German Chocolate Cake?

It's my brithday and I'm determined not to break my 34 year tradition of having German chocolate cake today. I do not want the bog standard Jewel or Dominicks version though. Where should I go? It's too cold to go too far but the North Shore and North side are fair game.

Happy Birthday. You could make one.

I don't know where you could get one. I love German Chocolate Cake.

My grandmother's specialty was German Chocolate cake (not made with mix!!!) Three round layers of cake and stacked with custard filling. The whole cake then coated with German Chocolate (coconut and pecan) frosting. What a cake. A big, high, beautiful cake. I would die for a piece right now. May her soul rest in peace.

I've found that Whole Food's baked goods are generally a step above the standard grocery store fare, and generally a bit pricier--but good in a pinch if you can't get to a "real" standalone bakery.

I like Dinkel's Bakery on Lincoln and Roeser's on North Ave in Humboldt Park for basic cakes. Also got a great cake recently from Alliance bakery on division--better than I remembered them being.

I would figure out which bakery is closest to your desired location, give em a call and inquire about their german chocolate availability.

Good luck!

Hi,

FYI - German Chocolate Cake has no origins in Germany. The 'German' in German Chocolate Cake derives from German baking chocolate.* The cake's use of coconut and pecans, which I adore, is further proof this cake is of Southern origins.**

Thus German Chocolate Cake is not necessarily found at a German bakery.

*Initially learned from LAZ.
**Learned from Southern Cake's author Nancie McDermott at a Culinary Historians meeting.

Regards,

You want chocalate cake? May I recomend the Claim Jumper..One piece can serve 6 people..

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Cl ... tnG=Search

Cathy2 wrote:FYI - German Chocolate Cake has no origins in Germany. The 'German' in German Chocolate Cake derives from German baking chocolate.* The cake's use of coconut and pecans, which I adore, is further proof this cake is of Southern origins.**

The chocolate has nothing to do with Germany either. A popular recipe for the cake, published in a Dallas newspaper in 1957, used German's Sweet Chocolate made by Baker's (now owned by Kraft). The chocolate is named after a gentleman by the name of Sam German who produced it in the US in the 19th century.

Here's a link to a short NPR piece on the origin of German's Sweet Chocolate Cake and here's what is supposedly the "original" recipe.

Rene G wrote:

Cathy2 wrote:FYI - German Chocolate Cake has no origins in Germany. The 'German' in German Chocolate Cake derives from German baking chocolate.* The cake's use of coconut and pecans, which I adore, is further proof this cake is of Southern origins.**

The chocolate has nothing to do with Germany either. A popular recipe for the cake, published in a Dallas newspaper in 1957, used German's Sweet Chocolate made by Baker's (now owned by Kraft). The chocolate is named after a gentleman by the name of Sam German who produced it in the US in the 19th century.

Here's a link to a short NPR piece on the origin of German's Sweet Chocolate Cake and here's what is supposedly the "original" recipe.

Thanks for filling in my omission. I had intended to state Baker's, then simply forgot.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:The cake's use of coconut and pecans, which I adore, is further proof this cake is of Southern origins.** . . .

**Learned from Southern Cake's author Nancie McDermott at a Culinary Historians meeting.

I'm pretty sure I saw German Chocolate Cake offered at Edna's on Madison the other day, which certainly would make sense given the Southern origins you mention.

Thanks for the education. I wanted to go to Gladstone but I didn't get off work till 6 so I ended up at the Celtic Knot with a slice of their chocolate cake with my friends. I may cave and get one from Dominicks this afternoon.

I stopped at Bennison's Bakery for a baguette in preparation for making French Onion Soup. They had a very nice looking German Chocolate cake or two on display. Give them a call. I don't know if they are open on Sunday.

I'm pretty sure Deerfield Bakery offers German Chocolate cake (also my hubbys favorite) but you may have to call ahead.
They have 3 locations (I think)

After some time spent lurking and enjoying this forum, I am moved to reply to say that Sweet Mandy B's makes a darn good German Chocolate cake (and also forced to disclose that I work there, but the cake is empirically delicious).

I see Cafe Selmarie offers German Chocolate Cake. Has anyone tried it?