German chocolate cake combines the flavors of chocolate, pecan, and coconut to create a decadently sweet dessert. This German chocolate cake recipe is easy to make—just follow the step by step directions in this guide to how to make German chocolate cake.

German chocolate cake gets it's name not from the country of Germany, but from the brand of chocolate used to make the cake. The recipe originated on the package for Baker's German Sweet Chocolate. The chocolate has nothing to do with Germany, it was named after the founder of Baker's Chocolate Company, Sam German, and is a purely American invention.http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/Cakes/GermanChocolateCake.htm

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease and flour 3 9 inch cake pans.
3. Mix the flour, baking soda, and salt, and set aside.
4. Melt the chocolate in the boiling water, and cool.
5. Whip the egg whites until stiff, and set aside.
6. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
7. Add egg yolks and vanilla, and beat until well combined.
8. Blend in vanilla and chocolate.
9. Add the flour and buttermilk alternately to the batter, beating well after each addition.
10. Fold in the egg whites.
11. Divide the batter equally among the 3 cake pans, and bake for 30-35 minutes until the cake begins pulling away from the sides of the pan.
12. Cool in the pans for 5 minutes, and then turn onto wire racks to cool completely before frosting.

1. Mix all ingredients except the coconut and pecans in a saucepan.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 12 minutes.
3. Stir in the coconut and pecans.
4. Cool until room temperature before frosting the cake.