Need something different to take to the next pot luck or church social?
German Chocolate Upside Down Cake is a very quick and easy cake to make using a box of German Chocolate cake mix.
I try a lot of German Chocolate recipes and find the combination of chocolate, pecans, and coconut to be irresistible. This isn’t the prettiest cake, but when you take into account that it is totally fuss-free, I can overlook that fact.
How To Make German Chocolate Upside Down Cake
A mixture of butter, brown sugar, coconut, and pecans is spread on the bottom of a 9X13-inch pan.
Next comes the cake batter which is a box of cake mix prepared just like the back of the box says to, with a little coconut added. I don’t think it’s possible for a German Chocolate Cake to have too much coconut.
Before the cake is placed in the oven to bake, dollops of cream cheese are dropped all over the top. As the cake bakes, the cream cheese sinks down into the cake, making it rich and gooey throughout.
Just look at all that gooey cream cheese! Doesn’t it about make your eyes pop out of your head?
Get all the taste of a fancy German Chocolate Cake without all the fuss!
Recipe Tip
When baking cakes like this, I always like to place the baking pan on a rimmed baking sheet in the oven in case any batter overflows. Better safe than sorry.
Storage
Wrap well with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days. Warm slices in the microwave before serving.
Never miss a recipe. Follow Spicy Southern Kitchen on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.
More German Chocolate Desserts
- German Chocolate Fudge
- German Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies
- German Chocolate Cheesecake
- German Chocolate Bars
- White German Chocolate Cake
- German Chocolate-Red Velvet Cake
German Chocolate Upside-Down Cake
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup pecans
- 1 1/2 cups shredded sweetened coconut, divided
- 1 box German Chocolate cake mix, plus ingredients listed on box
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 8 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 (16-ounce) box confectioners’ sugar
- whipped cream for serving, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease the sides of a 9×13-inch pan.
- Evenly pour melted butter into pan. Sprinkle brown sugar, pecans, and half of coconut on bottom of pan.
- Make cake batter according to package directions, adding remaining coconut to batter.
- Pour batter into pan.
- Using electric mixer, beat together cream cheese and softened butter. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar.
- Drop cream cheese mixture by spoonfuls onto top of batter.
- Place in oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Sharing this recipe with The Weekend Potluck.
salted or unsalted butter? Or margarine?
This cake is excellent. While my original recipe uses evaporated milk, both are fabulous. Please try it.
Cake was ok. I didn’t get a cream cheese layer. It dissolved into the batter. My butter brown sugar mix over spilled from the cake onto the oven bottom making a big smokey mess. I used a glass pan.
Very disappointed, made it for my husband for his birthday. The cream cheese fell like craters in the cake, the brown sugar taste burnt and the cake is chewy!
Cake is delicious, I did feel that there could have been just a little more direction with the cream cheese mixture addition. I definitely will tweak next time and put second coconut addition under the cream cheese mixture and understand teaspoonful all over the cake it will make covering with the other half of cake mix easier. Very moist delicious cake.
This is my family’s absolute favorite cake! My church also tells me I can only bring THIS cake to pot lucks! If you like coconut & pecans, this cake is the one for you. It’s not too difficult and it will be a favorite of many (except the kids don’t like the nuts and coconut much in my family -more for me!).
It was amazzzzing. Everyone loved this moist cake, perfect amount of coconut, nuts & sweetness ❤️
Turned out great!!! Moist and delicious!
Can this be made into a Bundt cake?
Was a big hit at Thanksgiving, and made it again for pot luck a garden club. Delicious, but does not come out of pan pretty.