German Chocolate Upside Down Cake

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/7/22
German Chocolate Upside Down Cake on plates

The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Total: 60 mins
Servings: 16 to 24 servings

This fabulous chocolate upside-down cake is very easy to prepare with a German chocolate cake mix. Cream cheese, coconut, and chopped pecans make it an extra-special dessert, and it makes its own topping.

There were 16 previous reviews. All but a few were 5-star reviews and comments. From the few negative reviews, the people said the cake spilled out over the sides of the pan. Most people—including me—didn't have the problem, but if you are using a pan that is slightly smaller or more shallow, place a large baking pan on the lower rack of the oven just in case.

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup flaked, sweetened coconut

  • 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

  • 1 (18.25-ounce) box German chocolate cake mix

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

  • 1/2 cup butter or margarine, room temperature

  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    German Chocolate Upside Down Cake ingredients in bowls

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  2. Grease and flour a 9 x 3 x 2-inch baking pan. Preheat oven to 350 F / 180 C/ Gas 4.

    Greased and floured baking pan

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  3. Sprinkle coconut and pecans evenly over the bottom of the prepared pan.

    Coconut and pecans in a prepared baking pan

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  4. Prepare cake mix with water, oil, and eggs, following the package directions.

    Cake mix, water, oil and egg mixture in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  5. Pour the cake batter over the coconut and pecans.

    Cake batter poured over the coconut and pecans in a baking pan

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  6. Combine the cream cheese, butter, and confectioners' sugar in a mixing bowl. Beat until well blended.

    Cream cheese, butter, and confectioners' sugar in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  7. Drop by spoonfuls over the top of cake batter.

    Cream cheese mixture poured on top of the cake batter in the baking pan

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  8. Put the cake in the oven with a large baking pan under it just in case the mixture spills over a bit.

    Cake batter and cream cheese mixture in a baking pan, inside of another baking pan

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  9. Bake for about 45 to 50 minutes. A toothpick should come out clean when inserted into the center of the cake portion.

    Baked German Chocolate Upside Down Cake in a baking pan

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  10. Cool the cake in the pan on a rack.

    German Chocolate Upside Down Cake in a baking pan, on a cooling rack

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  11. To serve, cut into individual serving-size pieces and, using a spatula or cake server, remove from the pan and turn upside-down on dessert plates.

    German Chocolate Upside Down Cake slices on plates

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
231 Calories
16g Fat
22g Carbs
2g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16 to 24
Amount per serving
Calories 231
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g 20%
Saturated Fat 7g 36%
Cholesterol 32mg 11%
Sodium 100mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 22g 8%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 18g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 25mg 2%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 76mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags: