German Chocolate Dessert Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What makes German chocolate cake different? ›

German chocolate cake uses a particular kind of baking chocolate as its base, one which has a milder, sweeter profile thanks in part to lecithin, a fatty substance derived from egg yolks. In contrast, classic chocolate cake recipes often use cocoa powder or darker chocolate for a richer, more intense flavor.

A devil's-food cake is richer and darker, and has a strong cocoa flavor. German chocolate (a favorite here in south Texas) usually is a lighter-colored cake with a flavor of mild chocolate. True German chocolate cake has delicious pecan-coconut frosting, while the devil's food usually has a dark fudge frosting.

German chocolate cake frosting is well-known for its distinctive flavor and texture combination, which gives cakes a delightfully rich coating. Made with sugar, butter, egg yolks, evaporated milk, chopped nuts, and shredded coconut, it's a sweet treat.

German Chocolate Cake will keep at room temperature (granted you are not in a particularly hot/humid climate) in an airtight container for up to three days. It may also be refrigerated (in an airtight container) for up to a week. German Chocolate Cake may be frozen, wrap well and freeze for up to several months.

What is the difference between chocolate cake devil's food and German chocolate? The chocolate flavor. In the Devils Food cake it's dark and rich. In the German chocolate the cake is light and mild.

Black Forest Cake is perhaps Germany's most well-known and most-loved cake. It consists of a chocolate cake with a filling of fresh cream and cherries soaked in Kirschwasser—a clear cherry schnapps—and decorated with cream, chocolate shavings, and cherries.

Ritter Sport is one of the most popular brands of chocolate in Germany, having offered the same iconic square packages of chocolate since 1912, when it was founded by Clara and Alfred Eugen Ritter near Stuttgart.

In a classic red velvet cake, cream cheese frosting is paired but the cake can be really be frosted with anything. Although red velvet does contain a bit of cocoa powder in it, it is not considered to be a chocolate cake in the same way a German or Belgian cake would be.

That said however, the general quality of mass-market chocolates in Germany tend to be a lot better than those in the US. This is due to a combination of factors, including a longer history and cultural attachment to quality chocolate, as well as stricter rules about quality and ingredients.

It is sweeter than semi-sweet chocolate and contains a blend of chocolate liquor, sugar, cocoa butter, flavorings, and lecithin. Baker's® sells this chocolate which can be found on the baking isle of most grocery stores. The most famous recipe containing German's® Sweet Chocolate is German Chocolate Cake (recipe here).

What is the frosting on German Chocolate Cake made of? ›

3. Make the German Chocolate Frosting: Combine brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, egg yolks, and evaporated milk in a saucepan and bring the mixture to a low boil over medium heat. Stir constantly until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, nuts and coconut.

A common misconception is that German Chocolate Cake comes from Germany. In fact, the name comes from American baker, Samuel German, who developed a type of dark baking chocolate in 1852. The baking chocolate was then named Baker's German's Sweet Chocolate in honor of German.

Too Little or Too Much Moisture. If your cake isn't moist enough, it can sink in the center. But too much moisture can also ruin a cake. This happens most often in humid climates, where extra moisture can collect naturally in ingredients like flour.

If it is still runny you may have not cooked the base long enough for the eggs to set. It should have a pudding like consistency. Another tip is to set it in the fridge and the cold will help thicken the frosting.

If your frosting isn't thickening, there are a few possible reasons: insufficient mixing, incorrect ingredient ratios or having too much liquid are the most common. You can try gradually adding thickening agents like cornstarch or powdered sugar as a last resort.

German's chocolate is a bit sweeter and milder chocolate than Baker's chocolate. German Chocolate cake is usually topped with a boiled frosting that contains coconut and some kind of nut, usually pecans or walnuts.

A common misconception is that German Chocolate Cake comes from Germany. In fact, the name comes from American baker, Samuel German, who developed a type of dark baking chocolate in 1852. The baking chocolate was then named Baker's German's Sweet Chocolate in honor of German.

What is German Chocolate Cake? German chocolate cake is a layered chocolate cake (usually with two to three layers) that's traditionally made with sweet baking chocolate and buttermilk. It's filled and topped with a frosting made from pecan, coconut, and evaporated milk.

German's sweet baking chocolate is just that, sweeter baking chocolate— at least, sweeter than both semi-sweet and bittersweet chocolate. According to MyRecipes, to substitute semi-sweet chocolate for German's sweet baking chocolate you would need to add an additional 1/2 tablespoon of sugar per ounce of chocolate.