A quick, easy version of German chocolate cake, complete with a layer of coconut and chopped pecans.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
When you’re craving dessert, but you don’t have a lot of time to spare, nothing beats a dump cake. And this German Chocolate Dump Cake may just be my favorite dump cake ever!
If you’re a fan of traditional German chocolate cake, think of this as a quicker, easier version of the classic. But just because it’s quick and easy, doesn’t mean it isn’t delicious!
My husband cooked this cake in a Dutch oven over briquettes. He was looking for a recipe that he could make for our Idaho RV group. This recipe won hands down! I’m sure he will make it every time he gets to bake for a crowd. It was delicious and I didn’t have to do anything…..not even clean-up.
Jane
This cake, filled with coconut, cream cheese and chopped pecans, is as decadent as any German chocolate cake I’ve ever had. And like most dump cakes, it’s so simple, my kids can make it.
You start with a devil’s food cake mix, add a few special ingredients, and about 40 minutes later, you’ve got a rich chocolate cake ready to serve!
It’s worth keeping the ingredients on hand, just so you can whip this dessert up for last minute guests, or in case an unexpected chocolate craving strikes!
You may be wondering about the cream cheese–not a traditional ingredient in German chocolate cake. But trust me, it works!
Somehow during the baking process, the cream cheese combines with the coconut, pecans and powdered sugar to replicate the gooey coconut frosting you’d find on a classic German chocolate cake. I don’t know how it happens, but it does!
We like to serve this cake warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. But it’s equally wonderful sliced and served at room temperature.
In fact, I may have been caught eating it straight from the pan, not even bothering with a plate or proper utensils.
Be sure to save this recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Ingredients
- Coconut
- Pecans
- Devil’s food cake mix plus ingredients for making cake
- Cream cheese
- Butter
- Vanilla
- Salt
- Powdered sugar
- Chocolate chips
German Chocolate Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
- 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans divided
- 1 box devils food cake mix plus ingredients for making cake
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- Sprinkle coconut and 1 cup of chopped pecans into the prepared pan.
- Prepare cake mix according to package direction. Pour over coconut and pecans.
- In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, but the cream cheese, butter, vanilla and salt until smooth. Beat in the powdered sugar. Stir in the chocolate chips and the remaining pecans.
- Using a spoon, dollop the cream cheese mixture over the cake batter. Gently swirl the cream cheese mixture into the batter with a knife.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
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Nutrition
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14 comments
Fara Blankenship
Should this be keep in the refrigerator?
Carla Ison
Yum! I used to make a similar cake several years ago and lost the recipie so I’m happy to have seen this one!
Yvonne Patton
can you freeze this cake?
Pam
Delicious and moist . I used a German Chocolate cake mix with pudding instead of Devil’s food cake mix. I will definitely make this again. I made German chocolate icing to spoon on the top for my husband bc he loves sweets.
Lauren
This shouldn’t be called a “dump” cake with so much mixing. For a traditional dump cake you’re not supposed to mix the cake mix “per instructions.” You’re literally supposed to just dump it out.
Estela
You are right it should not be called dump cake,
Heymom
Why make a fuss over what it’s called? It’s a recipe for you to make and enjoy, not to be criticized about the name. Make it and call it whatever you want to.
Donna Fleming
Is there anything other than cream cheese that I can use? I HATE cream cheese. The taste comes through even in small amounts. Except for that, it sounds delicious.
Beth
I made this cake for a potluck at work and it was delicious! Served it warm with ice cream and everyone loved it. Will definitely make it again soon!
Jane
My husband cooked this cake in a Dutch oven over briquettes. He was looking for a recipe that he could make for our Idaho RV group. This recipe won hands down! I’m sure he will make it every time he gets to bake for a crowd. It was delicious and I ddn’t have to do anything…..not even clean-up.
Danelle
Thank you! I’m so excited to know it can be made Dutch-oven style. My grandpa always cooked this way for us at our family reunions. 🙂
Dee
How many cups of chopped pecans? The recipe says 1/2 but the instructions read like it takes more than that.
Danelle
It’s 1 1/2 cups of chopped pecans.
2pots2cook
Hooked ! Ingredients promise a lot ! Thank you so much !