If you’re looking for the perfect Cheesecake to serve for special occasions or guests, this German Chocolate Cheesecake fits the bill. The rich coconut-pecan topping is amazing paired with the double chocolate cheesecake and coconut cookie crust. Rich. Delicious. Special-occasion worthy.
Like anyone else, my husband’s birthday rolls around only once a year. He’s a low-key guy who doesn’t like a fuss made over him.
How do you not make a fuss over this guy especially when he’s a wonderful husband, father, and friend?
He’s my biggest supporter and I just adore him. Honestly, he is truly one in a million!
Believe me, when I say, my friends and family, all remind me how lucky am to have him – as if I don’t already know – but If I’m being honest, I probably do sometimes still need to be reminded from time to time.
Despite his best efforts to convince me he doesn’t need anything for his birthday, every year I still try to do something special for his birthday – because I know he surely deserves it.
He isn’t one for a fancy dinner at a pretentious restaurant; he has very simple tastes. Instead, he prefers a good steak grilled to perfection topped with caramelized onions and mushrooms, a thick, juicy burger loaded with his favorite spicy and melty toppings, or his favorite indulgence – hot wings.
Seeing as we do not eat wings very often, I usually make Crispy Baked Buffalo Hot Wings and his favorite cake. Ordinarily, he isn’t much of a sweets guy but he does love a homemade German Chocolate Cake.
Instead of cake this year, I made him this German Chocolate Cheesecake. It’s creamy, chocolatey, and decadent; perfect for spoiling him on his birthday – well, you know, as much as he’ll let me. ;)
If you’re looking for the perfect Cheesecake to serve for special occasions or guests, this German Chocolate Cheesecake fits the bill. The rich coconut-pecan topping is amazing paired with the double chocolate cheesecake and coconut cookie crust. Rich. Delicious. Special-occasion worthy. Yum.
Let’s talk a second about that coconut-pecan topping!
If you are like me and you judge German Chocolate anything by the readily available canned coconut-pecan topping, you will totally be missing out on a truly delicious dessert!
Making the topping yourself has such tremendously different flavor!
We find it to be absolutely amazing. We reserve the extra (if any) as an ice cream topping.
Try it, it’s amazing!
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German Chocolate Cheesecake
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 2 cups coconut cookies , like Vortman brand, made into crumbs
- 4 tbsp butter , melted
For the Cheesecake filling:
- 24 oz cream cheese , softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 oz German Chocolate squares , melted [See Note 1]
- 1 tbsp flour
- 3 tbsp powdered baking cocoa , special dark variety [See Note 2]
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract [paid link]
For the Coconut Pecan Topping:
- 2 large egg yolks
- 6 oz sweetened condensed milk , about 1/2 the can [See Note 3]
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3/4 cups sugar
- 8 tbsp butter (1 stick)
- 1-1/2 cups shredded coconut
- 1 cup pecans , chopped
Optional Garnish
- Ghirardelli Chocolate Sauce [See Note 4]
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- In a food processor [paid link], process the cookies into a fine crumb. add the butter and pulse to mix well.
- Press mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan.
- Bake crust for 10 minutes (until golden brown) then remove from the oven and set aside.
- Cover the outsides of the pan with aluminum foil and set aside.
- In a large bowl, blend the cream cheese, sugar, chocolate, flour, and cocoa with an electric mixer until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl to fully incorporate the cream cheese.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating slowly and scraping the sides of the bowl after each addition.
- Add the sour cream and vanilla extract [paid link]. Beat on low speed until well combined.
- Pour the cheesecake filling into the springform pan and spread evenly. The pan will be very full.
- Lightly drop the pan on the counter to remove air bubbles from the cheesecake batter. I drop the pan from about 1 or 2-inches above the countertop.
- Carefully double wrap the outside and bottom of the pan with aluminum foil to keep water from entering into the springform pan while baking.
- Place springform pan in a larger baking or roasting pan [paid link]. Fill the larger pan with enough warm water to reach about halfway up the sides of the springform pan. Do not fill above the top edge of the aluminum foil on the springform pan.
- Bake for 70 to 80 minutes or until the center of the cheesecake is almost set but still slightly jiggling.
- Turn off the oven and leave cheesecake in oven with door closed for and allow it to cool. It will finish cooking and set during this time.
- This slow cooling process helps the cheesecake cool slowly and prevent cracks.
- Remove cheesecake from oven and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- While the cheesecake cools, prepare the coconut-pecan topping.
- In a large saucepan [paid link] over medium heat, combine the egg yolks, and condensed milk and stir until combined.
- Add the sugar and butter and cook for about 12-15 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened and lightly golden brown; stirring constantly.
- Remove the pan from heat and stir in the vanilla, shredded coconut, and chopped pecans. Mix well and then allow to cool completely.
- Once the cheesecake has cooled completely, run a knife around the edge of the pan and then remove the springform pan side from cheesecake.
- Top the cheesecake with the coconut-pecan topping. Lighty garnish with a drizzle of Ghirardelli chocolate sauce (optional).
Notes
- German Chocolate is found in the baking aisle of the supermarket and is chocolate formulated especially for baking.
- The baking cocoa powder is different than hot cocoa and is found in the baking aisle. I used Hershey's brand Special Dark for this recipe.
- Sweetened Condensed milk not evaporated milk.
- Ghirardelli Chocolate Sauce is found both in the ice cream condiment aisle and the coffee aisle. It's deliciously rich and incredibly chocolatey tasting as compared to other brands.
- Nutrition is calculated based on the recipe as written. Additions, omissions, or substitutions will change the calculated values shown. The addition, omission, or substitution of ingredients will alter the nutritional information shown. Nutrition percentages are based on a 2000-calorie diet. The FDA recommends 80 micrograms of vitamin K
It is very good. I think I may have done the topping wrong it ended up having a very condensed milk taste but it was good once combined all together. Thank you for sharing the recipe
German Choc Cheesecake…..can you create a 7″ Instant Pot Version of this please
Sounds great, Lynne.
I was surprised as how creamy the cheesecake layer was. The topping was amazing!
Thank you so much for sharing your recipe. It is delicious. I made the icing a little too thick but at room temperature it is GREAT.
I provided a link to my Facebook post if you’d like to see it.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2111837032165046&set=pcb.2111837505498332&type=3
Looks great, Jerry! I hope you enjoyed it!
So you hand mash the Vortman Coconut cookies into crumbs just like you would mash Graham crackers into crumbs to mix with butter to make Graham cracker crust for pies? Should the cookies end up crushed like cornmeal or small chunks?
Hi Jerry – I process the cookies into a fine crumb like you would for graham crackers. You can use graham crackers instead of the coconut cookies if you prefer – but the coconut cookie crust was so delicious. I have updated the recipe instructions in step two to clarify the cookie crumb texture. Thank you for taking the time to stop in and ask. I do hope you enjoy this cheesecake. :)
How long do you leave the cheesecake in the oven with the door closed. Thanks
Hi Kelly – you leave it in the oven with the door closed until the oven cools completely. The trapped heat will carry over cook the cheesecake. The cake is so creamy!
For the topping, you listed evaporated milk in the ingredients, but wrote condensed milk in the directions. Which is it?
Hi Linda.
I meant it to say condensed milk. I have fixed the ingredient list. Thank you!
This not sweetened condensed milk but regular condensed milk, correct?
Hi Gloria –
No, it should be sweetened condensed milk not evaporated milk. Use only about 1/2 the can. I have updated the instructions to reflect the word “sweetened” condensed milk and added a note. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and ask. I hope you enjoy it.