December 3, 2008

upside down or inside out

For some reason, German chocolate cake doesn't really excite me. I love both coconut and chocolate, so what's my deal? I wish I knew.


One of our Thanksgiving desserts was an upside-down German chocolate cake, expertly-made by my dear grandma. This is not to be confused with the inside-out German chocolate cake, which is different (but no less decadent), with multiple layers of coconut-pecan filling and a chocolate ganache. This upside-down version is simply and magically composed of pecans and coconut on the bottom of a frosting-less chocolate cake, speckled with blobs of cream cheese goodness (see below).


It was a big hit with my family (after all, you saw that behemoth box of chocolates we attacked). You and yours might like it, too.

Me? I'm sticking with apple pie.

Upside-Down German Chocolate Cake
(a la my Grandma Alma)
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 cup coconut
1 package German chocolate cake mix
1 pound powdered sugar
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup margarine, softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch pan.
Scatter the coconut and pecans around the bottom of the pan. Prepare the cake mix according to directions on box and pour the batter over the nuts and coconut. Mix cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar until well-blended and drop by spoonfuls onto the top of the cake. Bake for 45 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.

55 comments:

  1. Culinary WannabeDecember 3, 2008 at 7:24 AM

    Usually when cakes look this amazing, the recipe is as long as book. The fact that yours is five sentences has made this go straight to my "make as soon as a chocolate craving hits" folder. Thanks!!

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  2. Albany JaneDecember 3, 2008 at 8:38 AM

    Mmm - chuck in pecans and cream cheese, and you can bet I'll eat it. Oddly enough, apple pie is on my bottom rung of pies, but mmm - give me a crispy apple tart and now we're talking!

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  3. LoriDecember 3, 2008 at 8:45 AM

    Maybe you should add a teaspoon of cinnamon...

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  4. Chef JeenaDecember 3, 2008 at 8:58 AM

    This sounds fantastic and looks totally yummy. :-)

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  5. Half BakedDecember 3, 2008 at 9:10 AM

    It does look decandent! I'm with you though, give me apple pie!

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  6. Peter MDecember 3, 2008 at 9:22 AM

    All apologies but this would win over apple pie...maybe I'm scarred from the American Pie movie?

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  7. katDecember 3, 2008 at 9:38 AM

    It looks good but we're with you in we'd prefer an apple pie

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  8. MariaDecember 3, 2008 at 10:04 AM

    Can I have apple pie and this dessert? :) It looks super good!

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  9. AnonymousDecember 3, 2008 at 10:31 AM

    I actually had to scroll down and up again, coz I was sure I missed out part of your recipe :P I love how short and simple it is!

    But then again, I don't eat cheese, or cream cheese for that matter. Drats. Count me in on the apple pie, won't you? Pretty please with extra cinnamon on top? :P

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  10. Jessica@FoodmayhemDecember 3, 2008 at 10:32 AM

    I don't ever use cake mix but I would certainly eat it if it were at my Thanksgiving table.

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  11. RobinDecember 3, 2008 at 10:34 AM

    My mom makes this and it is soooo delicious. Thanks for the reminder, haven't had it in a while!

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  12. Cathy - wheresmydamnanswerDecember 3, 2008 at 11:01 AM

    My hubby loves German chocolate cake and this one looks so good and very simple to make!!

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  13. OhioMomDecember 3, 2008 at 11:03 AM

    Thanks Gramma .. this appeals to me, cause I do not like frosting .. LOL!

    Grace, the son of the food critic requested an apple pie for his B-Day :)

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  14. PamDecember 3, 2008 at 11:37 AM

    How could you not LOVE this? My very favorite cake in the world is German chocolate. I could eat the whole cake by myself. Excellent photo - now I am craving cake.

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  15. AnonymousDecember 3, 2008 at 11:38 AM

    Well, it's usually the frosting that gets me all delicioused up when it comes to German chocolate cake. However, this looks too fantastic to pass up!

