CHOCOLATE EARTHQUAKE CAKE
This is such a unique cake, made with a cake mix, but taken up a few levels! It’s so good and one your family will love!
If you love this recipe you will want to try this Turtle Cake! It’s delicious topped with ice cream.
❤️WHY WE LOVE THIS RECIPE
They call it earthquake cake because it will crack in the middle in some recipes. This one does not crack because I do it a little different. I can’t leave this cake alone when I make it because I love chocolate and this is a chocolate lovers dream. This cake will melt in your mouth!
🍴KEY INGREDIENTS
- Nuts (I use walnuts. Pecans would be good, too)
- Coconut
- German chocolate cake mix or regular chocolate cake mix
- Milk
- Butter
- Cream cheese
- Powdered sugar
- Chocolate chips
SWAPS
You can make this cake with other cake mixes, too. I like to divide the cake mix because I think it makes a much prettier cake. You can just put in all the cake mix and put the cream cheese mixture on top and bake. We have also made this with spice cake mix and using butterscotch chips. It was delicious.
🍽️HOW TO MAKE
This cake comes together really quickly and it’s wonderful topped with ice cream. Full printable recipe in recipe card below.
📖COOKING STEPS
Step 1
Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish. Sprinkle the nuts on the bottom of the dish. Layer the coconut on top of the nuts. In a separate bowl prepare the cake mix according to package directions except use the 1 cup of milk in place of the water called for in the directions on the box. Spread half the cake mixture over the coconut.
Step 2
In a microwave safe glass bowl melt the butter and cream cheese. This takes about 2 minutes in my microwave. Whisk the powdered sugar or mix with mixer into the cream cheese and melted butter. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the layer of cake mix in the baking dish. (You can drop it by spoon fulls if you want). Read step 3 below in the recipe card.
⭐TIP
All ovens vary, and you want to cook this until it tests done. As you can see from some of the comments, it may take up to an hour to cook. We love this cake heated up with vanilla ice cream. It’s so good!!
OTHER DELICIOUS CAKE RECIPES
STORING & SERVING SIZE
We store this cake in a cool place and it’s made in a 9X13, so it makes around 10-12 servings.
Chocolate Earthquake Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup nuts I use walnuts. Pecans would be good, too
- 1 1/2 cups shredded sweetened coconut
- 1 regular chocolate cake mix or can use German chocolate cake mix
- 1 cup milk
- 1 stick butter or 8 tablespoons or 1/2 cup
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
- 3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 cups chocolate chips
Instructions
- Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish. Sprinkle the nuts on the bottom of the dish. Layer the coconut on top of the nuts. In a separate bowl prepare the cake mix according to package directions except use the 1 cup of milk in place of the water called for in the directions on the box. Spread half the cake mixture over the coconut.
- In a microwave safe glass bowl melt the butter and cream cheese. This takes about 2 minutes in my microwave. Whisk the powdered sugar or mix with mixer into the cream cheese and melted butter. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the layer of cake mix in the baking dish. (You can drop it by spoon fulls if you want)
- Spread the other half of the cake mix on top of the cream cheese and sprinkle on the chocolate chips. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven 40 to 45 minutes.
Notes
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Another outstanding recipe ! Cake is so simple but looks like artwork ! Absolutely delicious !
YAY!! So thrilled to hear this!
Please, please, please…can you start putting the size box of cake mix used.
No, because they change the size of the cake mix about every year. It wouldn’t make a difference in this recipe, you are making the cake according to the directions on the box.
Love, love, love! My family couldn’t get enough of this cake! Recipe is definitely a keeper! I also love that when I use your recipes, the end result looks just like yours do!
YAY!! I’m so glad it was a hit! Thank you so much for the kind comment.
Looks delicious, I want to make for Father’s Day, can I make this cake in a springform pan?
I cant advice, I have never tried that.
Hello, My name is Joann I have made your Jam Cake, Coca Cake,
Texas Sheet cake and a few other things and everything is delicious thank you for sharing your Mother’s recipes. and lady lock room brownie Joann,
Thank you, Joann; we’re so happy that you are enjoying our recipes!
Disregard my comment. I made it again and I used chopped nuts the first time. That’s what got me.
It was delicious and I want to make again, but the coconut and chopped almonds didn’t stick the bottom of the cake. Could I have not greased the pan enough?
I made the CHOCOLATE EARTHQUAKE CAKE. It was a total disaster. 3 3/4 cup of powdered sugar exploded in my oven. Then it started smoking so I thought I would have to call the fire department all that sugar burning in the bottom of my oven and on my racks I finally got it out of the oven then it was on the floor on the counter and me. Can you imagine cleaning up all of that mess and how long it took and all the groceries that were wasted and all the time spent on making the cake and cleaning up the kitchen and myself. Did anyone else have this problem! I don’t know wheat went wrong.. I followed the recipe completely. I was so disappointed.
Hi Shirley, as you can see from the 60 comments below, many people have had great success with this cake. I have never had powdered sugar explode in my oven. I can’t advise as this has never happened to me. Not every recipe is for everyone and sorry you had such a hard time with this one.
Can you make this in a crock pot? How would you change the directions if you do?
I’ve never had a lot of success making cakes in the crock pot, so I wouldn’t be one to ask. Sorry.
