Easy German Chocolate Upside Down Cake Recipe
This Easy German Chocolate Upside Down Cake recipe is so easy that I will make it! It’s simple and a favorite dessert recipe for any occasion.
A traditional German Chocolate Cake Recipe with many layers and yummy icing between each layer is more than I’m willing to attempt. However, this recipe is just as decadent and delicious.
Y’all know there are two reasons I cook. One is “It’s so easy even I’ll make it,” or another is “It’s so delicious even I’ll make it.” Well, this recipe falls into both categories.
This recipe is easy to follow and only requires a few simple ingredients. It is perfect for a beginner baker or anyone wanting to make a delicious dessert without a lot of fuss.
(Posts on The Ponds Farmhouse may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See the full disclosure details here.)
Table of contents
What Are The Ingredients for German Chocolate Cake Recipe?
This German Chocolate Cake Recipe recipe is so simple. All ingredients are easily found at your grocery store, and I use chopped pecan to speed up the process.
- One box German Chocolate Cake Mix
- 1 Cup Chopped Pecans
- 1 Cup Shredded Coconut
- 1 – 8 oz. Cream Cheese
- 1 – Box Confectioner/Powdered Sugar
- 1 – Stick Butter
Recommended Baking Dish
The recipe is best made in a 9 x 13 rectangle baking dish.
I was planning to make the recipe ahead of the holidays and freeze it. Therefore, I used a disposable tin pan of the same size.
Step One – The Upside-Down Part
As you may know, a regular German Chocolate Cake has coconut and pecan icing on the top. For this recipe, you place those items on the bottom of a greased baking dish.
A German Chocolate Cake Mix
Another thing that makes this recipe so easy is the cake mix. Instead of making the cake from scratch, you mix up a store brought cake mix according to the directions on the box.
Then you pour it over the pecan and coconut mixture.
The Best Part Of The Upside Down Cake
The gooey yummy part is made using butter, cream cheese, and powdered or confectioner’s sugar.
Begin by allowing the butter and cream cheese to melt in a saucepan. Then stir in the powdered sugar slowly until you have a smooth consistency.
Cake Topping
Next, pour this yummy mixture over the top of the cake and bake for 25-30 minutes.
Allow to cool completely before slicing into squares.
Easy German Chocolate Upside Down Cake
Equipment
- 9×13 Disposable Aluminum Foil Pans with Lids [25 Sets] Large Baking Pan Trays – Heavy Duty Tin Tray & Lid – Half Size Chafing Dishes. Food Containers for Roasting, Cooking, Heating or Steam Table
- GreenLife Bakeware Healthy Ceramic Nonstick, 13″ x 9″ Rectangular Cake Baking Pan, PFAS-Free, Turquoise
- Betty Crocker Super Moist German Chocolate Cake Mix and Coconut Pecan Frosting Bundle (4 Pack)
Ingredients
- 1 Box German Chocolate Cake Mix Prepare as directed
- 1 cup Chopped Pecans
- 1 cup Coconut Flakes
- 1 8 oz. Cream Cheese
- 1 box Confectioners/Powdered Sugar
- 1 stick Butter or Margarine
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°
- Grease 9 x 13 Baking Dish
- Mix Chopped Pecans & Coconut together
- Spread evenly into bottom of baking dish
- Prepare Cake mix according to direction and beat until smooth
- Pour Cake mixture over top of pecan & coconut mixture
- Melt butter and cream cheese in sauce pan over low heat
- Once mixture stirs well, add powered sugar slowly, stirring continuously until mixture is smooth.
- Pour over top of cake mix.
- Bake for 25- 30 minutes
Notes
How To Serve German Chocolate Upside Down Cake
You can serve this cake directly from the baking dish or slice it into squares and serve it on a platter.
If you move to a platter, you will need to flip the cake over so that the coconut and nuts are on top. This will help to keep the squares intact.
The cake is filled with gooey goodness and, therefore, may not be firm.
How To Freeze Cake
This recipe freezes well and makes a great dessert to make ahead for holidays and special events. Bake the recipe in a disposable baking pan if you plan to freeze it.
Just leave the cake in an aluminum baking pan, cover it with plastic wrap, and then with aluminum foil to freeze. When planning to serve, remove it from the freezer one day before your event.
Keep in the freezer for no more than 3 months for best results.
More Dessert Recipes You May Enjoy
Thanks for stopping by!
Pin It To Remember It
Did you find some great ideas you’d like to save for future reference? Hover over the images you’d like to save and pin to your favorite Pinterest Boards when you see the PIN button.
That looks amazing!! Thanks for the recipe. Love your home!! Merry Christmas!”
Michelle,
Thanks so much. Enjoy!
How many cups of powdered sugar is in a box?
Denise,
Most boxes are 1 lb. and that’s approx. 2 cups.
Hi! Sounds great! Do I cut and serve as is or do I flip the cake 😬? Thanks
Julie,
You cut and serve as is. Thanks for stopping by.
@[email protected], Can you turn this upside down on plate to serve?
Kat,
I doubt it would work. It’s very gooey.
@Kat,
YES! You CAN turn it upside down on a large plate, platter, or cake board. I’ve always done it that way (for over 20 years). Also, the recipe doesn’t specify the size box of powdered sugar, but my old recipe says 4 cups. It also says bake at 325 degrees 55-60 min. It has always turned out great!
Wanda,
Thanks for your input.
This cake is way past a 5 star rating, it is the best, and I bake a lot. I try new recipes constantly. My husband said “make that cake again, I can’t believe it is as good as I remember it”. That is the only cake I have made twice in a row. TWO THUMBS UP!
carol,
I’m so glad you and your husband like it. It’s my husbands favorite also. Thanks for letting me know.
Was trying to figure out something new to do with that cake mix. I’m going to get very brave and make it for a Christmas party on Sunday!
Iretha,
You will love it. Merry Christmas.
Yum! This sounds amazing. Hugs to you.
Thanks Renae!
This looks delicious and easy! I’m definitely going to try this one!
Susan,
It is so so good.
Tastes wonderful. I was flabbergasted by the amount of powdered so I just added as much as I was comfortable with and it is just great. I think it would have been too sweet if I used it all. I have no idea how much I used. I had weighed out 1lb on my scale and I might have used about half of it. So if you don’t like things excessively sweet don’t be afraid to use less sugar. It still came out dine. Oh and I used devils food cake cuz that was what I had.
Melissa,
I’m so glad you like the recipe and that it turned out good for you.