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  16. MarjieDecember 3, 2008 at 11:59 AM

    I think your problem with German chocolate cake may be that it's too sweet. I need a little "less sweet" on top of my sweet (or vice versa) in order to just love it! Well, it's pretty, but I'm still going to attack that big ol' box of chocolates when I find it!

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  17. LisaDecember 3, 2008 at 12:09 PM

    Looks tempting! I love pecans but where's the cinnamon?

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  18. PeabodyDecember 3, 2008 at 12:26 PM

    Mmm, it's sinful. Looks so good.

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  19. AnonymousDecember 3, 2008 at 12:53 PM

    Now, here's a twist: I'm not a huge fan of chocolate, but I really like german chocolate cake. This looks great!

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  20. Joie de vivreDecember 3, 2008 at 1:02 PM

    Oh my goodness, sticking with an apple pie over a GRANDMA made German chocolate cake? Grandma made recipes are the best. It sounds like you had a great time.

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  21. MelanieDecember 3, 2008 at 3:05 PM

    Ok, I love me some apple pie but this cake? I could eat the whole thing, I am sure of it.

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  22. AnonymousDecember 3, 2008 at 3:28 PM

    awwww, I really really miss being able to enjoy my grandma's cooking... that looks delicious!

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  23. HeatherDecember 3, 2008 at 3:29 PM

    cakes made by grandmas are always better. i am pretty sure you get magical baking powers once you become one. i'm allergic to coconut, though, so i'd stick with apple pie, too. but this looks delicious... albeit deadly for me ;)

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  24. SandieDecember 3, 2008 at 3:40 PM

    Your title reminds me of that Katy Perry song, "You're in and you're out, you're up and you're down..."

    Sorry, I obviously listen to too much top 40 radio.

    I'm adding this recipe to my repertoire ASAP, as I've never met a German Chocolate Cake I didn't love! Please tell your grandma I said, "Thank you!"

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  25. The Blonde DuckDecember 3, 2008 at 4:39 PM

    I think we have the same taste in desserts. I'd stick with the apple pie too.

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  26. YDecember 3, 2008 at 5:24 PM

    I've heard of German chocolate cake, but not inside out, let alone upside down. Is it possible to have inside down or upside in chocolate cake?? Hmm.. I think I'll stick to apple pie too :)

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  27. AnonymousDecember 3, 2008 at 7:07 PM

    Inside out? Upside down? Wow, you've really got a cool recipe collection there!

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  28. MaryBethDecember 3, 2008 at 8:16 PM

    I think it looks and sound perfect just the way it is.

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  29. Susan from Food BloggaDecember 3, 2008 at 8:30 PM

    This cake reminds me of Hello Dolly cookies (aka magic bars). Maybe that's why I love it. You keep the pie; give me the cake. ;)

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  30. BunnyDecember 3, 2008 at 9:37 PM

    Grace I've been tempted to make a german chocolate cake but nobody here likes coconut but me, I 'll have some of that apple pie though.

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  31. AnonymousDecember 3, 2008 at 9:39 PM

    Yes, but did little bro like the cream cheese in there? :o)

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  32. Tabitha BlueDecember 3, 2008 at 9:54 PM

    Looks good to me!! :)

    And I happen to like your photos of the culinary goodness that is your blog!

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  33. AnonymousDecember 3, 2008 at 10:41 PM

    Well it looks good to me, save me a seat next to grandma.

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  34. SaraDecember 3, 2008 at 10:42 PM

    This looks great, I love german chocolate cake.

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  35. Nina TimmDecember 4, 2008 at 12:47 AM

    This recipe takes chocolate cake to a whole new level!!! Wow, my mouth is watering now!

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  36. NicDecember 4, 2008 at 4:13 AM

    OMG, "multiple layers" of fabulousness.

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  37. Lucy..♥December 4, 2008 at 9:19 AM

    Ooooh my word, that looks awesome!!

