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Earthquake Cake Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.3 from 26 reviews
  • Author: Kimberly
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 50 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

Earthquake Cake is a decadent American dessert featuring a rich German chocolate cake base swirled with a creamy, sweetened cream cheese mixture and topped with coconut, pecans, and chocolate chips. The cake bakes to a gooey, fudgy center with cracks and pockets of cream cheese, creating a deliciously textured and indulgent treat perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients

Cake Base

  • 1 box German chocolate cake mix (plus eggs, oil, and water as directed on box)
  • 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Cream Cheese Swirl

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping

  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Prepare Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan thoroughly to prevent sticking.
  2. Add Coconut and Pecans: Evenly sprinkle the sweetened shredded coconut and chopped pecans across the bottom of the greased pan to create a crunchy base layer.
  3. Mix and Pour Cake Batter: Prepare the German chocolate cake mix according to the package instructions, mixing in the required eggs, oil, and water. Pour the batter evenly over the coconut and pecan base in the pan.
  4. Make Cream Cheese Mixture: In a separate large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, melted unsalted butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract together until smooth and creamy.
  5. Swirl Cream Cheese Layer: Drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture over the cake batter in the pan. Use a knife to gently swirl the cream cheese into the batter without fully mixing, creating marbled pockets.
  6. Add Chocolate Chips: Evenly sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate chips over the top of the swirled batter and cream cheese mixture.
  7. Bake the Cake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the cake is mostly set but still has a gooey center with visible cracks and cream cheese pockets.
  8. Cool and Serve: Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing into 12 servings. This helps the cake set and enhances the texture.

Notes

  • The cake center remains soft and gooey, creating the iconic “earthquake” cracks and texture that define this dessert.
  • For an extra rich chocolate flavor, substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips with dark chocolate chips or drizzle chocolate sauce on top before serving.
  • Ensure the cream cheese is softened to avoid lumps in the cream cheese swirl mixture.
  • Do not over-swish the cream cheese into the batter; gentle swirling creates the best marbled effect.

Find it online: https://slsrecipes.com/earthquake-cake-recipe/