German Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, spoon and level to measure
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup canola oil or melted coconut oil
• 1 cup boiling water
• 4 large egg yolks
• 1 1/4 cups evaporated milk
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup salted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
• 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter 2 9-inch round cake pans, place a parchment round in the bottom of each pan, then butter the parchment as well. Lightly coat the pans with cocoa powder or flour, tap out the extra, and set them aside. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together.
2. Add the milk, eggs, and vanilla to the dry mixture. With an electric hand mixer, beat on medium speed just until everything comes together. Turn the mixer to low, then blend in the oil.
3. Keeping the mixer on low, slowly and carefully stream in the boiling water. Continue mixing until the batter is smooth and fully combined, about 2 – 3 minutes. Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans.
4. Bake until a toothpick poked into the middle of the cakes comes out clean, about 30 – 35 minutes. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn them out onto wire racks and cool completely.
5. When the cake layers are cool, spread about 1/3 of the frosting over one layer. Place the second layer on top, then use the remaining frosting on the top of the cake only.
6. For the frosting, whisk the egg yolks and evaporated milk together in a large saucepan until thoroughly blended.
7. Whisk in the sugar until it dissolves. Add the butter, then cook over medium-low heat, whisking the whole time, until the mixture thickens, about 10 – 12 minutes.
8. Take the pan off the heat, then stir in the vanilla, coconut, coconut, and pecans. Cool the frosting until it is just warm, then spread it over the cake.