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  38. RosieDecember 4, 2008 at 12:06 PM

    For me this gorgeous choccie cake wins hands down over apple pie ~ sorry Grace......

    Rosie x

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  39. Dee LightDecember 4, 2008 at 3:17 PM

    I love German Chocolate Cake. I made one for Thanksgiving, but oh my goodness this sound wonderful!! Thanks for sharing.

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  40. AnonymousDecember 4, 2008 at 7:13 PM

    Oh yum, and since the husband doesn't like coconut I can have the whole thing to myself!

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  41. AnonymousDecember 4, 2008 at 7:42 PM

    I have seen recipes similiar to that around for the last few years and have been very interested in trying it out. I am a big coconut lover, so I will pretty much take the stuff anyway I can get it. I am known to eat half a bag of it just for fun! hahaha

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  42. Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeDecember 4, 2008 at 8:25 PM

    Hello. Great blog you have here. Everything looks delicious. I'm from the South too. I can't imagine living in New York. I'm sure we'd stick out too.

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  43. JacqueDecember 4, 2008 at 10:52 PM

    I've had this one time at a work potluck.... and LOVED it. It looks a whole lot easier than the right side up version.

    Thanks for posting the recipe. I never did get the recipe from my co-worker and was sorry I didn't.

    It looks delish!

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  44. gizDecember 5, 2008 at 6:34 PM

    There is a time for apple pie but this time of year calls for decadence - I vote for the chocolate. Gramma knows what she's doing.

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  45. SophieDecember 6, 2008 at 9:49 AM

    Yum! Your grandma sure knows how to whip up one heck of a chocolate cake :). Go ahead and give-in like I did, read Twilight :P. You'd be amazed how addicting it is :D.

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  46. emilyDecember 6, 2008 at 12:30 PM

    Heaven help my hips. I can't WAIT to try this. It looks amazing!!!

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  47. Anamika:The SugarcrafterDecember 6, 2008 at 4:29 PM

    Hi grace
    loved the concept of this upside-down version of cake, made of pecans and coconut on the bottom of a frosting-less chocolate cake..wow..nicely done.

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  48. AnonymousDecember 6, 2008 at 10:40 PM

    I read your blog regularly....but I noticed (and I'm only gently teasing) that your last two posts are about things you made and kinda liked but weren't totally sold on.

    So here's my suggestion to renew your enthusiasm....

    Try this recipe from my blog: http://themerlinmenu.blogspot.com/2008/06/recip-pork-tenderloin-with-limecream.html

    Just trying to help, this is a great recipe I think and almost everyone raves about it.....

    A blogger friend.

    Ron

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  49. JeanneDecember 8, 2008 at 8:52 AM

    Wow - never seen this type of cake before but it seems wonderful - and relatively simple to make, woo hoo!

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  50. LyBDecember 8, 2008 at 8:53 AM

    See, I usually don't like coconut but in German Chocolate Cake, it doesn't bother me so much. That simplified version of your grandmas looks perfect for a late night chocolate craving! :)

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  51. DeborahDecember 8, 2008 at 12:11 PM

    German Chocolate cake is actually one of my favorites, but this looks even better with that cream cheese!

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  52. JaimeDecember 9, 2008 at 1:18 AM

    interesting, i've never heard of this before. i've seen the inside/out one but not upside down. my hubby LOVES german chocolate cake... i think he'd like this one too :)

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  53. Alicia FoodycatDecember 13, 2008 at 2:16 PM

    What makes it a German chocolate cake? And this definitely needs some cinnamon. Chocolate LOVES cinnamon!

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  54. AnonymousFebruary 7, 2009 at 5:47 AM

    I really like german chocolate cake. This looks great

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  55. AnonymousJune 26, 2013 at 6:23 AM

    I have made german chocolate upside down cake recipe a number of times and it's absolutely wonderful!

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