generous to share. It’s the perfect make ahead dessert for holidays, birthdays, potlucks, and family dinners.
❤️ Kelsey
Ingredients
For a full list of ingredients and amounts, see the recipe card below.
- Base Layer: Sweetened coconut flakes and pecans.
- Cake Layer: German Chocolate Cake Mix prepared according to package directions with oil, eggs, and water.
- Cream Cheese Layer: Cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, semi-sweet chocolate chips.
How to Make German Chocolate Upside Down Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 baking pan. Prepare the base layer by sprinkling coconut flakes and pecans evenly over the bottom of the pan.
- Prepare cake mix layer according to package directions. Pour the prepared cake mix gently over the coconut and pecans.
- Make the cream cheese filling by blending the cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Mix in powdered sugar, vanilla, and chocolate chips.
- Use a cookie scoop to drop the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cake batter.
- Make sure the cream cheese mixture is evenly distributed over the batter. No need to swirl.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes. This is where the magic happens! The cream cheese mixture sinks to the bottom of the cake as it bakes, this cracks the top of the cake giving it an “earthquake” look.
- Serve warm or chilled. You can optionally sprinkle pecans and coconut on the top of the cake or a dusting of powdered sugar.
Tips for Success
- Check the ounces on the cake mix: For this recipe, I like to use a 15.25 ounce cake mix. Some brands now come in a 13.25 ounce size, so make sure you get the right size. 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 pecans and coconut base and cream cheese layer, no one will ever know you used a cake mix!
- For a creamy and smooth cream cheese layer: Make sure the 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.
- Don’t swirl the cream cheese: The cream cheese layer is meant to be thick and intact. Swirling will distribute the cream cheese through the cake batter and you will miss out on the gooey, creamy layer inside the baked cake.
- Don’t invert the cake: After baking, cool the cake on a cooling rack and serve right out of the pan – warmed or chilled.
- Store leftovers in the fridge: Cover any leftover cake with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. You can serve it chilled straight from the fridge or let it come to room temperature. Either way tastes great!
Frequently Asked Questions
A classic German Chocolate Cake has a caramelized pecan and coconut topping frosting on the cake. The upside down cake has a pecan and coconut crust on the bottom of the cake and a cream cheese layer in the middle of the cake.
No frosting needed! If you want, you can sprinkle the top of the cake with leftover coconut and pecans or a dusting of powdered sugar.
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. This gives the cake a creaminess that is to die for!
As the scoops of cream cheese sink to the middle of the cake during baking, it leaves cracks in the top layer of the cake and a bit of a rumpled look – like it got hit by an earthquake. A little dramatic, I know, but so delicious!
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German Chocolate Upside Down Cake
Ingredients
Base Layer
- 1 cups sweetened coconut flakes
- 3/4 cups pecans, chopped
Cake Mix Layer (check box label for exact ingredients)
- 15.25 ounces German chocolate cake mix, prepared according to box directions
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup canola oil
Cream Cheese Layer
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cups butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup chocolate chips, semi-sweet
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° and grease a 9×13 pan. Sprinkle coconut flakes and pecans over bottom of pan.
- Prepare the cake mix according to the package directions. Pour the cake batter evenly 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 using a cookie scoop or large spoon onto the batter. Make sure the scoops are spaced out evenly over the batter.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes. 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.
- Optional: Top with additional coconut flakes and pecan pieces, or powdered sugar.
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.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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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!