German Chocolate Cake

Katie called me the other day and needed this recipe, so I figured since I had typed it up, I would post it here too. My grandma made a cake like this all the time when I was a kid. Thanks to the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook, I can make it too.



1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 4-ounce package sweet baking chocolate
¾ cup shortening
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
¾ cup buttermilk

1. preheat oven to 350*. grease and lightly flour two eight inch round baking pans. In a medium bowl mix together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
2. in a saucepan combine choclate and ½ cup WATER. Cook and stir over low heat until melted, allow to cool.
3. in a large mixing bowl beat shortening with an electric mixer on med-high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar and beat until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla beat in low speed until combined beat med speed for one minute. Stir in chocolate mixture. Add dry ingredients and buttermilk alternately. Beat on low speed after each addition just until combined. Pour batter in to prepared pans.
4. Bake at 350* for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 10 min. remove from pans and cool completely. Frost as desired. Serves 12.



Coconut Pecan Frosting

In a medium saucepan slightly beat 1 egg. Stir in 1 5-ounce can (2/3 cup) evaporated milk, 2/3 cup sugar, and ¼ cup butter. Cook and stir over medium heat about 12 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 1/3 cups shredded (or flaked) coconut and ½ cup chopped pecans. Cover and cool completely.