Earthquake Cake is a fun cake that combines a box cake mix with coconut, pecans, and a cream cheese swirl. Once baked, the cake has crevices and cracks inside, like a cake that has been through an earthquake. The result is an ooey, gooey, scrumptiously moist chocolate cake with pockets of cream cheese, pecans, and coconut. It is almost like the frosting has been baked right into the cake.
Easy Earthquake Cake
This moist chocolate taste explosion with layers of coconut, pecans, chocolate, and cream cheese is one of our family’s favorite cakes. It is so easy to make and fun as it looks like an earthquake. I love to prepare it for potlucks, family gatherings, and neighborhood shindigs. This decadent cake serves between twelve and sixteen people and is perfect for small parties with other sweet treats. If you like this cake, try zucchini cake, Texas sheet cake, spice cake, and cream cheese pound cake.
Earthquake Cake Ingredients
To make Earthquake Cake, you will need pecans, sweetened shredded coconut, chocolate fudge cake mix (see below for other cake mix choices), eggs, vegetable oil or canola oil, semisweet chocolate chips, flour, butter cream cheese, and powdered sugar.
How do you make an Earthquake Cake?
Start by spraying a deep 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Next, sprinkle the chopped pecans and shredded coconut evenly on the bottom of the dish. In a large bowl, prepare the cake mix according to the instructions on the box. Sprinkle a little less than a cup of chocolate chips with a bit of cooking oil and stir to coat. Now add a little flour and stir to coat again. Stir the chips into the cake mix and pour the cake mix onto the top of the coconut and pecan layer.
Blend the cream cheese until smooth and lump-free using a stand or hand mixer on low. Slowly add the melted, slightly cooled butter and blend until smooth. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time and mix until smooth and creamy, scraping down the bowl and beaters several times with a spatula.
Now drop dollops of the cream cheese mixture by rounded tablespoons onto the top of the cake batter. It does not need to be perfect or uniform. It should be wild with random dollops, as this is such a fun cake. Sprinkle a few chocolate chips on the top and bake for about forty minutes.
Recipe Tips
- Preheat the oven and load the cake on the middle rack in the center of the oven.
- Use a deep 13×9 inch baking dish so that there is no overflow. The pan I use is 2 1/2 inches deep.
- This fun cake looks like a hot mess, which is part of its charm. Do not worry too much about perfection with this cake.
- Other nuts to substitute include walnuts or almonds.
- You can use any chocolate cake mix. I used Devil’s Food cake mix this time, but you can use Chocolate Fudge or German Chocolate Cake Mix.
- The cake is done when the chocolate cake batter in the center appears set and springs back a little bit when touched. This is usually right around 40 minutes. The toothpick test will not work on this cake because of the gooey cream cheese sections.
- Try substituting milk chocolate chips or butterscotch chips for semisweet chocolate chips.
- This cake is absolutely over the top, served warm with or without vanilla ice cream, so plan accordingly if possible.
Storage
As this cake contains cream cheese, err on the side of caution and store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
To freeze, first cool completely. Then, cover with 2 layers of plastic wrap. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight
What cake mixes can you use for Earthquake Cake?
- Dark Chocolate Fudge
- Devil’s Food
- German Chocolate
- Triple Chocolate Fudge
- Swiss Chocolate
- Double Chocolate
- Dark Chocolate
- Lemon with white chocolate chips
- Strawberry with white chocolate chips
More chocolate recipes you will love!
Earthquake Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
- 1 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 box chocolate fudge cake mix
- Large eggs oil and water according to cake mix package
- 1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon canola oil or vegetable oil
- 1/2 tablespoon flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 8-ounce package cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 3 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a deep 9x13-inch pan with nonstick baking spray. Evenly sprinkle pecans and coconut in the bottom of the pan.
