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Home » Dessert » Earthquake Cake

Published: February 26, 2018 Last Modified: March 24, 2019 By Sara 67 Comments

Earthquake Cake

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Earthquake Cake Recipe | Chocolate Cake Recipe | Chocolate Coconut Cake | Coconut Pecan Cake

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.

Earthquake Cake Recipe | Chocolate Cake Recipe | Chocolate Coconut Cake | Coconut Pecan Cake #cake #chocolate #coconut #pecans #dessert #chocolatecake #dinneratthezoo

Earthquake cake is a gooey delight loaded with chocolate, pecans and coconut.

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 first layer of earthquake cake is shredded coconut and pecans.

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.

Chocolate cake batter in a baking dish.

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!

Chocolate cake batter topped with dollops of sweetened cream cheese and chocolate chips.

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.

Earthquake cake loaded with chocolate, pecans, coconut and cream cheese.

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!

A slice of earthquake cake.

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 is a gooey delight loaded with chocolate, pecans and coconut.
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4.88 from 25 votes

Earthquake Cake

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!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 550kcal
Author Sara Welch

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

  1. Recipe adapted from South Your Mouth.
  2. 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.

Nutrition

Calories: 550kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 457mg | Potassium: 286mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 48g | Vitamin A: 500IU | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 2.9mg
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Filed Under: Dessert, Featured Recipes

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    Comments

    1. Ace says

      January 25, 2023 at 5:39 pm

      One of the best cakes I’ve ever made it’s delish

      Reply
    2. Pat says

      August 26, 2022 at 6:51 am

      Can it be baked in a bundle pan?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        August 29, 2022 at 12:47 pm

        This recipe will not work properly in a bundt pan!

        Reply
    3. renee says

      March 4, 2022 at 10:25 am

      I did not make any changes. I believe it was Duncan Hines.

      Reply
    4. Renee says

      March 4, 2022 at 5:32 am

      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?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        March 4, 2022 at 8:32 am

        Hmmmm, it’s hard to say. Did you make any changes to the recipe? What brand of cake mix?

        Reply
    5. Cora says

      September 29, 2021 at 9:25 pm

      5 stars
      This is probably one of the best cakes I’ve ever made!

      Reply
    6. Barbara BARVINEK says

      August 4, 2021 at 1:53 pm

      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

      Reply
      • Sara says

        August 5, 2021 at 11:29 am

        Yes any chocolate cake will work!

        Reply
    7. Kathy says

      October 23, 2020 at 9:43 am

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
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