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Home » diy » German Chocolate Cake Trifle

diy, guest tutorials, recipes · February 10, 2015

German Chocolate Cake Trifle

Tatertots & Jello is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
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Hey Tatertots and Jello fans – I’m Kelsey from Poofy Cheeks and today’s topic is chocolate! I am not a big chocolate person but put the word ‘German’ in front of it, coconut pecan icing ON it and I am THERE! Growing up my grandma would make my dad a homemade German Chocolate Cake (his favorite dessert) for his birthday every year. When we moved to Florida I took on the task of making it since my grandma still lives in Illinois (I’m originally from Rochelle, IL). This is the first year I didn’t make it for his birthday. His birthday is December 21st and the Christmas season was more hectic than usual. I have to admit half the reason I make the cake is because it is my favorite too so with that in mind I still needed my yearly German Chocolate fix!
While making a homemade cake isn’t that much more work than a boxed cake mix I had a different idea in mind. I wanted to make a German Chocolate Trifle by combining elements from my grandma’s German Chocolate Cake recipe and my mom’s famous chocolate trifle recipe. The end result was pure perfection!

German Chocolate Cake Recipe
Ingredients:
  • Boxed German Chocolate Cake – (make cake according to box directions)
  • 1 (3.4 ounce) box of Instant Chocolate Pudding
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 (7 ounce) bag shredded soconut
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cups butter
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

  • Bake your cake according to the box directions. Allow cake to cool completely.
  • For the coconut pecan icing beat egg yolks, evaporated milk and vanilla in a medium saucepan. Once mixed add in sugar and butter.
  • Cook the icing mixture on medium heat, stirring constantly until it starts to thicken (about 10 minutes).
  • Remove the icing from the heat and stir in coconut and pecans. Allow icing to cool completely.
  • Make pudding by mixing the box of pudding mix with 1 cup of milk in a medium bowl. Whisk mixture until pudding starts to thicken, about 2 minutes.
  • In a large bowl use your hands to crumble in half of the cake. Layer all of the pudding over the cake using a spatula to spread it around evenly. Layer the rest of the cake and then pour the icing over the top.
  • Refrigerate the trifle up to four hours or overnight. Store covered in the refrigerator.

My notes-
*To keep things rolling I usually make the cake and while it is baking I mix up the icing. When the icing and cake are cool I quickly mix up the pudding and then layer it together.
*Instead of layering it in one large bowl you can use mason jars instead. It makes about 20 (8 ounce) jars.

This dessert was a total hit with my family. The pudding and icing keep the cake moist and the addition of the homemade coconut pecan icing make this dessert a homerun. If you are still looking for a special dessert to serve on Valentine’s Day I would add this to your list! It makes enough to feed a crowd so you could even take some into the office and share with your co-workers or friends!

******

Thanks Kelsey! That looks amazing! I love a new twist on old family favorite recipes too! Kelsey is such an awesome contributor. Here are a few more of her ideas I think you’ll love:

DSC_9752

Her recipe for Homemade Tiramisu looks amazing, doesn’t it?

desk-before-after

And, you won’t believe how awesome her Two Toned Vintage Desk turned out!

DSC_9790

And, I love these cute Frozen Olaf Printable Valentines! Such a cute idea!

Make sure you visit Poofy Cheeks and

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xoxo
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German Chocolate Cake Trifle
Recipe Type: Sweet
Cuisine: German Chocolate Cake Trifle
Author: Jennifer Hadfield
Prep time: 15 mins
Total time: 15 mins
I have to admit half the reason I make the cake is because it is my favorite too so with that in mind I still needed my yearly German Chocolate fix!
Ingredients
  • Boxed German Chocolate Cake – (make cake according to box directions)
  • 1 (3.4 ounce) box of Instant Chocolate Pudding
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 (7 ounce) bag shredded soconut
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cups butter
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
  1. Bake your cake according to the box directions. Allow cake to cool completely.
  2. For the coconut pecan icing beat egg yolks, evaporated milk and vanilla in a medium saucepan. Once mixed add in sugar and butter.
  3. Cook the icing mixture on medium heat, stirring constantly until it starts to thicken (about 10 minutes).
  4. Remove the icing from the heat and stir in coconut and pecans. Allow icing to cool completely.
  5. Make pudding by mixing the box of pudding mix with 1 cup of milk in a medium bowl. Whisk mixture until pudding starts to thicken, about 2 minutes.
  6. In a large bowl use your hands to crumble in half of the cake. Layer all of the pudding over the cake using a spatula to spread it around evenly. Layer the rest of the cake and then pour the icing over the top.
  7. Refrigerate the trifle up to four hours or overnight. Store covered in the refrigerator.
3.3.3070
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Posted By: Jen · In: diy, guest tutorials, recipes

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Comments

  1. Shelley says

    January 21, 2016 at 9:55 AM

    Oh wow!! I came to look at this fabulous looking recipe and saw that you were from Rochelle! I’m from Stillman Valley so were kinda “neighbors”! 🙂 As a matter of fact, my dad use to work in Rochelle. Small world! Can’t wait to give this a try! My husband and I are both German chocolate fanatics so I’m sure this will be a homer. Thanks for sharing!

Hi! I'm Jen Hadfield. I'm a mom of 5 restoring an 1891 home in the heart of Salt Lake City. I love being creative and sharing simple ideas to make your life easier and more beautiful!

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