Foodie Friday - The truth about German Chocolate Cake

The truth about German Chocolate Cake is that I think it's gross. I'm not a nut kind of gal (no, I'm not allergic - I just don't like them in my food thankyouverymuch) and German Chocolate Cake has tons of several different kinds of nuts in it. I'm just not a fan.

However my dad is. A big fan, in fact. Of course my family is very dessert oriented, so there are many others desserts he likes as well (like pecan pie, Blue Bell Ice Cream, cheesecake, oatmeal raisin cookies, etc.)

And since today is his birthday and since I'm not close-by to give him a hug and a kiss, or even make him a birthday cake, I am using this blog to make him a virtual birthday cake. A German Chocolate Cake. Much the same way I remember making these cakes for him when I was younger. That's how he knew the cake was especially for him, because he knew I wasn't going anywhere within 10 feet of it once I was done making it.

Blech.

Now, first a bit of history for you.

Did you know that German Chocolate Cake did not originate in Germany? It's not German. At all. Well, I guess that one of the people involved in its development could have had German roots, but the cake itself... not German.

The following is paraphrased from Snopes.com:

In 1852, a man named Sam German developed a sweet baking bar for Baker's Chocolate Co. who named the bar for him by using his last name: "Baker's German's Sweet Chocolate." (Side note: other sources say that Mr. German founded Baker's Chocolate... so I'm not sure which is correct.) Fast forward about 100 years and a recipe ran in the Dallas newspaper, submitted by a local homemaker, which caused a frenzy and noticeable increase in sales of these chocolate bars. The company began distributing the recipe and it took the country by storm.

In my looking about, I found several recipes that I'll share with you along with the disclaimer that I have not and will not personally try any of these recipes:

This one is accredited to Cook's Illustrated (pictured above) and I pretty well trust ANYTHING they come up with. It's bound to be good if you like German Chocolate Cake.

This one is from David Lebovitz who seems to know a thing or two about the subject of sweets.

Or for a different and interesting twist, try this one which hails from the Bridge Street Bakery in Waitsfield, VT.

So there you have it. As far as my friend the Internet can tell me, that's the truth about German Chocolate Cake.

And Happy Birthday, Dad! I love you.