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I had been meaning to post this recipe, but I was out of commission for the past week. I’m hoping to be back to cooking and experimenting in the kitchen soon, but until then this Paleo German Chocolate Cake recipe should suffice.

Paleo German Chocolate Cake (GF) | Perchance to Cook, www.perchancetocook.com

This cake is amazingly good! Moist chocolate cake frosted in a rich caramel coconut sauce, why have I never made this before?! Normal german chocolate cake has pecans in it, but since I am allergic to them, I made it sans-pecans. And it is wonderful this way. So wonderful, that I forgot that it was Paleo. 

This recipe came to life because I craved coconut, caramel and chocolate at work. I just couldn’t get the thought of those three flavors together out of my head.

And even though I had never had german chocolate cake before, I wanted it.

I mean, how can the flavor combination of coconut, caramel, and chocolate not go well together?!

To have it, I had to come up with a good caramel sauce first.

So I made this Paleo Caramel Sauce and fell in love with it!

Paleo German Chocolate Cake (GF) | Perchance to Cook, www.perchancetocook.com

I mixed some shredded coconut into the caramel… which is AMAZING.

And when I tasted it, I knew that it would taste awesome with chocolate cake.

Paleo German Chocolate Cake (GF) | Perchance to Cook, www.perchancetocook.com

The chocolate cake was the tricky part for me, so I looked at my Fudgy Brownie recipe, one of my many muffin recipes, and then two other chocolate cake recipes for some guidance.

I mixed and matched what I liked about each recipe and came up with this Paleo German Chocolate Cake recipe.

The result really worked out great here.

I love when recipe experiments work the first time that I try them.

Here’s a secret of mine….recipes that work out on the fly tend to be my best recipes. 🙂

So when this cake turned out so moist and tasty, I was thrilled. NOM.

Paleo German Chocolate Cake (GF) | Perchance to Cook, www.perchancetocook.com
Paleo German Chocolate Cake (GF) | Perchance to Cook, www.perchancetocook.com

The main observations that I have about this cake is that it was a little bit crumbly, but cake is crumbly!

I also would add way more caramel coconut sauce next time, which I reflected in the recipe.

I used 1/2 cup of caramel sauce, but next time would make 1 cup of it.

Also, you have to make sure to put the avocado in the food processor.

You’ll still see some green flecks in the cake, just so you know its healthy 😉

Paleo German Chocolate Cake (GF) | Perchance to Cook, www.perchancetocook.com

Lastly, this refrigerates really well.

And it cuts more easily once it has been chilled.

You’ll notice that the caramel coconut sauce lightens in color once it has been chilled.

Also, the coconut caramel frosting can be super wet, if you don’t cook the frosting for so long OR it can be more concentrated in texture, if you cook the caramel for more time and thicken it.

I recently updated the photos for this Paleo German Chocolate Cake and used a thicker version of the caramel coconut topping, but my old photos reflect the more “caramelly textured” caramel coconut topping (which I prefer).

Check out the old vs. the new photos below:

Paleo German Chocolate Cake (GF) | Perchance to Cook, www.perchancetocook.com
Old photo
Paleo German Chocolate Cake (GF) | Perchance to Cook, www.perchancetocook.com
New photo

The only thing I have left to say is….make this cake!

Especially if you like caramel, chocolate and coconut together.

This has been used for many a birthday over the years. 🙂

Oh, and if you are looking for a similar cake but, Keto…. check out this Keto German Chocolate Cake from my friend at Cassidy’s Craveable Creations.

Paleo German Chocolate Cake (GF) | Perchance to Cook, www.perchancetocook.com
4.41 from 5 votes

Paleo German Chocolate Cake

Servings: 8
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
Paleo German Chocolate Cake (GF) | Perchance to Cook, www.perchancetocook.com
A delicious moist chocolate cake frosted in a rich caramel coconut sauce.

