Cake Ingredients:
1 package (4 oz) German sweet chocolate
1/2 cup water
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs, separated
1 tsp vanilla extract
2-1/2 cups cake flour (I used Swan's Down)
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
In a saucepan over low heat, stir chocolate & water until chocolate is melted. Set aside to cool.
In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter & sugar. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add the chocolate mixture & vanilla. Mix well.
In a separate mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda & salt; add it to the chocolate mix a little bit at a time, alternating with adding buttermilk, making sure after each addition everything is mixed very well.
In another mixing bowl, beat egg whites until they become very fluffy. Add egg whites slowly to the mixture.
Grease & flour a 13 x 9 x 2 baking pan. Spread batter evenly in pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes.
Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then remove from pan.
Now for the icing.
Icing Ingredients:
1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup sugar
3 egg yolks, lightly beaten
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 bag (7 oz) flaked coconut
1-1/2 cup chopped pecans
Combine milk, sugar, egg yolks, butter & vanilla in a saucepan; cook & stir over medium heat until thickened. Remove from heat, stire in coconut & pecans. Using a spoon, stir until icing is cool & has reached desired spreading consistency. If it doesn't thicken to spreadability, add more coconut & pecans. Then place it in the fridge for a few hours. This should help thicken it right up.
Frost away & serve it up!
Give it a try for your next holiday or birthday- this recipe is sure to impress!
xo
