Gluten Free German Chocolate Cake
This gluten free German chocolate cake recipe is also keto friendly and sugar free. It’s a great take on an iconic dessert with zero sugar coconut frosting!
Cakes are essential to any birthday party and one of our favorite ones is a gluten free German chocolate cake. With unique healthy toppings like coconut and pecans, it is eye-catching. Of course, we’ve also cut out the carbs and made it keto friendly and low carb, swapping sugar for monk fruit as we go. Zap out any artificial sweeteners and be the superhero of your bestie’s birthday party by making a cake that stands out!
And if you haven’t heard of keto German Chocolate Cake before, don’t worry–we’ll educate you. Did you know that German chocolate cake doesn’t even come from Germany? It was designed to sell baking chocolate. It makes us wonder where the ChocZero Cake is, right!?
Another great thing about German chocolate cake made with almond flour is that it’s versatile and can be used in other recipes. Due to it having such a different flavor than your average chocolate cake recipe, its more mild subdued taste works great in ice cream and other delicious desserts–we even included a keto German chocolate cake truffle recipe and we’ve put German chocolate cake ice cream instructions in the Q&A.
Last but not least, don’t worry about any dry gluten free cake here! Because German chocolate cake is layered, its creamy coconut mixture helps keep it moist since coconut flour often dries out cakes.
Jump to recipe sections:
- What is a German chocolate cake?
- How do you make sugar free chocolate frosting for German chocolate cake?
- How do you decorate a German chocolate cake?
- What is the difference between a German chocolate cake and a regular chocolate cake?
- How do you make keto friendly buttermilk?
- Are canned frostings like Pillsbury™ and Duncan Hines™ gluten free?
- Can you freeze German chocolate cake?
- When was German chocolate cake invented?
- Can I get a German chocolate cake near me
- How do I make gluten free German chocolate cake ice cream?
What is a German chocolate cake?
German chocolate cake is a chocolate cake that is layered with typically two or three layers. The main feature of a German chocolate cake is the coconut pecan custard that is used on it. Also, sometimes it is topped with a rich chocolate buttercream! This cocoa icing can be piped into all kinds of cute designs and shapes on your cake for any occasion.
How do you make sugar free chocolate frosting for German chocolate cake?
In terms of how to make sugar free chocolate frosting for German chocolate cake, the secret ingredient is grass fed butter. Grass fed butter is completely keto friendly. Also, unsweetened cocoa powder, unsweetened almond milk, and powdered erythritol or chocolate stevia drops complete this delicious icing. Unsweetened almond milk has way less carbs than regular milk, too.
How do you decorate a German chocolate cake?
You can take a lot of creative liberty with the decorating, especially with the way the chocolate icing is piped! A great idea is to decorate your cake to the theme of whatever occasion it is being made for. For example, piping hearts for Valentine’s, or a sweet message for graduation. If you don’t have typical icing tips, cutting the end of a plastic bag can be great in a pinch, and work wonders as a last minute patch up. You can cut the end into different shapes, widths, and at different angles and play with the piping. Make sure to practice on another surface beforehand if you are unsure how it will look. But don’t worry, you can always scrape it off if you mess up!
What is the difference between a German chocolate cake and a regular chocolate cake?
The main difference between a German chocolate cake and a regular chocolate cake is its unique frosting with coconuts and pecans. Because it is used to top and to fill the cake, it has a very strong flavor that is a main component of the cake, which causes a noticeable difference between the two cakes. Also, the use of brown sugar makes the chocolate cake have a unique flavor.
How do you make keto friendly buttermilk?
Unfortunately buttermilk itself is not keto friendly, but apple cider vinegar will make a great substitute to a buttercream recipe! Feel free to bake to your heart's desire and keep your cake keto. Also, as we mentioned before, our keto friendly chocolate frosting recipe will be the perfect topping to both this German chocolate cake recipe as well as any other cakes you’d like to add a lick of chocolate to.