- In a large bowl, mix the cake according to box instructions with egg, vegetable oil, and water. In a small bowl, mix 3/4 cup chocolate chips with canola oil. Sprinkle with flour and stir to combine. Stir the chocolate chips into the cake mix and spoon it in the baking dish over the pecans and coconut.
- Melt the butter in the microwave and let it cool slightly. Using a mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth and lump free. Slowly add the melted butter and beat until smooth. Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time and mix until smooth. Dollop the cream cheese mixture by rounded tablespoons randomly over the top of the cake. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips over the top.
- Bake for 40 minutes or just until the chocolate cake portion is just set.
Notes
- Preheat the oven and load the cake on the middle rack in the center of the oven.
- Use a deep 13x9 inch baking dish so that there is no overflow. The pan I use is 2 1/2 inches deep.
- This fun cake ends up looking like a hot mess which is part of its charm. Do not worry too much about perfection with this cake.
- Other nuts to substitute include walnuts or almonds.
- You can use any chocolate cake mix. This time I used Devil's Food cake mix, but you can use Chocolate Fudge or German Chocolate Cake Mix.
- The cake is done when the chocolate cake batter in the center appears to be set and springs back a little bit when it is touched. This is usually right around 40 minutes. The toothpick test will not work on this cake because of the gooey cream cheese sections.
- This cake is absolutely over the top, served warm with or without vanilla ice cream, so plan accordingly if at all possible.
- As this cake contains cream cheese, err on the side of caution and store leftovers in the fridge.
- To freeze, first cool completely. The cover with 2 layers of plastic wrap. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Nutrition
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Chrissie Baker
Oh my this looks like an amazing chocolate dessert! The look of craters wouldn’t bother me, it’s all about the taste and well it looks quite tasty 🙂 I think the whole family here would have it gone (not sure it would make it to a potluck haha!)
Sharmila Kingsly
Cook looks incredibly awesome and I so much love its name.. Lovely share..
Debbie
My husband gets terrible headaches with chocolate (so more for me – lol!). But seriously, I was thinking about using a yellow cake mix or spice cake mix and using white chocolate chips instead. Do you think the flavor profile would be good. I was also thinking to serve with a caramel sauce. I’m going to give it a try and let you know how it turns out!
Shirley
Can this cake be prepared & refrigerated and cooked the next morning ?
Beth Pierce
Sorry! I would not do that. Leavening agents start to react after they are mixed.
Debbie
Delicious! I had to cook about 15 min longer than suggested. Maybe my oven. Not sure but it’s so yummy.
Beth Pierce
Do glad that you liked it!
Cindy
My kiddos and I made this together! We have been spending a lot more time in the kitchen lately and its so fun. They really enjoyed making this recipe but they enjoyed eating it even more! Thanks for this delish creation, we are adding it to our “make again” list!!
Pam Greer
Oh my gosh, I had one of these at a potluck and loved it!! I’m so excited to find this recipe!
Beth Sachs
Well I’m definitely going to have to give this recipe a go, just on the name alone. I think my kids would love it.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Beth! Enjoy!!
Natasha
It’s one of a kind, it looks crunchy in the outside but definitely so moist inside. I will probably add ice cream on top of this next time, my kids will surely love it!
Toni
Everyone at my house loved it! They can’t stop eating!
Lily
So gooey and chocolatey it is perfect, I loved the addition of pecans for a different texture. I plan on making this again it is genius for a summer kids bday party.
Catalina
Deliciousness! This cake is everything i need right now!
Tisha
This cake is awesome! Love the scoop of ice cream on top!
Allyson Zea
OMG this cake is EVERYTHING!!!! I love it!!!!
Toni
This will be a sure hit at my house! It looks fantastic!
Sara Welch
This was perfectly moist and filled with the best gooey flavor! Easily, a new family favorite in our home!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
This Earthquake Cake is looks incredibly delicious!
Amanda
This cake looks so tasty, I cannot wait to taste it!
Frank
I fell in love with this recipe from the first bite!! Amazing!!!