Remember German Chocolare Cake? The original "Naked Cake".... It's still better than ever.....

I love German Chocolate Cake, always have and I can assure you I always will. It has everything I like: Chocolate Cake, Nuts and Coconut all together to give you something truly great. An easy recipe that tastes sophisticated and complex.... Let's see

First the chocolate cake, and this is my go-to chocolate cake from about 40 years ago, my kids grew up with this chocolate cake and they still love it.

Deep Dark Chocolate Cake.- The moistest, most chocolaty cake ever!

2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Cocoa Powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round pans or one 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; make sure it's really well combined and check the bottom of the bowl for flour. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes for round pans, 35 to 40 minutes for rectangular pan or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely or icing will melt off.

Now for the topping: Coconut Pecan Frosting.-

1 cup Pecans (or whatever nut you like, I've used Walnuts too)
1 cup sugar
1 cup evaporated milk
3 large egg yolks, slightly beaten
1.2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups coconut (I used sweetened flaked but have also used unsweetened toasted coconut)
1/8 tst salt
1 tsp vanilla extract

If the nuts aren't flavorful as is, put on baking sheet at 350F for about 5-10 min or until aromatic to toast them, then cool and chop into small pieces,  Put the sugar, milk, egg yolks and butter in a saucepan on med heat on the stove, mixing constantly. Be careful and don't allow it to stick to the bottom and burn. Once it's hot and begins to boil, it will start to thicken, once it's thicker take off the heat.
Add the nuts, coconut, salt and vanilla and mix well. Allow to cool before you frost the cake. Use half for the top of the bottom layer and then place the second layer on top of this and finish off with the rest of the frosting.

This is the originall "naked cake" that are now so popular but this cake came first since the sides are not frosted but the frosting is extra flavorful and no more is needed. Enjoy!