Easy Gluten Free German Chocolate Cake {and a funny story}

I think you’ll all agree that this picture of my Gluten Free German Chocolate Cake is not going to win a prize. You’re not going to see it go viral on pinterest. In fact, when the cake was finished, since the top layer was baked in a smaller cake pan than the rest, it kind of had a Leaning Tower of Pisa look. I wondered if it would make it! The truth is, this cake was never intended to go on my blog. It was simply meant as a gluten free version of my hubby’s favorite cake–a treat for his birthday. But, when we tasted it, I quickly snapped some pictures because it was sooooo good!

If you came for the recipe, keep scrolling. If you came for the story of why the super easy cake that should have taken 1 hour actually took four, read on! (Don’t worry.  It won’t take you four hours to make this cake.  Two tired women plus an incredibly long day and a series of unfortunate events added up to one crazy cake baking story!) If you have ever baked with a house full of kids and guests on very little sleep, you will relate to this story. If you haven’t, you will probably leave thinking that my mom and I are both completely nuts.

This post is a deviation from what you’ll usually find on my site. Instead of posed pictures and perfected instructions, you’ll find a candid look into my crazy everyday life.  (Yep. My life is full of messes, failed recipes, and crazy days–just like yours!) That pretty cake stand? It’s not mine. If I had been at my house, the cake most likely would have been served on a dinner plate!

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Here we go! This cake starts with 2 cake mixes. What could be easier than that, right? Wrong!

Here’s what happened on the baking front while kids ran in and out of the kitchen, my sister peppered my mom and me with questions about an event she was planning, and our sleepy brains tried to double recipes while our hands dirtied almost every dish in the kitchen:

Heidi

• Started one cake mix, but somehow only added half the butter.
• Carefully cut waxed paper into circles and lined the baking pans.
• Poured cake batter into two of the nicely lined pans.
• Realized half the butter was missing.
• Poured batter back into the mixing bowl and scraped as much as possible off of the waxed paper.
• Licked fingers (can’t waste the chocolate).
• Washed and dried the baking pans and relined them with waxed paper.
• Opted to mix both cake mixes together (adding the correct amount of butter).
• Made a mess melting chocolate.
• Added secret ingredient.
• Poured into baking pans and put into oven to bake.

Mom

• Started batch number one of coconut-pecan filling and frosting.
• Discovered that evaporated milk had separated in the can, but didn’t know how it would effect the frosting.  (Shook it up really well.)
• Cooked and stirred, and cooked and stirred, and cooked and stirred, but the frosting never set up.
• Hummed and hawed with Heidi for ten to fifteen minutes over whether or not to start over.
• Tried adding powdered sugar to the frosting to make it set up. Didn’t work.
• Decided to start over.
• Out of eggs! Sent Heidi home to get more.
• Started batch 2. Looked good.
• Cooked and stirred, and cooked and stirred, but it wasn’t setting up–again!
• Oh, no!  We forgot to add the sugar!
• Added sugar.
• Cooked and stirred
• It worked this time!
• Finished frosting. Let it cool.

Heidi and Mom

• Laughed hysterically as Heidi put the layers together and frosted the cake.
• Laughed more as Heidi put frosting along the outside edges and then scraped it off because it didn’t look good.
• Laughed even more when Mom innocently said, “I wonder why the frosting doesn’t taste the same as it usually does.”

Crazy day. Fantastically yummy cake. Happy Birthday boy.

I’m sure you want to skip the four hours part, so here’s the easy way to make this delicious cake!

Gluten Free German Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• 2 Boxes of Betty Crocker Gluten Free Devil’s Food Cake Mix
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 6 eggs
• 3-4 squares of Baker’s German Sweet Chocolate

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.

Prepare cake according to box directions, combining both mixes.  Melt chocolate and allow it to cool slightly before adding it to the mix.

Prepare three 8″ or 9″ round pans by lining them with waxed paper.

Pour batter evenly into the three pans.

Baking time depends on your pans.  Start with 20 minutes, but it will most likely take 30.  (Cake is ready when a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out mostly clean.  A few crumbs are okay.)

Coconut-Pecan Filling and Frosting (Recipe from Baker’s German Sweet Chocolate)

Ingredients

• 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
• 1 1/2 c sugar
• 3/4 c butter or margarine
• 4 egg yolks, slightly beaten
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 2/3 c angel flake coconut
• 1 1/2 c chopped pecans

Directions

Mix milk, sugar, butter, egg yolks and vanilla in a large saucepan.  Stir constantly over medium heat for 12 minutes or until thickened and golden brown.  Remove from heat.

Add the coconut and pecans and mix well.  Cool until it is spreadable.

Now just put it all together!

I use a serrated knife to carefully slice a bit of the rounded top off of each layer.  The more you slice off, the nicer your layers will lay.  I didn’t slice off very much, so my layers were pretty messy.  Spread frosting between each layer and on top, and you’re all done.

No, this is not a sponsored post for Betty Crocker. I do have some recipes for gluten free chocolate cake. I’m sure they are really good. I haven’t tried any yet because this cake mix is really good, and it’s quick and easy. When I have time to get fancy, maybe I’ll branch out and bake a chocolate cake from scratch. For now, I’ll stick to jazzing up this tasty and simple box cake.

Enjoy!

*3/17 Update: I have to laugh. This cake–which I thought was so ugly with the picture that was taken at the last minute in horrible lighting with no staging–was accepted to Food Gawker! I have never had a picture accepted to Food Gawker–ever.  I had to laugh! I guess maybe I’m trying too hard.

Thanks for stopping by today. While you’re here, check out some of these yummy gluten free recipes. (Images below are linked to posts. Click the image to visit the post.)