It’s A Little-Known Fact That German Chocolate Cake Was Actually Invented In Texas

We Texans are an innovative bunch. From Dr Pepper to liquid paper, there are lots of things that were invented in the Lone Star State. I have a major sweet tooth, so I was delighted to know that German chocolate cake was invented here as well. Yep, you heard me correctly: despite having the word “German” in its name, the iconic dessert actually originated in Dallas! Read on to discover more about one of my favorite Texas desserts.

It's only natural to assume that German chocolate cake was invented in Germany - after all, the word "German" is in the name.

Sometimes, however, names can be deceiving, and this classic dessert is a prime example.

Originally called "German's chocolate cake," the layered chocolate cake was named after Samuel German, an English-American chocolatier who developed a specific type of baking chocolate for the recipe.

He collaborated with the Baker Chocolate Company in 1852 to create "Baker's German's Sweet Chocolate," which was named in his honor. The company is now known as Baker's Chocolate and is owned by Kraft Heinz.

Perhaps the earliest written recipe for German Chocolate Cake can be traced back to Mrs. George Clay, a homemaker from Dallas.

The recipe appeared in the Dallas Morning News on June 3, 1957, and used the very same baking chocolate created by Samuel German over 100 years prior.

General Foods, which owned the Baker's brand at the time, saw the recipe and distributed it to newspapers across the country.

Sales of the chocolate quickly skyrocketed, and the cake became a household name throughout America. The possessive form of the name (German's) was dropped to simply "German" soon thereafter, giving rise to the false notion that the cake originated in Germany.

So now that we've covered the backstory, what exactly is a German cake?

I'm glad you asked because it's one of my favorite desserts of all time. With several layers of rich chocolate cake and a coconut-pecan custard filling, this decadent treat is easily one of the best inventions from Texas. And although sweetened baking chocolate is rarely used in the recipe anymore, if you can get your hands on some, it makes all the difference.

Maraschino cherries are sometimes added to the cake as a garnish.

In my opinion, this is also where some of the confusion lies, as there is another cake, Black Forest cake, that does originate from Germany, and cherries are one of its main ingredients.

Black Forest cake (traditionally known as Black Forest gâteau), is a chocolate sponge cake with whipped cream and cherries.

It's also absolutely scrumptious, so if you can't decide between German chocolate cake or Black Forest cake, just make both!

Did you know German chocolate cake was invented in Texas? Can you think of other Texas desserts that come as a surprise to most people? Tell us your thoughts in the comments, and if this article made you hungry, head on over to Grubhub and order yourself something delicious.