When it comes to desserts, I have a soft spot for those that are unassumingly delicious, the kind that might not look like much at first glance but will absolutely blow you away with their taste. The Earthquake Cake is precisely one of those. Its name might suggest a disaster, but let me assure you, it’s quite the opposite. This cake, with its unique layers of German chocolate, coconut, pecans, and a luscious cream cheese frosting, is a dessert that you’ll come back to over and over again. The Earthquake Cake gets its intriguing name from its appearance. The cream cheese frosting, when baked, creates a cracked, earthquake-like effect, making each slice of this cake a unique, delicious disaster. The combination of German chocolate, coconut, and pecans lends this cake a rich, indulgent flavor that’s simply irresistible. It’s a relatively easy cake to bake, yet the final result is nothing short of spectacular. I love this cake for its playful, unpretentious nature. It’s a cake that doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet delivers an explosion of flavors that’s seriously enjoyable. I also appreciate its versatility. It’s a hit at potlucks, family gatherings, or even as a delightful surprise for a casual weekday dinner. So, why not give this seemingly disastrous but genuinely divine cake a try? You might just find your new favorite dessert!
Ingredients
- 1 German chocolate cake mix, mixed according to directions on box
- 1 c. coconut
- 1 c. chopped pecans
- 8 oz. Philadelphia cream cheese
- 1 stick oleo
- 1 lb. confectioners sugar
Baking Instructions
- Grease and flour or “Pam” the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13-inch cake pan.
- Spread the coconut and pecans in the bottom of cake pan; add cake mix on top. Cream together the cream cheese, oleo and confectioners sugar.
- Drop the creamed mixture by spoonfuls over the unbaked cake.
- It will pretty much cover the top of the cake.
- Bake in a 350° oven for 45 minutes.
- It will look like a disaster, but taste great!
Calorie: 500
Total cooking time: 1 hour
Difficulty level: Easy
The Earth-Shaking Experience of Making an Earthquake Cake
If you’ve ever wanted to create a culinary masterpiece that looks like a geological catastrophe, then boy, do I have the recipe for you! It’s called an Earthquake Cake because once you’re done baking it, the top of the cake looks like it’s survived a 7.0 on the Richter scale. But don’t let the appearance fool you! It’s a delightful mix of chocolate cake, coconut, pecans, and a creamy topping that will make your taste buds tingle.
The Ingredients: A Collision of Flavors
Our recipe begins with a German chocolate cake mix, mixed according to the directions on the box. Easy peasy, right? Next, we add a cup of coconut and a cup of chopped pecans because, let’s face it, a cake without a little crunch is like a party without music. Then, we have an 8 oz. block of Philadelphia cream cheese (the Michael Jordan of the cream cheese world). A stick of oleo (fancy word for margarine, my friend) and a pound of confectioners sugar round out our list of ingredients. It’s like a sweet tooth’s grocery list!
The Cake Pan: Slip n’ Slide Central
First things first, grease and flour, or “Pam” the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13-inch cake pan. This is to ensure that your cake doesn’t adhere to the pan like a needy ex, refusing to let go. Then, spread the coconut and pecans in the bottom of the cake pan. Add the cake mix on top. It’s starting to resemble a layered desert, isn’t it? Like a geological stratum, but edible.
The Creamy Mixture: A Sweet Avalanche
Now, it’s time to cream together the cream cheese, oleo, and confectioners sugar. If you’ve never creamed ingredients together before, imagine you’re a DJ remixing some sweet, sweet music. Only instead of beats, you’re mixing sugar and fat. Once it’s all mixed up, drop the creamed mixture by spoonfuls over the unbaked cake. It will pretty much cover the top of the cake. Yes, it looks like a snow-covered landscape right now, but bear with me.
The Oven: Where Magic Happens
Pop the cake into a 350° oven for 45 minutes. This is where the earthquake happens. The creamy topping will sink into the cake mix, creating cracks and crevices that give the cake its name. When you pull it out of the oven, it will look like a disaster. But don’t panic! This isn’t a baking fail; it’s a baking triumph. Just remember, it’s called an Earthquake Cake, not a Vanity Fair Cake.
The Aftermath: A Delicious Disaster
When you take a bite of this cake, you’ll understand why it’s worth the mess. The chocolate cake, with its surprising crunch of coconut and pecans and the sweet cream cheese topping, will make you want to write a thank you note to Mother Nature for inspiring such a treat. Even though it looks like a disaster, it tastes like a dream.
So, there you have it. The Earthquake Cake: a cake that looks like it’s been through a natural disaster but tastes like heaven. Don’t let the look of it scare you away. Embrace the chaos and enjoy the delicious result. After all, life isn’t always picture perfect, but it sure can be tasty!
