Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup whole buttermilk
1 (4-ounce) bar German’s sweet baking chocolate, melted and cooled
Coconut-Pecan Filling, recipe follows
Chocolate Ganache Frosting, recipe follows
Garnish: pecan halves, chocolate curls

Creamy Coconut Pecan Filling:
1½ cups heavy whipping cream
1½ cups sugar
5 egg yolks
6 tablespoons butter
2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
1½ cups chopped toasted pecans

Chocolate Ganache Frosting:
1 cup heavy whipping cream, boiling
2 (4-ounce) bars German’s sweet baking chocolate, chopped
¼ cup butter, softened
1½ tablespoons light corn syrup

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray 3 (9-inch) cake pans with nonstick cooking spray with flour. 

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar at medium-high speed with an electric mixer until fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add sour cream and vanilla, beating until combined. 

In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to butter mixture, alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Add melted chocolate, beating until combined.

Spoon batter evenly into prepared pans, and bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes.  Remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks. 

Spread two-thirds of Coconut-Pecan Filling evenly in between cake layers. Place cake in freezer for at least 1 hour. Spread Chocolate Ganache Frosting evenly over top and sides of cake. Spread remaining one-third Coconut-Pecan Filling evenly over top of cake. Arrange pecan halves around top and bottom of cake, if desired.  Garnish with chocolate curls, if desired. Store cake in refrigerator. 

Creamy Coconut Pecan Filling:

In a medium saucepan, combine cream, sugar, and egg yolks. Cook over medium-low heat, until sugar is dissolved and mixture coats the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and add butter, coconut, and pecans, stirring until butter is melted. Let stand until mixture reaches room temperature. 

Yields: 5 cups

Chocolate Ganache Frosting:

In a medium bowl, combine chopped chocolate, butter, and corn syrup. Pour boiling cream over chocolate mixture.  Let stand for 1 minute. Stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Chill for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until frosting is a spreadable consistency. 

Yields: 1 ½ cups

Recipe Courtesy of Paula Deen