Small German Chocolate Cake Recipe

This Small German Chocolate Cake Recipe is a three layer, 6 inch German chocolate cake with a gooey homemade Coconut Pecan Frosting (featuring toasted pecans and toasted coconut) between the layers and rich and smooth Chocolate Buttercream Frosting on the outside! 

We are big German chocolate fans over here! We have German Chocolate Cupcakes, German Chocolate Brownies and a classic 8-inch German Chocolate Cake Recipe (and yes, this recipe is different from the 8-inch one)! If you are as much as a fan as we are, then be sure to check out these delicious desserts too!

Why This Recipe Works

• Feeds a group. 6 inch cake recipes are so fun to make because they are like a mini cake! However, don’t let that fool you! This cake still feeds 8 people thanks to the three cake layers.
• Super moist German chocolate cake layers. These cake layers are super moist thanks to the buttermilk and vegetable oil in the cake batter. Vegetable oil is a liquid at room temperature so it’s the best fat to use in cakes to get a really moist crumb.  
• Rich chocolate flavor. The chocolate flavor in this cake is so prominent, rich, and delicious! This is thanks to two things: blooming chocolate and Dutch process cocoa powder. Using the dutch process cocoa powder is a great way to get a deeper color and richer chocolate flavor! Blooming chocolate is the process of adding hot liquid to chocolate. It activates the chocolate flavor more, producing a richer and deeper chocolate flavor that permeates desserts more! 
• My go-to birthday cake. There are so many delicious cake recipes on my website! But I really am a sucker for this one. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll make the other cakes throughout the year, but this is the recipe I make on my birthday 😍 … And yes, I make my own birthday cake ha!  

Ingredient Notes

• All-Purpose Flour: This recipe calls for all-purpose flour. If you wanted to use cake flour, you would need to adjust the amount to account for the difference between the flours. Cake flour is more finely milled, so you would need more of it. 1 cup + 2 tablespoons cake flour for every 1 cup of all-purpose. 
• Dutch Process Cocoa Powder: This is a different cocoa powder than the traditional unsweetened cocoa powder. To learn more about the differences between cocoa powders, check out my guide on all these cocoa powder! 
• Eggs: Using room temperature eggs will help them incorporate into the batter better. This will help the eggs provide better, lighter structure in the cake. You’ll need additional egg yolks for the filling. 
• Buttermilk: Using room temperature buttermilk will help the buttermilk be well incorporated into the cake batter.
• Boiling Water: The boiling water will bloom the chocolate, providing a richer and deeper chocolate flavor. Be sure it’s boiling. 
• Vegetable Oil: Cakes made with oil are more moist in texture. This is because oil is a liquid at room temperature. 
• Heavy Cream: You may use evaporated milk instead for the coconut pecan filling. However, you will need heavy cream for the chocolate buttercream frosting recipe.
• Unsalted Butter: The butter will be for the filling and the buttercream frosting. You can use salted butter for the coconut pecan frosting, just eliminate the 1/2 tsp salt in the frosting. You will need to use unsalted for the buttercream recipe though because there isn’t any salt in it. 
• Powdered Sugar: Use sifted powdered sugar for a smoother frosting texture. 
• Semi Sweet Chocolate: Using a chocolate bar in the chocolate frosting recipe will give a richer chocolate flavor than if using cocoa powder. 

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the cake pans. Spray three 6-inch round cake pans with nonstick spray, then line the bottoms with parchment paper and spray again. 
2. Whisk together the dry ingredients. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. 
3. Combine the wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine the egg, buttermilk hot water, oil and vanilla. 

4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry. Now it’s time to bloom the chocolate! Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix with the paddle attachment on medium speed for 2 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl and mix for 30 seconds. 

5. Pour the batter. Divide the batter evenly between the three pans. 
6. Bake. Bake the small German chocolate cake layers at 350°F for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Remove the cakes from the oven and let cool in the pans for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Wrap the cakes in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge while preparing the frostings. 
7. Make the coconut pecan frosting. In a saucepan Whisk the cream, sugar, egg yolks, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Bring to a low simmer and cook for 4-5 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat and add the butter, vanilla, toasted coconut and pecans. Let cool to room temperature. It will appear a bit runny, but don’t worry, it will thicken.

8. Make the chocolate buttercream frosting. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add the sifted powdered sugar 1 cup at a time while mixing on low speed until combined. Add the vanilla and melted chocolate. Whip at medium-high speed for 1 minute. Add the heavy cream and whip for another 1-2 minutes on medium-high speed or until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and whip for another 30 seconds. 
9. Assemble the cake. Place one cake layer on a cake board or cake stand. Add 1/3 of the coconut pecan filling and spread until even. Place another cake layer on top and spread another 1/3 of the filling until even. Add the final cake layer to the top, bottom side up. Apply a crumb coat of the chocolate butter cream to the entire cake. Chill in the fridge or freezer until set (about 15 minutes in the freezer).

10. Frost and decorate. Remove the cake from the fridge or freezer and fully frost the exterior with the buttercream. Then spread the remaining coconut pecan frosting to the top and decorate with any remaining chocolate buttercream. 

Recipe Tips

Be sure to use Dutch processed cocoa powder! You’ll get a much deeper and richer chocolate flavor in the cake layers that you wouldn’t get if using unsweetened cocoa powder. The bake can also be affected when using different cocoa powders.

To learn about the differences between the different cocoa powders — and when to use them — check out my Cocoa Powder Guide! 

When combining the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients, mix until just combined. Over mixing at this point in the process will result in a tougher cake texture. 

Using room temperature wet ingredients in the cake batter will help the cake rise better and have a more delicate crumb texture. (This includes the eggs and buttermilk.)

For the buttercream, make sure to use sifted powdered sugar for a smoother texture. The butter should be slightly soft but still cool. 

Make Ahead, Storing, and Freezing

Store the cake layers wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge for 1-2 days. Wrap once completely cooled. 

To freeze, wrap in plastic wrap then aluminum foil and freeze for 1 month. Thaw in fridge overnight before frosting and serving.

Store the frosting in airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour before frosting the cake.

For more information on storing and freezing cakes, check out my How to Store and Freeze Cakes guide!

Recipe FAQs

More 6-Inch Cake Recipes

• Spice Cake
• Smash Cake Recipe
• Coconut Cookies and Cream Cake
• 7 Layer Bar Cake