Are canned frostings like Pillsbury™ and Duncan Hines™ gluten free?
Although canned frostings like Pillsbury™ and Duncan Hines™ are an easy way to decorate cakes since they are pre-made at the grocery store, they are not gluten free. These frostings are usually not gluten free. That is why we made this gluten free German chocolate cake icing from scratch. It’s a gluten free buttercream frosting, which is perfect for guests on any diet. You won’t know the difference!
Can you freeze German chocolate cake?
Yes, you can freeze German chocolate cake! Once the cake is completed, make sure to cover it before placing it into the freezer. This can be kept there for 2-3 months. A good way to keep it preserved is to cut the cake into slices beforehand, then cover each slice in plastic wrap. Put all of these into a container that is safe for a freezer, and let it sit out and get to room temperature before consuming or serving to your guests.
When was German chocolate cake invented?
German chocolate cake was invented in Dallas, Texis in 1957. Weird, right? Because no, despite the name, this decadent chocolate cake was not made in Germany, nor is the recipe itself German. A cake recipe, German's Chocolate Cake, was published in a local paper that used special dark baking chocolate. After a boom in popularity, it was reprinted all around the country as German Chocolate Cake, and voila!
Can I get a German chocolate cake near me?
In simple terms, you can get a German chocolate cake near you. However, unfortunately bakeries use sugar in their recipe, which is not keto or gluten free. This recipe is a great way to make a chocolate cake that anyone can follow, and that can be accommodating for those in a keto or a gluten free journey. So, this can be a great option if you are bringing a German chocolate cake to a gathering!
How do I make gluten free German chocolate cake ice cream?
Making gluten free German chocolate cake ice cream is simple. After you’ve followed this recipe and have made a gluten free German chocolate cake, you can use the leftover slices for an almond milk ice cream that’s low in net carbs and celiac friendly. Take the cake and crumble it into pieces on top of the ice cream, and mix it in or use it as a topping. If you want to “shake” things up, put it all into a blender, blend until chunky and almost smooth, then you’ll have a delicious German chocolate cake milkshake!
Gluten Free German Chocolate Cake
Gluten Free German Chocolate Cake
12
20 minutes
25 minutes
545
Cakes
A gluten free and keto friendly German chocolate cake with a delicious layer of coconut, pecan and chocolate frosting. This layer cake will blow your mind!
Ingredients
Keto Chocolate Cake:
- 6 Oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar substitute
- 4 eggs, room temperature
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 2 oz sugar free chocolate chips, melted
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp instant espresso
- 1/4 tsp salt
German Chocolate Filling:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grass fed butter
- 3/4 cup golden sweetener
- 1/4 cup bee free honey
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups shredded coconut, unsweetened
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sweetener substitute
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2-3 tbsp heavy cream
Directions
Keto Chocolate Cake:
Preheat the oven to 350°F and line 2 round 6 inch cake pans with parchment paper.
Beat butter, cream cheese, & sugar substitute in a mixer. Add eggs one at a time, mixing and scraping the sides of the bowl after each. Mix in melted sugar free chocolate chips.
Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl and gradually combine to wet mixture until smooth.
Evenly fill cake pans and bake for 20-25 minutes until set. Let cool, then split each cake layer in half–there will be 4 layers.
German Chocolate Filling:
Combine heavy cream, butter, sweetener, egg yolks, and vanilla in a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently. Keep cooking at a low boil until mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in shredded coconut, pecans, and bee free honey.
Let cool before filling in between cake layers and top of cake.
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:
Add butter and vanilla to a bowl and mix until combined. Add dry ingredients and mix scraping the sides of the bowl often. Add heavy cream slowly until desired consistency is reached.
Add frosting to the piping bag and pipe around the cake. Use a spatula or cake scraper to ice the cake.
Use leftover frosting to pipe a border around the bottom and top of the cake. Place a swirl of icing in the center of the cake and top with a cherry if desired.