Earthquake Cake

Total Time Prep: 20 min. Bake: 1 hr.
Yield 16 pieces
Test Kitchen Approved
This decadent and chocolaty earthquake cake is packed with shredded coconut, chopped pecans and craters of cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients

  • CREAM CHEESE FILLING:
  • 1 block (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups (16 ounces) confectioners' sugar
  • BOTTOM LAYER:
  • 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
  • CAKE:
  • 1 package (13-1/4 ounces) German chocolate cake mix
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 1 cup water
  • Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. To make cream cheese filling, place softened cream cheese, softened butter, vanilla extract and salt in a large mixing bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat at medium speed until smooth, 3-4 minutes. Add confectioners' sugar, one cup at a time, beating at low speed until blended and smooth. Set aside.
  2. To make bottom layer, grease a 13x9-in. baking dish. Layer coconut, pecans and chocolate chips in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Set aside.
  3. To make cake mix, in a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, oil and water; beat at medium speed 2-3 minutes or until smooth. Pour batter into the baking dish to cover chocolate chips, pecans and coconut. Spoon large dollops of cream cheese filling on top of the cake batter. Bake 35-40 minutes or until the cake is slightly wobbly in the center and the edges are set (note: a cake tester inserted in the center will not come out clean). Remove to a wire rack to completely cool. Slice; serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 1576 calories, 63g fat (28g saturated fat), 103mg cholesterol, 574mg sodium, 262g carbohydrate (236g sugars, 5g fiber), 9g protein.

This is one of the most decadent 13x9-in. cake recipes ever! With chocolate, coconut, pecans and cream cheese, earthquake cake will knock everyone's socks off. —Nancy Mock, Southbridge, Massachusetts
Recipe Creator
Community Cook

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