This earthquake cake is a chocolate cake loaded with coconut, pecans, cream cheese and chocolate chips. A super gooey and delicious cake that ALWAYS gets rave reviews!
Looking for something a little different to serve at your next gathering? This chocolate earthquake cake is filled to the brim with goodies and starts with a cake mix which means it’s super easy to make.
Let me first start by saying that this earthquake cake is not the prettiest cake out there – but what it lacks in looks it makes up for in flavor! This is one fabulous cake loaded with pretty much everything you can imagine – chocolate, pecans, coconut AND cream cheese. It also happens to be super easy to make!
How to make earthquake cake
This earthquake cake starts with a layer of shredded coconut and chopped pecans. Not a pecan fan? Try almonds or walnuts, or you can omit the nuts altogether if you’re baking for people with allergies.
The next step is a layer of chocolate cake. I use a box of chocolate fudge cake mix and prepare it according to the package directions.
The final step is dollops of sweetened cream cheese and chocolate chips. They call this cake an earthquake cake because it looks like there’s been an earthquake when you pull it out of the oven!
Your cake will have lots of cracks and tunnels and pockets full of delicious flavor. If the look of the craters bothers you, you can always sprinkle some more chocolate chips into the gaps after it comes out of the oven, they’ll melt from the heat of the warm cake and be totally delicious.
This earthquake cake feeds a crowd, which means it’s perfect for potlucks, birthday parties and other special occasions. No one will ever guess that this cake starts with a box of mix, they’ll think you made the whole thing from scratch!
If you love chocolate, this earthquake cake is an absolute must try. My family requests it constantly, and I’m always happy to oblige!
More decadent desserts
- Funfetti Cookies
- Peanut Butter Brownies
- Microwave Caramels
- No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Coconut Cake
Earthquake Cake Video
Earthquake Cake
Ingredients
- cooking spray
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
- 1 box chocolate fudge cake mix
- eggs, oil and water according to cake mix package
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9"x13" pan with cooking spray.
- Place the pecans and coconut in an even layer in the bottom of the pan.
- Prepare the cake mix according to package directions and pour the cake batter over the coconut and pecans.
- Place the cream cheese in a medium bowl and beat with a mixer until smooth. Add the butter and beat until combined.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar to the cream cheese mixture and beat on low speed until smooth.
- Place dollops of the cream cheese mixture on top of the cake batter. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the cake.
- Bake the cake for 40 minutes or until the cake has set.
- Cool, cut into squares and serve.
Notes
- Recipe adapted from South Your Mouth.
- Make sure your 9"x13" pan is at least 2 inches deep, preferably deeper. If your pan isn't as deep, try a larger pan or put your pan on a baking sheet before you place it in the oven in case of any overflow of batter.
Pat says
Can it be baked in a bundle pan?
Sara says
This recipe will not work properly in a bundt pan!
renee says
I did not make any changes. I believe it was Duncan Hines.
Renee says
I made this yesterday! Very good and easy but mine looked like a regular cake. It was like all the cream cheese and chocolate chips melted and went to the bottom. Any idea what I did wrong?
Sara says
Hmmmm, it’s hard to say. Did you make any changes to the recipe? What brand of cake mix?
Cora says
This is probably one of the best cakes I’ve ever made!
Barbara BARVINEK says
Hello, I don’t can buy any cake mix here in Austria…is it possible to use a brownie cake recipe instead??
thank you
Barbara
Sara says
Yes any chocolate cake will work!
Kathy says
This recipe is amazing!
I followed the directions as written and baked it 5 minutes longer until the middle was just set.
I will probably leave out the pecans next time as I didn’t really enjoy them at the bottom of this cake.