A Southern Grace: upside down or inside out

December 3, 2008

upside down or inside out

Yum

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:

Culinary Wannabe said...

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!!

Albany Jane said...

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!

Lori said...

Maybe you should add a teaspoon of cinnamon...

Chef Jeena said...

This sounds fantastic and looks totally yummy. :-)

Half Baked said...

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

Peter M said...

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

kat said...

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

Maria said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Jessica@Foodmayhem said...

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

Robin said...

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

Cathy - wheresmydamnanswer said...

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

OhioMom said...

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 :)

Pam said...

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.

Anonymous said...

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!

Marjie said...

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!

Lisa said...

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

Peabody said...

Mmm, it's sinful. Looks so good.

Anonymous said...

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

Joie de vivre said...

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.

Melanie said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Heather said...

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 ;)

Sandie said...

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!"

The Blonde Duck said...

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

Y said...

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 :)

Anonymous said...

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

MaryBeth said...

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

Susan from Food Blogga said...

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. ;)

Bunny said...

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.

Anonymous said...

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

Tabitha Blue said...

Looks good to me!! :)

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

Anonymous said...

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

Sara said...

This looks great, I love german chocolate cake.

Nina Timm said...

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

Nic said...

OMG, "multiple layers" of fabulousness.

Lucy..♥ said...

Ooooh my word, that looks awesome!!

Rosie said...

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

Rosie x

Dee Light said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home said...

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.

Jacque said...

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!

giz said...

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.

Sophie said...

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.

emily said...

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

Anamika:The Sugarcrafter said...

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.

Anonymous said...

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

Jeanne said...

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

LyB said...

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! :)

Deborah said...

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

Jaime said...

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 :)

Alicia Foodycat said...

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

Anonymous said...

I really like german chocolate cake. This looks great

Anonymous said...

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