Classic Earthquake Cake – A Gooey, Chocolatey, Coconut-Pecan Dream 🍫🌋
Don’t be fooled by the name—Earthquake Cake may look messy, but it tastes like a slice of heaven. This rich, layered dessert gets its name from the way it cracks and shifts as it bakes, revealing pockets of gooey cream cheese, melty chocolate chips, and crunchy pecans and coconut. Every bite is a surprise, and every layer brings something delicious.
It’s one of those “dump-and-bake” cakes that takes minimal effort and delivers maximum reward. No fancy decorating required—this cake’s rustic, cracked top is part of its charm.
Ingredients
- 1 box German chocolate cake mix (plus ingredients listed on the box: eggs, oil, water)
- 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Sprinkle the coconut and chopped pecans evenly in the bottom of the dish.
- Prepare the cake mix according to package directions. Pour the batter over the coconut and pecans.
- In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, melted butter, and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture on top of the cake batter. Do not spread—just dollop it evenly across.
- Sprinkle chocolate chips over the top.
- Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the top is cracked and set. The center may look slightly gooey—that’s okay!
- Let it cool for at least 20 minutes before serving. The cake sets as it rests, making those layers even more distinct and delicious.
Tips
- Don’t overbake—the gooey center is part of the magic.
- You can use white chocolate chips or peanut butter chips for fun variations.
- Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgent dessert.
FAQs
Q: Do I need to refrigerate the leftovers?
Yes, because of the cream cheese, store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Q: Can I use a different cake mix?
German chocolate is traditional, but chocolate fudge or devil’s food cake mix works great too.
Q: Can I make this ahead of time?
Absolutely! It tastes even better the next day after the flavors have settled.
Classic Earthquake Cake is the kind of dessert that gets talked about long after it’s gone—sweet, gooey, nutty, and totally unforgettable.
