Rich German Chocolate Cake Recipe

Silky, Dreamy Flourless German Chocolate Cake Recipe

Decadent chocolate lovers rejoice over this incredible flourless German chocolate cake that promises pure indulgence without traditional wheat-based ingredients.

Rich, velvety textures melt effortlessly on your palate, creating an irresistible dessert experience.

The cake deep cocoa essence blends perfectly with smooth chocolate layers that whisper elegance and comfort.

Each forkful delivers a luxurious sensation that breaks traditional baking boundaries with stunning simplicity.

Nutty coconut and delicate pecans add delightful crunch to this sophisticated treat.

chocolate enthusiasts and gluten-sensitive dessert fans will absolutely adore this remarkable recipe that transforms ordinary baking into an extraordinary culinary adventure.

Prepare to be swept away by a slice of pure chocolate bliss.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Calories: 405 kcal

Servings: 9

Ingredients You’ll Love in Flourless German Chocolate Cake

For Cake Base:
  • Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Provides rich, deep chocolate flavor with balanced sweetness, choose high-quality chips for intense taste.
  • Unsalted Butter: Ensures smooth texture and adds creamy richness, select fresh butter for best results.
  • Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and helps create tender cake structure, opt for fine-grain sugar.
  • Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Enhances chocolate intensity and deepens color, use Dutch-processed cocoa for smoother flavor.
  • Large Eggs: Bind ingredients and provide structure, select fresh, room temperature eggs.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, aromatic depth to chocolate flavor, use pure vanilla for best quality.
  • Fine Sea Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor, choose fine-grain salt for even distribution.
For Chocolate Ganache:
  • Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, Heavy Cream: Create smooth, glossy chocolate coating, select high-fat content cream for luxurious texture.
  • Fine Sea Salt: Elevates chocolate's complexity and cuts through richness.
For Coconut Pecan Caramel Topping:
  • Unsalted Butter: Provides rich, buttery base for caramel, use fresh, high-quality butter.
  • Light Brown Sugar: Creates deep caramel notes, choose moist, well-packed sugar.
  • Large Egg Yolks: Adds richness and helps thicken caramel, ensure fresh eggs.
  • Evaporated Milk: Contributes creamy consistency, select full-fat version.
  • Heavy Cream: Enhances smoothness and adds luxurious mouthfeel.

Tools for Baking Flourless German Chocolate

  • 9-inch cake pan: Essential for baking the cake with perfect shape and size.
  • Parchment paper: Crucial for easy cake removal and preventing sticking.
  • Small saucepan: Needed for melting chocolate chips and butter smoothly.
  • Medium saucepan: Used for preparing coconut pecan caramel topping.
  • Wire rack: Perfect for cooling cake after baking.
  • Mixing bowls: Necessary for combining ingredients and creating different mixtures.
  • Whisk or spatula: Great for stirring and blending ingredients thoroughly.
  • Measuring cups and spoons: Important for accurate ingredient measurements.

Instructions for Rich Flourless German Chocolate Cake

  • Chocolate Preparation Warm your kitchen and gather quality chocolate and butter. Melt these ingredients together slowly, creating a silky smooth base that will become the heart of your delightful dessert.
  • Batter Blend Mix your dry ingredients carefully, ensuring no lumps remain. Fold them gently into the chocolate mixture, creating a rich and velvety batter that promises incredible flavor.
  • Cake Pan Setup Choose a sturdy pan and line it with parchment paper. This simple step ensures your cake will release smoothly and look picture-perfect when complete.
  • Baking Magic Place your cake into a preheated oven. Watch as the batter transforms into a luxurious chocolate landscape, filling your kitchen with an irresistible aroma.
  • Ganache Creation While the cake cools, craft a silky chocolate topping by melting chocolate with cream. Stir until the mixture becomes glossy and smooth, ready to drape over your masterpiece.
  • Caramel Coconut Topping Combine brown sugar, cream, and other ingredients in a saucepan. Cook until the mixture thickens and develops a rich, golden color that hints at the deliciousness to come.
  • Final Assembly Spread the ganache across the cooled cake, then generously sprinkle the coconut and pecan mixture on top. Let the layers settle, creating a stunning dessert that promises pure indulgence.

Tips and Ganache Options for This German Delight

  • Prepare the cake one day in advance and store covered in the refrigerator to enhance flavor depth and allow ingredients to meld perfectly.
  • Remove cake from oven when center still slightly jiggly, as it continues cooking while cooling, ensuring ultra-moist chocolate experience.
  • Swap butter with coconut oil and use almond milk instead of heavy cream to create a delightful lactose-free version without compromising rich flavor profile.
  • Sprinkle toasted coconut flakes or dark chocolate shavings on top for extra visual appeal and crunchy texture that complements smooth ganache beautifully.
  • Keep leftover cake refrigerated in an airtight container up to 4 days, allowing flavors to develop more intense chocolate notes with each passing day.

Presenting Flourless German Chocolate Cake at the Table

  • Sweet Celebration Platter: Serve this decadent flourless German chocolate cake on a beautiful wooden board surrounded by fresh berries and a light dusting of powdered sugar for an elegant presentation.
  • Complementary Beverage Pairing: Enhance the rich chocolate experience by serving alongside a warm cup of dark roast coffee or a smooth amber port wine that highlights the cake's deep, complex flavors.
  • Textural Garnish Delight: Sprinkle extra toasted pecans and coconut flakes around the cake's edges for added crunch and visual appeal, creating a gorgeous contrast to the smooth ganache and moist cake texture.
  • Indulgent Dessert Companion: Offer a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or whipped cream on the side to balance the intense chocolate richness and provide a cool, creamy counterpoint to the warm cake flavors.

