The Kitchn: Earthquake cake has a surprise cheesecake center
Go ahead and bookmark this recipe now -- it will serve you well next time you crave chocolate. This over-the-top sheet cake is a mash-up of two favorites: decadent German chocolate cake and rich and creamy cheesecake. Once you try them together, you'll never want one without the other.
Although many earthquake cakes call for a box of German chocolate cake mix, I bet you already have the ingredients on hand to start from scratch. The process is simple: Whisk the dry ingredients in one bowl, and whisk the wet in another; then pour the wet into the dry, and stir until just moistened. No mixer required!
You'll pour the batter into a baking pan over a mixture of shredded coconut, chopped pecans and chocolate chips (classic toppings for a German chocolate cake). Then, you'll dollop heaping spoonfuls of sweetened cream cheese onto the batter. As it bakes, the batter shifts, the cream cheese sinks and a rich, gooey cake is born. In place of frosting (which would be too rich for this cake), you'll top the warm cake with more coconut, pecans and chocolate chips, which begin to melt but retain some texture.
Bring to a potluck, a bake sale or a birthday party -- or simply serve it just because on a random Monday night. Don't forget the cold milk for serving.
Rich & Gooey Earthquake Cake
Serves 12 to 15
For the cake:
Cooking spray
2 cups granulated sugar
...continued
