German chocolate cake facts for kids
A German chocolate cake
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| Alternative names | German's chocolate cake |
|---|---|
| Type | Layer cake |
| Course | Dessert |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Texas |
| Created by | Mrs. George Clay |
| Invented | 1957 |
| Main ingredients | Chocolate cake, icing (egg yolks, evaporated milk, coconut and pecan) |
German chocolate cake is a yummy layered chocolate cake. It is famous for its special filling and topping. This delicious frosting is made with coconut and pecan nuts.
Even though it's called "German chocolate cake," it actually comes from the United States. The cake got its name from an American chocolate maker. His name was Samuel German. He created a special kind of dark baking chocolate that was used in the original cake recipe.
The cake's filling and topping are like a creamy custard. It's made with egg yolks and evaporated milk. After cooking, coconut and pecans are mixed in. Sometimes, extra chocolate frosting is added to the sides. This helps keep the yummy filling inside. You might also see maraschino cherries on top as a colorful decoration.
Contents
The Sweet Story of German Chocolate Cake
This popular cake has an interesting history. It all started way back in 1852. An American baker named Samuel German was working for the Baker's Chocolate Company. He created a new type of dark baking chocolate. This chocolate was named Baker's German's Sweet Chocolate to honor him.
How the Cake Became Famous
The recipe for "German's Chocolate Cake" first appeared on June 3, 1957. It was featured as the "Recipe of the Day" in The Dallas Morning News newspaper. A clever homemaker named Mrs. George Clay from Dallas, Texas, created this recipe. She used the special baking chocolate that Samuel German had developed over 100 years earlier.
The cake recipe quickly became very popular. General Foods, the company that owned the Baker's brand at the time, noticed its success. They decided to share the recipe with other newspapers across the country.
A National Favorite
Because of this, sales of Baker's Chocolate went up a lot, by as much as 73%! The cake soon became a favorite dessert all over the country. Over time, the name changed from "German's" to "German Chocolate Cake." This made some people think the cake came from Germany, but it's truly an American invention!
Today, German chocolate cake is still a beloved dessert. Many baking companies have adopted the recipe.
See also
In Spanish: Pastel alemán para niños