How to Store This Flourless German Chocolate Treat

  • Smart Storage Solutions: Keep cake wrapped tightly in plastic film inside an airtight container for maximum freshness, lasting 4-5 days when refrigerated.
  • Freezing Friendly: Slice cake into individual portions, wrap each separately in aluminum foil, store inside freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months without losing rich flavor or texture.
  • Refrigeration Recommendations: Store fully assembled cake in sealed container, placing wax paper between layers to prevent sticking; consume within one week for optimal taste experience.
  • Room Temperature Tips: Allow cake to sit at ambient kitchen conditions for maximum flavor development, but avoid leaving out longer than 6-8 hours to maintain perfect moisture balance and prevent potential bacterial growth.
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Rich German Chocolate Cake Recipe

Decadent German Chocolate Cake Recipe


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4.8 from 35 reviews

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 9 1x

Description

Homemade flour-free chocolate cake celebrates German baking traditions with rich cocoa and nutty accents. Delicate chocolate layers blend seamless sweetness, inviting all dessert enthusiasts to savor each luxurious chocolate-filled bite.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 large eggs
  • 8 tbsps (113 grams / 4 oz) unsalted butter
  • 1 cup (240 ml / 8 fl oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (50 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp fine sea salt
  • 1 cup (240 ml / 8 fl oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup (120 ml / 4 fl oz) heavy cream
  • 1 pinch fine sea salt
  • 1 ½ cups (135 grams) sweetened shredded coconut
  • ¾ cup (85 grams) chopped pecans
  • 3 tbsps (42 grams / 1.5 oz) unsalted butter
  • ¾ cup (165 grams) light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 5 oz (150 ml / 5 fl oz) evaporated milk
  • 2 tbsps (30 ml / 1 fl oz) heavy cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp angostura bitters (optional)
  • 1 pinch fine sea salt

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Adjust oven rack to center position and preheat to 375°F (190°C), ensuring optimal baking environment.
  2. Chocolate Base: Melt chocolate chips and butter in a saucepan over low heat, whisking constantly to create a smooth, glossy mixture. Remove from heat and incorporate vanilla and eggs until perfectly blended.
  3. Dry Ingredient Integration: Sift cocoa powder, sugar, and salt together, then gently fold into the chocolate mixture until a uniform batter emerges with no visible streaks.
  4. Pan Preparation: Generously grease a 9-inch cake pan, line with parchment paper, and re-grease to guarantee effortless cake release. Transfer batter into the pan, leveling the surface with a spatula.
  5. Baking Process: Bake for 25-30 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick that should reveal a few moist crumbs. Allow cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
  6. Ganache Creation: Combine chocolate chips and heavy cream in a saucepan, heating gently until achieving a silky, glossy texture.
  7. Coconut Pecan Topping: In a separate saucepan, blend butter, brown sugar, egg yolks, heavy cream, and evaporated milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously until the mixture thickens and bubbles (4-5 minutes). Remove from heat and fold in vanilla, toasted pecans, coconut flakes, and a touch of salt.
  8. Final Assembly: Once cake has cooled, spread ganache evenly across the top. Carefully layer the warm coconut pecan topping over the ganache. Allow the cake to rest for 30 minutes, enabling the layers to set completely before serving.

Notes

Choose Quality Chocolate: Select high-quality dark chocolate chips with at least 70% cocoa content for rich, intense flavor and smooth texture.

Prevent Cake Cracking: Maintain consistent oven temperature and avoid opening the oven door during baking to prevent sudden temperature changes that cause cracking.

Check Cake Doneness: Look for moist crumbs on the toothpick, not completely clean, to ensure a wonderfully fudgy and moist cake texture without overbaking.

Topping Temperature Matters: Apply coconut pecan topping while slightly warm to help it spread evenly and adhere perfectly to the ganache layer for maximum flavor integration.

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: German

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 9
  • Calories: 405
  • Sugar: 32 g
  • Sodium: 135 mg
  • Fat: 25 g
  • Saturated Fat: 15 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 41 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Cholesterol: 97 mg
Michael Reynolds

Michael Reynolds

Founder, Head Recipe Developer & Cuisine Specialist

Expertise

Recipe Development and Testing​, Modern American and European Cuisines​, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education and Workshops​

Education

Johnson & Wales University

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and global cuisines.​

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts

  • Program: Diploma in Pastry Arts
  • Focus: Specialized education in baking and pastry, emphasizing artisanal bread, confections, and plated desserts.​

Michael Reynolds is the founder and head recipe creator at wd-50.com. With over 15 years of experience in the kitchen, he’s spent time working in top restaurants and now focuses on making great food easy for everyone at home.

Michael studied culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University and later trained in pastry at the Auguste Escoffier School. He knows his way around both savory meals and sweet treats.

At wd-50.com, his goal is to help you feel confident in the kitchen, whether you’re trying something new or cooking a favorite dish. He loves using fresh ingredients and simple steps that still bring out big flavors.

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