LIGHT GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Coat 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray, and dust with 1 Tbs flour.
• Combine cocoa and chocolate in a small bowl; add boiling water, stirring until chocolate melts; set aside.
• Combine sugars, butter, and oil in a large bowl, and beat at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended (about 5 minutes).
• Add yogurt, extracts, and egg whites; beat well.
• Lightly spoon sifted flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife.
• Combine sifted flour through salt.
• Add flour mixture to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture; beat in cocoa mixture.
• Pour cake batter into prepared pans and sharply tap pans once on counter to remove air bubbles.
• Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool in pans 10 minutes, and remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.
• Place 1 cake layer on a plate; spread with 1/3 cup Coconut-Pecan Frosting, and top with another cake layer.
• Spread with 1/3 cup frosting (below), and top with remaining cake layer.
• Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake.
• Store cake loosely covered in refrigerator.
• FROSTING:.
• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add chopped pecans, and sauté until the pecans are browned (about 2½ minutes).
• Remove mixture from heat, and stir in sugar, cornstarch, and salt.
• Add milk, syrup, and egg yolks, and stir well.
• Cook 2 minutes over medium-high heat or until thick, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat, and stir in flaked coconut and extracts.
• Pour mixture into a bowl; cover and chill until slightly stiff (about 15 minutes).

Steps:

• Place a rack in middle of oven and preheat to 350°. Coat two 9- x 1 1/2-inch round cake pans with cooking spray. Line bottoms with parchment paper and spray the parchment.
• For cake: Place chocolate in a medium bowl, add boiling water, and whisk until smooth. Add yogurt, oil, vinegar, and vanilla to chocolate mixture and whisk until combined. Add egg whites; whisk until smooth.
• In a large bowl, combine the next 5 dry ingredients (through salt). Pour chocolate mixture into flour mixture and whisk just until combined. Divide batter between the prepared pans. Tap pans lightly on a work surface to pop any air bubbles.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a wooden toothpick inserted in the centers of the cakes comes out clean (leave oven on). Cool in pans on wire racks for 15 minutes. Turn the cakes out of the pans, remove the parchment, and cool completely.
• For topping: Spread the pecans and coconut on a large baking sheet and toast in the oven, stirring once, until lightly browned (10-12 minutes); set aside. Whisk together evaporated milk and cornstarch in a small, heavy saucepan. Heat over medium-high heat and cook, whisking constantly, until thick and foamy (it will happen almost all at once), about 4 minutes. Whisk in sugar, butter, vanilla, and salt; cook for 3 1/2 minutes, until thickened. Transfer to a bowl and cool to room temperature. Stir in coconut and pecans before frosting.
• Place 1 cake layer on a platter and spread half the frosting over top of cake. Add the remaining cake layer and spread with the remaining frosting over top. Slice and serve.