Could you make individual cakes instead – using cupcake pan?
On the amount of coconut os that 3/4 of a cup or 3 and 3/4 of a cup? Looks and sounds yummy.
It is neither Diane. It is 1 and 1/2 cups of coconut and 3 and 3/4 cups powdered sugar.
Cooked for 45 min and still pretty loose. Should it be firm?
It should be done inside if you test it with something. I would try 10 or 15 more minutes but test to make sure you don’t burn it. Ovens do vary so could be the difference.
I did make this cake & it is delicious. But did have to bake it for an hour. The center took longer. I did follow the recipe as written & timing was the only issue. Thank you for all your recipes.
Thank you Alice. So happy you enjoyed this cake. Ovens vary so a recipe can always take more or less time than a recipe calls for. Just always check centers of cakes to make sure.
Are you able to make this delicious cake without nuts? Fearful for family members with nut allergies and hoping omitting them will not affect the cake in any way.
Yes, you could leave the nuts out.
I use this same recipe and call it a German Chocolate Upside Down Cake.
I do too,but I use devil’s food cake instead of German Chocolate. Delicious
what means chocalate mix??? can I use a plane normal chocalate?
It is a cake mix that you buy at the grocery store.
As good as this looks, and I know it is as I have made this for years. Try pouring the mixture over the batter, and not lightly. That is what gives it the “earthquake” appearance. Is still wonderful, and sinks to the bottom leaving “cracks” on the surface. I’ve never put the chips on it. Is a wonderful cake, and my husbands favorite.
I’m making this now.. I doubled it .. making a huge cake, I used German chocolate cake and pecans.. I ran a little short on the powder sugar so hope it’s ok..
can you make without coconut?
I have not tried it without the coconut, Donna.
Looks fantastic, will make it for the chocolate lovers in my family!!
I make it all the time my family and friends love it but it is rich
In the oven now for a Southern Bells birthday in my office tomorrow!
I have my 3rd Earthquake in the oven. It is our new favorite cake!!! I love your site & your recipes !!!!
So happy you are enjoying this recipe Karen! Have a great week.
Made this today and it turned out just like the photo! Easy to put together and delicious, but very rich!
1/2 Cup of Boiling water and 1/2 Cup of Buttermilk instead of milk sure will keep this cake extra moist.
I have special guest this Friday, this is my dessert to serve them. Thanks!!!
Not a “Southern Lady”, but I have baked this cake, and it is great! I bring it into the office for the Ladies working for me, and they love it. Next time, I think that I will use carrot cake mix and white chocolate chips. Thanks for all of the great recipes!!!
Thank you Michael. So happy you are enjoying this recipe. I always love to hear from the men on the site, too. I bet all the ladies love you!
can’t put a 9by 13 pan in my oven its to small.
Use 2 pans, 8 x 8, and cook 5 minutes longer as the batter will be higher in the pans. Fingertip doneness.
I typically make a lot of things, particularly deserts, in single serving sizes. When you have out the cake batter and cream cheese mixture into a 9 X 13, approximately how deep is it. An inch, inch & half or what? Based on that I can determine my portioning into say 3″ cake pans. I know this is kind of an off the wall request and I hope you will indulge me. Thanks
Thanks for all the great recipes…been busy just collecting all of them.
Made this! A big hit!
It was a Hit
I made this cake today and it is good! I was wondering if it should be refrigerated because of having cream cheese in it?
Yes, I would refrigerate this cake.
Thank you.
I just put a version in the oven with a white cake mix and chocolate chips! Hope it turns out good!
I hope to make this soon, it looks so yummy !!
Has anyone tried it without nuts? My stepdaughter is allergic to them.
Oh YUM! I will make this cake this weekend for work! Thank you so much for sharing the recipe with all of us!
😀
are the nuts whole or ground up?
I chop the nuts for this cake.
Thanks cant wait to try
I think I am going to enjoy this cake along with the people I serve it to.
You southern ladies know how to do it
What other cake mixes have you ladies tried?
It looks so AWESOME… It makes my mouth water…
This just look divine!!! One question, what kind on coconut do you use. I life in a tropical country and we have all sorts. If it’s canned, which brand? Thank you love your recipes!
Just about any kind would probably work but I just use the kind you buy in a package in the grocery store. Not the canned.
Oh my honey will love that one!!! Looks decadent! Yum!!! 😀
What about the icing?
This cake is so rich you don’t need icing.
This sounds sooo good – except for the coconut part (not a big fan). Can that be omitted and would it change the baking time at all?
Yes, you could omit and it should not change baking time.
You always reply to your questions. That means so much to me personally. Thank you for all the great food!
I’m going into a blissful chocolate coma just thinking about this cake…..;) can’t wait to make it!
this cake looks great
This sounds wonderful. I want to try it with a white cake mix and white chocolate chips or a butterscotch cake mix with butterscotch chips.
the recipe was great i even added several layers of chocolate and caramel. now cN YOU TELL ME HAVE YOU EVER HEARD of the sock it to me cake and if so do you know the recipe. thanks southern lady
I love your website and your wonderful recipes. Have tried several and love them all. I am convinced southern ladies recipes are the best. Thanks so much.
Thank you so much for the kind comment Marlene! We so appreciate it. Have a wonderful weekend 🙂