Gooey Delight: Missouri Earthquake Cake Recipe

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Missouri’s culinary scene isn’t just about barbecue and gooey butter cake—it’s also home to one of the most decadent, gooey desserts you’ll ever experience: Earthquake Cake. This dessert, with its layers of rich chocolate, sweet coconut, crunchy pecans, and creamy swirls of cream cheese, is a sweet explosion that leaves your taste buds wanting more. Whether you're hosting a family gathering or simply want to surprise your loved ones with an unforgettable treat, this Missouri-style Earthquake Cake is the perfect choice.

A unique feature of this cake is that it looks as if the "earth" has cracked open after baking—hence the name! With the cream cheese and powdered sugar creating molten rivers throughout the chocolate cake, it's as visually impressive as it is delicious. Let’s dive into how you can bring this Midwest classic into your own kitchen.

The Heart of Missouri’s Sweetness

The Earthquake Cake is an irresistible blend of flavors and textures. The moist German chocolate cake sits atop a foundation of coconut, chocolate chips, and pecans. This base, combined with the rich cream cheese and butter mixture swirled through the batter, makes for a dessert that’s gooey, crunchy, and creamy all at once.

This recipe has become a beloved favorite in Missouri, where the state's love for rich, indulgent desserts knows no bounds. Perfect for potlucks, family reunions, or just a cozy night in, this cake will have your guests raving and reaching for seconds. It’s easy to prepare and even easier to enjoy.

Recipe: Missouri Earthquake Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 box German Chocolate Cake Mix (do not prepare as directed on box, follow the recipe below)
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1 & 1/3 cup water
• ⅔ cup sweetened shredded coconut
• ⅔ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ½ cup chopped pecans
• 1 stick unsalted butter (1/2 cup)
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1 pound powdered sugar (3 and 3/4 cups)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly spray a 9 x 13-inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Layer the coconut, chocolate chips, and pecans evenly on the bottom of the prepared pan.
3. Prepare the cake mix by mixing the German chocolate cake mix with oil, eggs, and water using a spatula or hand mixer on low speed until fully combined.
4. Pour the cake batter over the coconut, chocolate chip, and pecan mixture in the pan.
5. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and cream cheese together over low heat, stirring frequently.
6. Once melted, beat in the powdered sugar with a hand mixer until smooth and creamy.
7. Spoon the cream cheese mixture over the cake batter in the pan. Use a knife to gently swirl the cream cheese mixture into the cake batter.
8. Bake the cake for 35-45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the cake doesn’t wobble in the pan when gently shaken. Keep in mind that this cake should have a gooey consistency, so the toothpick test won’t work as it would for traditional cakes.
9. Let the cake cool for about 10 minutes, then slice and serve. Enjoy the gooey, sweet, and crunchy goodness!Store any leftovers in the fridge to maintain the perfect texture.

The Earthquake Cake Experience

When you take your first bite of this Missouri-inspired Earthquake Cake, you’ll experience the warm, gooey richness of melted chocolate combined with crunchy pecans, coconut sweetness, and the tang of cream cheese. This cake is a must-try for anyone looking to expand their dessert horizons beyond the typical layer cakes and cookies. Whether you're from Missouri or just a lover of good desserts, this is one cake that deserves a permanent spot in your recipe collection.

The Missouri-style Earthquake Cake is a delicious and gooey dessert that blends layers of German chocolate cake, coconut, pecans, and chocolate chips, with a rich cream cheese swirl. Its name comes from the cracked, "shaken" appearance of the cake once baked, which mirrors the gooey rivers of cream cheese running through the chocolate batter.

The recipe is relatively simple to prepare. After mixing the cake batter and laying it over the base of coconut and pecans, the cream cheese mixture is swirled in before baking. The result is a decadent dessert that combines textures and flavors in each bite—perfect for any occasion. For additional customization, variations like Red Velvet or Reese's Earthquake Cake offer even more exciting flavors​(i am baker)​(Allrecipes).

For more details on preparing Earthquake Cake, you can explore some of the best recipes (i am baker)tp​(Allrecipes)er.net​(Beyond the bayou blog)e-cake/), here, and here.