German Chocolate Cake

·       1 pkg. (4 oz.) German’s Sweet Baking Chocolate

·       ½ cup water

·       2 cups flour

·       1 tsp. baking soda

·       ¼ tsp. salt

·       1 cup butter, softened

·       1 cups sugar

·       4 egg yolks

·       1 tsp. vanilla

·       1 cup. Buttermilk

·       4 egg whites

Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of 3 (9-inch) round cake pans with parchment paper or a brown paper grocery sack.

Microwave chocolate and water in large bowl on high for 1 ½ to 2 min. or until chocolate is almost melted (make sure it doesn’t burn!), stirring halfway through heating time. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Mix flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in chocolate mixture and vanilla. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating after each addition until smooth. Beat egg whites in another large bowl with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Gently stir into batter. Pour into prepared pans.

Bake 30 min. or until cake springs back when lightly touched in center. Immediately run spatula around sides of pans. Remove paper and cool cakes completely on wire racks. Spread Coconut Pecan Filling and Frosting between layers and over top of cake. Note: This delicate, sugary cake will have a flat, slightly sugary top crust which tends to crack, so spread frosting gently!

Coconut-Pecan Filling and Frosting

·       1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk

·       1 ½ cup sugar

·       ¾ cup butter

·       4 egg yolks, slightly beaten

·       1 ½ tsp. vanilla

·       1 pkg. (7 oz.) shredded coconut (approx. 2 1/3 cups)

·       1 ½ cups chopped pecans

Stir milk, sugar, butter, egg yolks, and vanilla in large saucepan. Stirring constantly, cook on medium heat 12 minutes or until thickened and golden brown. Remove from heat. Stir in coconut and pecans. Cool to room temperature and or spreading consistency.