Ingredients 

  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour, ( I like Nutiva Organic for quality and price)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1 Tbs vanilla
  • 1/2 cup canned coconut milk
  • a scant 1/2 cup coconut oil, (melted)
  • 4 Tbs mashed avocado, (mashed in a food processor)
  • 1/2 cup apple sauce
  • 1/2-1 cup Paleo Caramel Sauce, ( the photos reflect 1/2 cup of caramel, I thought it needed more, so if you want to make more of the caramel sauce, you’ll need to double it)
  • 1/2- 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut, (this depends on how much caramel sauce you make, 1/2 cup of shredded coconut is needed for 1/2 cup of caramel sauce OR 1 cup of coconut for 1 cup of caramel sauce)

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Line a 9 inch circle pan with parchment paper.
  • In bowl #1, mix the unsweetened cocoa powder, cinnamon, almond flour, coconut flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together with a fork until well mixed.
  • In bowl #2, mix the eggs, honey, maple syrup, vanilla, coconut milk, coconut oil, and avocado with an electric hand-held mixer until everything is mixed well.
  • Put the dry ingredients from bowl #1 into the wet ones in bowl #2 and mix with an electric hand-held mixer until everything is just mixed.
  • Add the apple sauce and mix again until just mixed.
  • Pour the mixture into the pan and pat down with the back of a metal spoon so that the mixture is even.
  • Cook for 40 minutes and then let cool.
  • While the cake cools, make the Paleo Caramel Sauce. The photos reflect 1/2 cup of caramel, I thought it needed more, so if you want to make more of the caramel sauce, you’ll need to double it.
  • Then, based on how much caramel sauce you decided to make (1/2 cup or 1 cup), mix it with the corresponding amount of shredded coconut. 1/2 cup of shredded coconut is needed for 1/2 cup of caramel sauce OR 1 cup of coconut for 1 cup of caramel sauce.
  • Once the chocolate cake is completely cooled. Cover it in the caramel coconut sauce. Enjoy!
  • This cake can be eaten right then or cooled. It can is easier to cut cooled, but it’s up to you!

Notes

Note: if you don’t want to use baking powder, use 1 1/4 tsp of baking soda and add 1 Tbs of lemon juice to the cake.

Nutrition

Calories: 586kcalCarbohydrates: 61gProtein: 9gFat: 40gSaturated Fat: 27gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.004gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 459mgPotassium: 380mgFiber: 11gSugar: 34gVitamin A: 76IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 138mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
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14 Comments

  1. What can I use as a substitute for Almond flour. I’m on strick AIP and I can’t use that kind of flower?
    I really want to make this today because my sons birthday tomorrow. He loves German chocolate cake. Thank you

    1. Ahhh I am not totally sure. When it comes to paleo /grain-free cakes it’s kind of like a science. I have been cooking a lot with tapioca flour and arrowroot flour lately but I couldn’t tell you how to change this specific cake to make it without almond flour :/ I will let you how future experiments go.

  2. We usually settle for something tasting not quite like the real thing when making something paleo or gluten free. But this recipe is the bomb. As well as the icing. I added chopped pecans. Absolutely one of the best German chocolate cakes I’ve ever had.5 stars

    1. Thank you!! 🙂 I’m a huge fan of it as well! I’m glad you enjoyed it. I wish I wasn’t allergic to pecans, because I bet that tastes amazing!

  3. Out of necessity, I am now eating gluten free. I truly haven’t missed it, but was sad that I wouldn’t be able to share in my daughter’s 15th birthday festivities. And then I stumbled across your recipe. We could not have been more pleased with the result of our first gluten free cake and all commented on how much better it was than a conventional bakery cake. Thank you! Thank you for doing the work and helping us navigate this new journey.

    1. I’m so so happy to hear it! Thanks for the comment; it makes me motivated to keep experimenting with Paleo and Gluten Free desserts. 🙂

  4. This was AMAZING!!! My husband loved it!!! The cake was moist and full of flavor! I can’t wait to make it again! Thank you so much for sharing this 🙂5 stars