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German Chocolate Cheesecake Cake

German Chocolate Cheesecake Cake starts with a cake mix swirled with a cheesecake filling and topped with the most amazing homemade frosting!

AN EASY LAYERED GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

Y’all, this cake recipe is so amazingly wonderful. It’s what happens when German Chocolate Cake and Cheesecake decide to get together and do a little hanky panky. The base of this cake starts off with a boxed cake mix (yay!) but the cheesecake layer and the frosting are from scratch. And the frosting, oh the frosting. It is heaven. The cake weighs about 2 tons when all is said and done, but it is so worth it (kinda like pregnancy).

a small slice of German Chocolate Cheesecake Cake on a small round white plate and a fork.

CAKE + CHEESECAKE

My co-workers actually renamed this cake. The actual name given to this cake is “German Chocolate Cheesecake.” However, when I told them what I was bringing to share, they were expecting cheesecake with a German chocolate topping. Noooo, it’s a German chocolate cake with cheesecake running through it, I told them. So they ask, “Well, why isn’t it called German Chocolate Cheesecake Cake?” I said, “I don’t know, this is just what they call it. Will you just eat it?” And they did. And they loved it. And they keep asking for more. They are a spoiled bunch.

closeup photo of German Chocolate cake on a plate with a fork.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)

  • German chocolate cake mix
  • (plus ingredients needed per package directions, usually eggs, oil & water)
  • cream cheese
  • sugar
  • eggs
  • evaporated milk
  • salted butter
  • egg yolks
  • vanilla extract
  • sweetened flaked coconut
  • chopped pecans
German Chocolate cake mix, eggs, oil, water, coconut pecan frosting.

HOW TO MAKE GERMAN CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE CAKE:

Prepare cake batter according to package directions; set aside. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour half of the cake batter into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Gently pour cream cheese mixture over batter. Gently spoon remaining cake batter over top; spread to edge of pan.

cheesecake filling mixed with chocolate cake batter in a clear baking dish.

Bake at 325° for 70-75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 1 hour. For the frosting, in a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, milk, butter and egg yolks. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until thickened and a thermometer reads 160° or is thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Remove from the heat. Stir in vanilla; fold in coconut and pecans. Cool until frosting reaches spreading consistency. Frost cooled cake.

spreading homemade German Chocolate cake frosting onto chocolate cake.

Refrigerate leftovers.

slices of German Chocolate Cheesecake Cake in a clear baking dish.

Makes about 16 servings.

overhead photo of a small slice of German Chocolate Cheesecake Cake on a round white plate.

CRAVING MORE DESSERTS?

German Chocolate Cheesecake Cake

German Chocolate Cheesecake Cake

German Chocolate Cheesecake Cake starts with a cake mix swirled with a cheesecake filling and topped with the most amazing homemade frosting!
4.91 from 22 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 15.25 ounce box German chocolate cake mix
  • ingredients needed per package directions eggs, oil & water

For the cheesecake filling:

  • 2 (8 ounce) blocks cream cheese, softened
  • 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, lightly beaten

For the coconut pecan frosting:

Instructions

For the cake:

  • Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray a 9X13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Prepare German chocolate cake batter according to package directions; set aside.

For the cheesecake filling:

  • In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
  • Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined.

To prepare cake:

  • Pour half of the prepared German chocolate cake batter into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
  • Gently pour cream cheese mixture over batter. Gently spoon remaining cake batter over top; spread to edge of pan.
  • Bake at 325° for 70-75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 1 hour.

For the coconut pecan frosting:

  • In a saucepan, combine the sugar, milk, butter and egg yolks Cook and stir over medium-low heat until thickened and a thermometer reads 160° or is thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon.
  • Remove from the heat.
  • Stir in vanilla; fold in coconut and pecans.
  • Cool until frosting reaches spreading consistency.
  • Frost cooled cake.

Notes

  • Refrigerate leftovers.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 478kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 26g | Sodium: 429mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 41g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

Did you make this recipe?Share it on Instagram @thecountrycook and mention us #thecountrycook!

Originally published: April 2011
Updated & Republished: June 2019

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76 Comments

  1. I can't think of a better combination than German Chocolate Cake and Cheesecake. It's like the best of both worlds. You are awesome!

  2. Wonderful combination and as I'm lately all into cheesecakes off I go……………have a great weekend 🙂

  3. You. so. crazy.

    Seriously, my jaw dropped at the title alone. THEN I saw the picture and lost control of my senses. I woke up on the floor.

    Maybe not. But you know what I mean. 😉

  4. Wow that looks amazing! I think german chocolate cake is under rated and then to add the cheesecake into it? OH MAN, this is incredible!

  5. Thank you so much for your sweet comments. I really hope you enjoy this cake if you try it. Y'all are the best and your support continues to humble me!

  6. I Love cheesecake . . . love German chocolate cake. I can imagine just how luscious the combo is! I'll be getting this recipe for sure! And I'll check out your guest post, too.

  7. Serious? I cannot wait to make this. I really like cheesecake where it is shared in another dessert, rather than just pure cheesecake. This looks perfect. thanks.

  8. Oh my gosh! This looks like the perfect dessert to make me WANT to stay an extra half hour at the gym! I just added the ingredients to my shopping list! Thanks Brandie!!
    PS..everywhere I wear my jewelry, I get compliments!

  9. Love ya Holly. I really hope your readers enjoy it as much as we did. Thank you SO much for asking me to be a part of your blog! Such an honor and you've become such a great friend – thank you!

  10. Bran, you ROCK girl!! I could not have imagined a better recipe for you to share!! Thank you so much for being my guest!! I am honored : )