National German Chocolate Cake Day
Whether you’re running to the kitchen or store to snag your German chocolate cake on National German Chocolate Cake Day, June 11, we know you’re celebrating. The traditional chocolate cake features rich chocolate layers coated in sweet and nutty pecan frosting — but the dessert isn’t actually German! German chocolate cake was named after an English-American named Sam German, creator of a specific baking chocolate at the Baker’s Chocolate Company.
History of National German Chocolate Cake Day
German chocolate cake — the fudge-y, nutty, and oh-so-sweet dessert that we all thought was German! The treat is defined by its rich chocolate cake layers, which are stuck together with coconut-pecan frosting and often topped with maraschino cherries. While many Americans think German chocolate originates from Germany, you’d be hard-pressed to find a German who knows of it.
Sam German, an English-American chocolate-maker for The Baker’s Chocolate Company, first created his distinct variety of dark baking chocolate in 1852. In his honor, the Baker’s Chocolate Company named the creation after him, dubbing it ‘Baker’s German’s Sweet Chocolate.’ This sets the stage for the culinary invention of German chocolate cake, and explains the origin misnomer!
German chocolate cake wasn’t actually born until around a century later, in 1957. In Dallas, Texas, housewife Mrs. George Clay sent in her cake recipe to be featured as ‘Recipe of the Day’ on “The Dallas Morning News.” She had called it ‘German’s Chocolate Cake’ after the baking chocolate she used. Over time, however, the ‘s’ has been dropped from the recipe.
Unsurprisingly, the recipe took off, spreading mostly through word of mouth. Sales of Baker’s Chocolate reportedly increased 73% in a year as bakers scrambled to make more German chocolate cake. The owner of the Baker’s brand, General Foods, began to distribute the cake recipe to other bakers nationwide. Today, many baking companies still make the decadent dessert!
How to Observe National German Chocolate Cake Day?
1.Whip up your own German chocolate cake
While it can taste gourmet, inexperienced bakers should have no fear – German chocolate cake isn’t hard to make! Round up friends or family to share the kitchen space with you, and cobble together your own homemade German chocolate cake.
2.Hold a German chocolate cake taste test
Since your friends are already over to help you bake, employ their taste buds as well! After you make your own, hold a blind taste test with some store-bought ones. The homemade one has got to be the best but really, you’re all winners because you’re eating German chocolate cake.
3.Post #GermanChocolateCakeDay on social media
After you’ve created your pecan frosting-drenched masterpiece, be sure to snap a pic for the gram. Your creation might just inspire someone on your feed to make their own version of the dessert!
Why We Love National German Chocolate Cake Day?
A. It’s chocolate – what’s not to love
Who doesn’t love chocolate? In our opinion, rich, fudgy cake layers are only improved by nutty & sweet pecan and coconut frosting. German chocolate cake is the ultimate indulgence, and we’re grateful there’s a whole holiday to excuse the overeating we plan to do.
B. It’s an American classic
Contrary to popular belief, German chocolate cake is a great American classic — so much so that it doesn’t even exist in Germany! Celebrate the spirit of American culinary invention, ironically, with a big slice of German chocolate cake.
C. It gets us in the kitchen!
Of course, it’s easy to just buy a German chocolate cake, but it’s so much more fun to whip one up from scratch! Enlisting some friends or family to help craft the perfect cake is a delicious way to spend the afternoon.
References:
“National German Chocolate Cake Day” │ https://nationaltoday.com/national-german-chocolate-cake-day/
“German Chocolate Cake Recipe” │ https://www.thespruceeats.com/german-chocolate-cake-recipe-5208603