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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.

Upside down German chocolate cake cut in squares on a white platter.

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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

Ingredients for upside down German chocolate cake. Cake mix, coconut, pecans cream cheese, butter

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.

German chocolate cake with coconut topping.

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.

Upside down German chocolate cake mix in disposable tin pan.

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.

Filling for upside down German chocolate upside down cake.

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.

Baked upside down German chocolate cake in pie tin.

Yield: 24 squares

Easy German Chocolate Upside Down Cake

Easy German Chocolate Upside Down Cake

This is so easy even I'll make it recipes

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

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

  1. Preheat oven to 350°
  2. Grease 9 x 13 Baking Dish
  3. Mix Chopped Pecans & Coconut together
  4. Spread evenly into bottom of baking dish
  5. Prepare Cake mix according to direction and beat until smooth
  6. Pour Cake mixture over top of pecan & coconut mixture
  7. Melt butter and cream cheese in sauce pan over low heat
  8. Once mixture stirs well, add powered sugar slowly, stirring continuously until mixture is smooth.
  9. Pour over top of cake mix.
  10. Bake for 25- 30 minutes

Notes

Cake freezes well.  

Nutrition Information

Yield

24

Serving Size

1 grams

Amount Per Serving Calories 151Total Fat 12gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 22mgSodium 76mgCarbohydrates 10gFiber 1gSugar 8gProtein 1g

Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I include basic calorie and nutrition information for recipes as a courtesy. However, due to wide variations in brands, nutrition data is subject to change for every user. Nutrition data is calculated using Calorie Counter App and information is entered as accurately as possible. We subtract all sugar alcohols from erythritol and xylitol from the final carb count because that is how THM calculates carbs.

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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.

Upside down German chocolate cake cut in squares on a white platter.  .

The cake is filled with gooey goodness and, therefore, may not be firm.

gooey cake on blue and white plate.

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.

Upside down German chocolate cake in aluminum pan.

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Recipe for upside down German chocolate cake in pie tin. Delicious upside down German chocolate cake

Melissa

Saturday 9th of March 2024

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.

Rachel

Sunday 10th of March 2024

Melissa, I'm so glad you like the recipe and that it turned out good for you.

Susan

Monday 29th of May 2023

This looks delicious and easy! I’m definitely going to try this one!

Rachel

Monday 29th of May 2023

Susan, It is so so good.

Renae

Monday 29th of May 2023

Yum! This sounds amazing. Hugs to you.

Rachel

Monday 29th of May 2023

Thanks Renae!

Iretha

Friday 23rd of December 2022

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!

Rachel

Sunday 25th of December 2022

Iretha, You will love it. Merry Christmas.

Carol

Sunday 14th of November 2021

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!

Rachel

Monday 15th of November 2021

carol, I'm so glad you and your husband like it. It's my husbands favorite also. Thanks for letting me know.

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