Here’s a decadent, show-stopping recipe for White German Chocolate Cake with a Cheesecake Center—a twist on the classic chocolate coconut-pecan cake, but with a creamy cheesecake surprise in the middle.
🍰 White German Chocolate Cake with Cheesecake Center
Ingredients
For the White German Chocolate Cake
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 5 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
For the Cheesecake Center
- 16 oz (450 g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Coconut-Pecan Frosting
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare the Cheesecake Center
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round cake pan or springform pan.
- Beat cream cheese until smooth.
- Add sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Mix until creamy and smooth.
- Set aside.
2️⃣ Make the Cake Batter
- In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a separate large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla.
- Alternately add flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with flour. Mix until smooth.
3️⃣ Assemble the Cake
- Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Pour ½ of the cake batter into the bottom of each pan.
- Spread the cheesecake mixture evenly over one pan of batter (or in between the two layers if you prefer a “sandwich” style).
- Top with remaining cake batter (if using two layers, place cheesecake between).
4️⃣ Bake the Cake
- Bake 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick in the cake (not the cheesecake) comes out clean.
- Cool in pans 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
5️⃣ Make the Coconut-Pecan Frosting
- In a saucepan, combine evaporated milk, sugar, egg yolks, and butter.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened (about 10 minutes).
- Remove from heat; stir in vanilla, coconut, and pecans.
- Let cool slightly before spreading over the cooled cake.
6️⃣ Frost and Serve
- Spread frosting generously over the top and sides of the cake.
- Garnish with extra coconut or pecans if desired.
- Chill 1 hour for easier slicing.
⭐ Tips & Variations
- Cheesecake layer: For extra flavor, swirl in 2 tbsp of melted white chocolate.
- White German twist: Use sweetened coconut and chopped pecans in frosting for that classic flavor.
- Make-ahead: Cake can be stored in the fridge up to 3 days; frost just before serving.
- Mini version: Bake in 6–8 inch pans for individual servings.
This White German Chocolate Cake with Cheesecake Center is rich, creamy, and perfectly balanced: moist white cake, velvety cheesecake, and gooey coconut-pecan topping—a dessert that steals the show.
I can also create a step-by-step layered diagram with cheesecake swirl to visualize assembly if you want. Do you want me to do that?