Earthquake Cake
Earthquake Cake. It’s gooey, it’s rich, it’s completely over the top ridiculous…and it’s crazy easy to make.
I’m bringing this beauty of a recipe out of my mom’s recipe box and into the new millennium. Earthquake Cake is a quintessential 80’s recipe that I enjoyed a time or fifteen in my childhood at church potlucks. If you are a fan of my Ridiculous Chocolate Cake you will love this one too! There isn’t really much not to love about this recipe…I mean unless you don’t like chocolate. Then I am not sure if we’re the soul sisters I thought we were…
And oh yes, there’s coconut here. I know some of you don’t love it. I get it… I am sure you could make it without, though. AND my mom’s recipe had nuts in it as well…but since I don’t like nuts in cake (heh) I got rid of those suckers.
MY OTHER RECIPES
Anyhow, there’s gooey chocolate, a sweet cream cheese layer that oozes out when it’s warm and I mean, why not top it with more hot fudge? Or ice cream? Or whipped cream? DO IT ALL!
And I made a short little video to sow you how to do it!
Since the recipe is super 80s-tastic it you will be using a cake mix today. Understand and embrace this.
The steps are simple…just put a whole mound of coconut and chocolate chips into a 9×13 pan…
Prepare your cake mix according to package directions. I used a Triple Chocolate Cake Mix because I’m crazy like that! You really could use ANY flavor…how about a Funfetti Earthquake Cake Folks? Oh yes, making that next!
Pour your cake mix over top and then melt some cream cheese and butter together.
This ain’t no health food show people.
Pour that mess all over top…
You can try and spread this out, but mine always sinks. My mom’s was always prettier with a layer of cream cheese on top, but I can never get mine to come out that way. Just do your best, it will be fine.
When it’s baked it will look something like this…
Make sure the center is still a little jiggly when you take it out of the oven. I bake for 45 minutes and that’s about perfect. The edges will be set, but the center will have a little wiggle.
Now, to eat it warm or wait for it to cool? UGH! THE DECISIONS!!
If you eat it warm it will almost be like a cakey-pudding, which is glorious. But if you wait a little bit until it’s just a little warm you will be able to get slices with still a lot of gooey…
It’s the best.
I hope you make this cake, and then make it again and again… it’s sure to be an all-time favorite!
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PinIngredients
- 1 1/2 cups shredded sweetened coconut
- 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 box chocolate cake (plus ingredients called for on the box)
- 8 ounces cream cheese, cubed
- 1/2 cup butter, cubed
- 4 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F
- Coat a 9×13 pan with nonstick spray.
- In a large bowl combine the coconut and chocolate chips. Pour this mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Set aside.
- In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment prepare the cake mix according to the package directions.
- Pour the cake batter on top of the coconut mixture.
- Place the cream cheese and butter In a medium saucepan over medium- low heat. Stirring constantly melt mixture together. Remove from the heat immediately and stir in the powdered sugar until the mixture is smooth.
- Carefully drizzle this on top of the cake batter. Try and smooth it out so it covers all of it. If it sinks it’s fine.
- Bake the cake for 45 minutes. The edges will be set and the center will be slightly loose.
- Allow the cake to cool for about 30 minutes and slice and serve for a gooey cake. You can also allow the cake to cool completely before serving.
Notes
Store airtight, refrigerated for up to 3 days. I like to warm the cake in the microwave before serving, but you don’t have to!
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You must be in my head! I literally printed a recipe for Earthquake cake 10 minutes ago! It has nuts, so I think I will swap them for chocolate chips (since I don’t like nuts in my food). Thank you! 😀 I’m making it for Thanksgiving.
It looks so tempting and so sweet! Yummy!
This looks phenomenal but are there any s
Try again….Are there any suggestions for substitutions for the coconut?
You could just it them out altogether…or you could also add a cup of nuts along with the chocolate chips.
Fine ground walnuts
Have made this cake for YEARS! LOVE love LOVE coconut!!! Your recipe is just a tad different from the one I have so I’m going to try yours! Thanks for the updated version 😉
So yummy and gooey. I have to taste this!
Hello, this looks so GOOD! What would happen if I substituted buttercream for the cream cheese? Not a fan of cream cheese. Also i might make a scratch cake instead of a mix…..I just cannot wait!!! Thank you so much!!!
the buttercream would most likely melt into the cake completely, but it would still be delicious!
OMG This looks insane! I’ve never made Earthquake cake but now I need to! Pinning!
Oh my lordy, seriously? Sign me up. This looks outrageously good. And the fact that is uses a boxed mix and so few ingredients… perfect! Cannot wait to give it a try!
It’s ridiculous how gorgeous this cake looks. Oh, how gooey it is. My tummy must have this cake.
oh yes, definitely happening for my next potluck. Pinning!
hi shelly !
i didn’t get my weekly news letter from you this week , which i really love to read ! what happend ?? thanks
Oh yes… we took the week off but will be back next week with Cookie Palooza 🙂
Wow! I have never had earthquake cake before, but that needs to change!
Hi. It would be helpful if you out full ingredients as well rather than the cake mixes on your cake recipes. I would like to use the all purpose flour and the like rather than use the cake mix. Any help………..?
What if I funny have powder sugar. Stayed making and didn’t know I didn’t have any
This is a favorite recipe in my family. Great for pot lucks, or just a cake craving….will pass it down the generations!
I just reread this post. I made the cake a year and a half ago and it was delicious. I’m going to make it again but as funfetti and maybe put sifted cocoa powder in the cream cheese mixture. I’ll let you know the results. 🙂
That sounds amazing!!