Willard Family German Chocolate Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 9-inch cake pans, line with parchment paper, and grease the parchment paper.
• Place semisweet chocolate, unsweetened chocolate, and water in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes.
• Beat 1 1/4 cups sugar and butter until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the melted chocolate. Add egg yolks, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Add 1/2 of the flour mixture to the creamed butter mixture and beat until well combined. Add buttermilk, vanilla extract, and the remaining flour mixture.
• Beat egg whites in a separate bowl until soft peaks form. Add 1/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Fold about 1/3 of the egg whites into the cake batter, then fold in the remaining egg whites, but do not overmix. Divide batter between the 2 prepared cake pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes in the pans before inverting onto wire racks to cool completely.
• Prepare the filling while the cakes are cooling. Combine cream, sugar, and egg yolks in a medium saucepan and mix until well combined. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until custard begins to thicken and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads 170 degrees F (76 degrees C).
• Combine coconut, pecans, butter, and salt in a bowl. Pour hot custard over the pecan-coconut mixture and stir until butter is melted. Cool completely to room temperature.
• Make the syrup by heating water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in dark rum.
• Combine chopped chocolate, butter, and corn syrup in a bowl for the frosting. Heat cream in a saucepan until it just begins to boil. Remove from heat and pour into the bowl. Let stand for 1 minute, then stir until smooth and chocolate is melted. Cool to room temperature.
• Cut cake layers in half horizontally using a serrated bread knife. Set the first cake layer on a cake plate. Brush well with syrup. Spread 3/4 cup filling on top, making sure to reach all the way to the edges. Repeat with remaining cake layers, syrup, and filling, including the top.
• Frost the sides of the cake with chocolate frosting. Spoon remaining chocolate frosting into a piping bag and pipe a decorative border around the top and bottom of the cake.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 9-inch baking pans.
• Mix flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl.
• Place white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl; cook in microwave on high until melted, stirring between 30 second intervals, until smooth.
• Beat 1 1/4 cup butter and 2 1/4 cups sugar together in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in 5 egg yolks, one at a time, until incorporated. Stir in melted white chocolate and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until evenly mixed. Beat flour mixture into butter-white chocolate mixture, alternating with buttermilk, until just mixed.
• Beat the 5 egg whites in a separate bowl until stiff peaks form. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: the egg whites should form a sharp peak that holds its shape. Fold egg whites into the cake batter. Divide batter among the three prepared baking pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.
• Whisk 4 egg yolks, evaporated milk, and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract in a large saucepan until well blended. Add 1 1/2 cup white sugar and 3/4 cup butter; cook over medium heat until thickened and golden brown, stirring constantly, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir coconut and pecans into frosting mixture. Cool to room temperature.
• Place one cake on a serving plate. Spread a layer of coconut frosting on top of cake. Place second cake on top of frosting layer; spread with a layer of coconut frosting. Place last cake on top; frost top and sides of cake with remaining frosting.