German Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• 4 oz German sweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large egg yolks
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups cake flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 4 large egg whites
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups evaporated milk
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter
• 4 large egg yolks, beaten
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
• 1 1/2 cups pecans, chopped

Before you start

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease three 9-in round pans and line with parchment.
• Separate the eggs.

Directions

1. Stir until melted, cool about 10 min: German sweet chocolate, boiling water.
2. Cream until fluffy: unsalted butter, sugar.
3. Beat in one at a time: step 2, egg yolks.
4. Beat in: step 3, step 1, vanilla extract.
5. Whisk: cake flour, baking soda, salt.
6. Beat in alternately: step 4, step 5, buttermilk.
7. Whip to stiff peaks: egg whites.
8. Fold in gently: step 6, step 7.
9. Bake 350°F 25 to 30 min, cool in pans 10 min, then on racks until completely cool, about 1 hr: step 8.
10. Cook over medium, stirring, about 12 min until thick and golden: sugar, evaporated milk, unsalted butter, egg yolks.
11. Stir in, cool until thick and spreadable, about 30 min: step 10, vanilla extract, sweetened flaked coconut, pecans.
12. Spread between layers and on top: step 9, step 11.