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Keto German Chocolate Cake is amazing, and one of the most popular bakes in my keto bakery. I am making adjustments in this recipe (Feb 2023) after making keto cake for my bakery for almost 4 years.
Of all the keto friendly desserts I make, Keto German chocolate cake is the easiest to make and the taste is amazing.
The trick was to get the German chocolate frosting, full of butter, brown sugar, pecans and coconut just right. What you might not realize is magic of egg yolks that pull together and keep together this magnificent frosting.
German Chocolate cake is one of those concoctions that you either love or don’t care for. When you love it, you love it.
It’s not a cake you see every day. In my home bakery, I’ve made Keto German Chocolate Cake for two different birthdays this month. They were thrilled to have this option. Each serving of 12 is about 4 net carbs, and is high in calories due to the heavy cream in the frosting.
Make this a special occasion option, but it should work just fine for the low-carb diet.
How many does this cake serve?
This cake recipe serves 12 and will make a triple layer six inch cake or a double layer 8 inch cake.
Make a Double Layer Keto German Chocolate Cake
If you want a double-layer 9 inch cake, you can follow below.
To Make a double layer cake use these measurements.
- 336 grams almond flour (3 1/2 cups)
- 45 grams coconut flour (3 tablespoons)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoons baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoons xanthan gum
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 cups granulated swerve (powdered erythritol)
- 3/4 cup avocado oil or olive oil
- 9 eggs
- 6 tablespoons sour cream
- 3/4 cup boiling water
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
What is the history of German Chocolate cake?
It’s not a recipe from Germany. It’s a recipe that evolved from Samuel German, who developed a recipe for dark baking chocolate, which was called Baker’s German sweet chocolate.
What makes German Chocolate Cake German Chocolate cake?
It’s the frosting, which is made egg yolks, milk, pecans and coconut are added in at the end. To keep this sugar free and keto friendly, I used Swerve brown sugar, heavy cream, and unsweetened coconut. You can find out more about Swerve, a powdered erythritol here.
Options for Replacing Brown Sugar
- Choc Zero Maple Syrup – 1 tablespoon and use regular swerve.
- Black Strap Molasses – 1 teaspoon and use regular swerve.
One day I was out of Swerve brown sugar and used Swerve granulated and a tablespoon of Choc Zero Maple Syrup. It worked out wonderfully. You could also use only the Swerve granulated, as I realize the brown sugar and Choc Zero Maple syrup may not be available.
Keto German Chocolate Topping
The topping is cooked on top of the stove. Use cold butter and continue stirring until your frosting comes together. If your topping separates (this happened to me once), add more heavy cream and continue stirring on very low. When I did this, it all came back together. I mix my cream and egg yolks together first. I have never had my topping curdle.
I need to say this again USE COLD BUTTER or your frosting will not work.
Make Keto German Chocolate Cupcakes
I sell these in my keto home bakery. Here is one of the responses I got back from a customer.
“The German chocolate was magnificent. Thank you for making the keto birthday a success!” Lori B.
“This is my favorite cake that I buy from you. I had to take the time to write you to tell you.” Ricky (a current customer since October 2019).
I’ve had so many rave reviews about this recipe, and I’m so excited for you to have it.
More Keto Cakes from Spinach Tiger
- Keto Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Keto Chocolate Birthday Cake
- Keto Red Velvet Naked Layer Cake
- Keto Naked Lemon Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
- Keto Ding Dong Cake
- Keto Birthday Cake (Yellow Cake, Chocolate Frosting)
Print Recipe
4.58 from 73 votes
Keto German Chocolate Cake
Makes an ample one layer cake, an 8 inch double layer cake, a 6 inch triple layer cake or 12 cupcakes. Use the double recipe (above in blog post) for a 9 inch double layer or a 13 x 11 cake).
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time25 minutes mins
Total Time40 minutes mins
Course: Keto Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12
Author: Angela Roberts
Ingredients
- 230 grams almond flour See blog post for double layer measurements.
- 4 tablespoons coconut flour
- 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder optional
- 1 cup granulated Swerve
- 1/2 cup avocado oil
- 6 eggs
- 1 teaspoons vanilla
- 4 tablespoons sour cream
German Chocolate Frosting
- 1 cup Swerve Brown Sugar (or Swerve Granulated) See Notes for Substitute
- 1 cup cold unsalted butter (MUST BE COLD) cut into 8 pieces (must be cold)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 3 egg yolks use large eggs. If eggs are small, use 4 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut
- Kitchen Tools
- Parchment Rounds
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. or 180 C. on bake mode if you have it, instead of convection. If convection, bake at 325 F.
Grease pans with avocado oil or baking spray. I like to use parchment rounds.
Mix dry ingredients: almond flour, coconut flour: baking powder, baking soda, salt, xanthan gum. Set Aside
Beat eggs until frothy about two minutes.
Stream oil in. Add Swerve.
Put cocoa powder in bowl. Add in boiling water. Stir. If using espresso powder add that in here too.
Add in sour cream to cocoa mix.
Add vanilla to cocoa mix.
Add cocoa mix to mixer (egg mixture).
Add in remaining dry mixture, and mix just until mixed. Mixture will be thick. If it's too thick add up to 1/4 cup almond milk.
Pour into prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 mins or until a toothpick comes out clean or middle measures 210 F. with a thermometer.
Once cool, prepare Coconut Pecan frosting. Pour over layer one, but not sides. If doing double layer cake, pour over each layer. This makes a lot of topping. you don't have to use it all. You can save and freeze for cupcakes or another recipe.
German Chocolate Topping
Add a few tablespoons of water to coconut. Mix with hands. This helps plump up unsweetened coconut. Squeeze excess water out. Set aside.
Make sure your butter is cold and cut I can't repeat this enough times.
Cut butter into 8 pieces. Place back in fridge to keep cold.
Mix egg yolks with heavy cream before heating. Add to sauce pan. Add salt, Swerve brown sugar in sauce pan stirring constantly over medium heat. Add butter. Keep stirring on low heat
Important: If your frosting separates, add in more heavy cream (about 1/4 cup) and continue to stir until it comes back together. Cold butter helps prevent this separation.
Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Add in coconut and pecans.
Pour over cooled cakes.
Notes
Brown Sugar: If you don’t have Swerve brown sugar, use 1 teaspoon of Black Strap Molasses and Granulated Swerve Sweetener.
Nutrition
Serving: 1of 12 | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 23g | Fiber: 3g
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If you love this recipe,please give it five stars. It means a lot. xoxo
