If you’ve never heard of an Earthquake Cake, prepare to have your world shaken! This exceptionally delicious cake is a shakeup of the traditional German chocolate cake. Instead of the typical frosting, it’s topped with a sweet and nutty combination of pecans and coconut, which sink into the batter as it bakes, creating an ‘earthquake’ effect. The result? A cake that’s as fun to look at as it is to eat! I fell in love with this cake during a church potluck in my hometown, and I’ve been making it for family gatherings ever since. It’s always a hit because it combines the rich flavors of German chocolate with the unexpected crunch of pecans and the sweetness of coconut. Plus, it’s super easy to make, even if you’re not a seasoned baker. All you need is a German chocolate cake mix, pecans, shredded coconut, margarine, cream cheese, and sugar. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the steps to making your own Earthquake Cake. So, gather your ingredients and let’s get baking!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 c. chopped pecans
- 1 1/2 c. shredded coconut
- 1 box German chocolate cake mix
- 1/2 c. oleo or margarine
- 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
- 3 c. 4x sugar
Baking Instructions
- Prepare cake mix according to package directions.
- Grease 9 x 13-inch pan.
- Combine pecans and coconut; sprinkle in bottom of pan.
- Pour prepared cake mix over pecan and coconut mixture.
Calorie: 450
Total cooking time: 45 minutes
Difficulty level: Easy
Earthquake Cake: A Seismic Culinary Experience
The Ingredients of Destiny
So there I was, staring down at the medley of ingredients assembled on my kitchen counter. 1 1/2 cups of chopped pecans, 1 1/2 cups of shredded coconut, 1 box of German chocolate cake mix, 1/2 cup of oleo or margarine, 1 (8 oz.) package of cream cheese, and 3 cups of 4x sugar. I mean, if you’ve ever wanted to feel like a mad scientist in the kitchen, this was the day.
The Grease Lightning
Next, I had to face the grease. Greasing a 9 x 13-inch pan is a task that requires the delicate touch of a neurosurgeon and the bravado of a lion tamer. I mustered my courage, brandished my can of non-stick spray, and faced the pan head-on.
Coconut and Pecans: A Love Story
After the grease battle, I was feeling pretty invincible. I looked at the pecans and coconut, then back at my greased pan. I imagined them whispering sweet nothings to each other before I unceremoniously dumped them into the pan. They crunched beneath the weight of my spatula as I sprinkled them into their buttery new home.
The Chocolate Cake Mix Debacle
Then came the moment of truth: the chocolate cake mix. I opened the box with the intensity of a bomb disposal expert. One wrong move and the kitchen could be a cocoa-coated disaster zone. When the mix hit the pecan and coconut bed, it was like watching a chocolate snowfall. A very thick, make-your-teeth-ache kind of snowfall.
Oleo vs. Margarine: Dawn of Dairy
Now, let’s talk about oleo. Yes, I said oleo. If you’re under the age of 85, you might be asking yourself, “What in the world is oleo?” Well, my friends, oleo is just a fancy term for margarine. But saying oleo makes me feel like a time-traveling chef from the 1950s. So, oleo it is!
Cream Cheese: The Icing on the Cake
Just when I thought the fun was over, I spied the cream cheese lurking behind the sugar. You might think cream cheese is just for bagels, but oh, how wrong you are. It’s a game-changer for this earthquake cake. However, trying to evenly spread it on the cake was like trying to put a cat in a bath. It fought back every step of the way.
The Grand Finale
With the cake baked, the kitchen looking like a tornado had blown through a bakery, and me covered head to toe in various ingredients, I surveyed my creation. It was a glorious mess of pecans, coconut, chocolate cake, oleo, and cream cheese. A seismic culinary experience, if you will, hence the name – Earthquake Cake.
And there you have it, dear reader. A tale of triumph, pecans, and a whole lot of mess. But hey, it’s not a proper day in the kitchen if you don’t end up wearing half of what you started with, right? So go forth, bake, and create your own delicious natural disaster.
