Valentine’s Day: Earthquake Cake – best tasting ever
So good, you can feel the earth move under your feet! The fault line forms across the top during baking and the fault lines are the best tasting ever.
Variations of this recipe resurfaced after the 1990 Missouri Earthquake. Also known as Upside Down German Chocolate Cake.
Earthquake Cake: 1970s, Shekinah Conferences
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup coconut
- 1 box German chocolate cake mix
- 1 stick margarine (butter)
- 1 (8 oz.) cream cheese
- 1 box powdered sugar
Place nuts and coconut in bottom of 9 x 13 inch pan. Prepare cake mix as directed on box; pour over nuts and coconut. Melt margarine and cream cheese on low heat and mix with powdered sugar. Spoon over cake mix. Do not spread. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes. After it’s baked, it looks like an earthquake hit it.
For German chocolate version, serve the cake up-side down. The coconut-pecan mixture should be on the top.
Notes: Cake should be gooey inside and wiggle when warm. A toothpick or cake tester won’t work. If you prefer a firmer cake, bake for full 45 minutes. It sets up as it cools. Some say it’s better the next day. To add stones or rocks to the layers of cake strata, spread ¾ cup chocolate chips to the coconut-pecan mixture or on top of the cream cheese mixture. Serve with whipped cream if desired.
Cake mixes: Besides, German chocolate, devil’s food and chocolate fudge mixes work. Stay away from those with pudding in the mix.
Little Known Household Hints for Valentine’s Day:
- *Candles chilled for 24 hours in refrigerator will burn longer and drip.
- *To remove gum from hair, rub a plain chocolate bar in hair and then wash.
- *Cold tea, coffee grounds or eggshells make a good fertilizer for houseplants and act as insecticides too. Perfect advice for a gift of live plants.
- *Rubbing alcohol will remove ball-point pen ink marks. Helpful hint when writing cards.
Ann Marie Bezayiff received her BA and MEd from the University of Washington in Seattle. She is an author, blogger, columnist and speaker. Her columns, “From the Olive Orchard” and “Recycled Recipes from Vintage Boxes”, appear in newspapers, newsletters and on Internet sites. Ann Marie has also demonstrated her recipes on local television. Currently she divides her time between Western Maryland and Texas.