German Chocolate Gooey Layer Cake

This German chocolate gooey layer cake is a vintage recipe made with cake mix, coconut, pecans, and a rich cream cheese filling.

Prep Time15

Cook Time45

Total Time1

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: german chocolate cake with coconut and pecans, german chocolate cream cheese cake, gooey german chocolate cake, vintage german chocolate cake recipe

Servings: pieces

Calories: 455kcal

Author: Barbara

Ingredients

1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
15.25 ounces German chocolate cake mix 1 box
1 cup water see cake mix for exact ingredients
1/3 cup oil see cake mix for exact ingredients
3 eggs see cake mix for exact ingredients
1/2 cup margarine or butter - 1 stick
8 ounces cream cheese
16 ounces powdered sugar 1 box

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Mix coconut and chopped pecans together and spread evenly in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking pan.
Prepare the German chocolate cake mix according to package instructions.
Pour half of the cake batter over the coconut and pecans.
In a saucepan, melt margarine and cream cheese together. Remove from heat and blend in powdered sugar until smooth.
Pour the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cake batter layer.
Top with the remaining cake batter.
Bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
Cool slightly before slicing and serving.

Notes

16 oz powdered sugar = 3 1/2 cups
Butter Swap: Butter can be used instead of margarine for richer flavor.
Extra Gooey: Slightly underbake for a softer center.
Nut-Free Option: Omit pecans and use extra coconut if desired.
Serving Idea: Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
The nutritional information is auto-calculated and can vary depending on the products used.

Nutrition