German Chocolate Cake Cookies Recipe

If you like German chocolate cake, you will absolutely love these German chocolate cake cookies — their taste is reminiscent of the famous coconut and chocolate cake popular during the holidays.

With a soft and chewy chocolate cookie base, and a luscious coconut-pecan filling, these cookies are sure to impress your family and friends.

Since these are drop cookies, you need to prepare the batter and the cookie in the same day, although it is super-fast and smells so good you won’t mind. 

Be sure to check out the rest of our easy cookies recipes, too!

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German Chocolate Cake Cookies Recipe

Do you like chocolate? Oh who am I kidding. Everyone loves chocolate!

These cookies are really easy to make, but the results look like you’ve been slaving all day long.

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German Cookies Recipe Ingredients

For the full ingredients, see the recipe card at the end of this post.

  • butter, softened
  • light brown sugar
  • granulated sugar
  • vanilla extract
  • eggs, beaten
  • all-purpose flour
  • cocoa, unsweetened
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • semisweet chocolate chips
  • shredded coconut, sweetened
  • chopped pecans
chocolate chips in bowl

How to Make German Chocolate Cake Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease three baking sheets, setting them aside for later use.

And personally, I like to use Silpat sheets to bake my cookies perfectly.

Step 2: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt, mixing thoroughly.

Step 3: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to blend the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Set aside.

Step 4: Little by little, add the flour mixture into the larger bowl with the butter mixture, blending until the mixtures have combined completely.

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Step 5: Sprinkle the chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans evenly over the top of the batter. Mix well.

German Cake Chocolate Cookies Recipe | Mommy Evolution

Step 6: Using a tablespoon, drop a rounded spoonful of batter onto the prepared baking sheet, one for each cookie.

You should have at least 1 dozen cookies on a baking sheet, depending on the size of your sheet.

Step 7: Bake about 8 minutes or until cookies are cooked in the center.

Since you can’t use the “golden brown” method to judge when chocolate cookies are done, insert a wooden toothpick into the middle of several cookies to check.

If the toothpick comes out clean with no batter or wet crumbs sticking to it, the cookies are done.

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Step 8: When the cookies are ready, remove them from the oven and place them on a baking rack to cool.

Repeat the process for each batch of cookies.

What Are Cookies Called in Germany

In Germany, cookies are generally referred to as “Plätzchen.” The term is used to describe a variety of small, often sweet baked treats, especially popular during the holiday season. The German cookie tradition is rich and diverse, featuring a wide array of flavors, shapes, and decorations.

Some popular types of German cookies include Lebkuchen, Vanillekipferl, Zimtsterne, Spritzgebaeck, Heidesand, Pfeffernüsse, Linzer Cookies, Anisplätzchen, Bethmännchen, and Aachener Printen, each with its unique ingredients and preparation methods.

Indulge in the delightful world of German Cookie Recipes, where tradition meets sweetness in every bite.

Keep the baking going with these Christmas Baking Recipes. And when you’re done, why not cuddle up with your little one with Personalized Christmas Books.

German Cake Chocolate Cookies Recipe | The Jenny Evolution

German Chocolate Cake Nibbles

Yield: 36
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

If you like German chocolate cake, you will absolutely love these cookies because their taste is reminiscent of the famous coconut and chocolate cake popular during the holidays.

Ingredients

  • 2 sticks butter, softened
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cocoa, unsweetened
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • Pinch salt
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup shredded coconut, sweetened
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease three baking sheets, setting them aside for later use.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt, mixing thoroughly.
  3. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to blend the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Set aside.
  4. Little by little, add the flour mixture into the larger bowl with the butter mixture, blending until the mixtures have combined completely. Sprinkle the chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans evenly over the top of the batter. Mix well.
  5. Using a tablespoon, drop a rounded spoonful of batter onto the prepared baking sheet, one for each cookie. You should have at least 1 dozen cookies on a baking sheet, depending on the size of your sheet.
  6. Bake about 8 minutes or until cookies are cooked in the center. Since you can't use the "golden brown" method to judge when chocolate cookies are done, insert a wooden toothpick into the middle of several cookies to check. If the toothpick comes out clean with no batter or wet crumbs sticking to it, the cookies are done.
  7. When the cookies are ready, remove them from the oven and place them on a baking rack to cool.
  8. Repeat the process for each batch of cookies.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 36 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 178Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 92mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 1gSugar: 14gProtein: 2g

Nutrient values are only estimates provided by online calculators. Various factors can change the nutritional information in any given recipe.

Don’t miss out on our other family friendly recipes!

33 Comments

  1. I love German chocolate cake, and so these flavors in this cookie is just beyond delicious! All month long I am featuring different holiday cookie creations for my cookie countdown to Christmas! I would love it if you stopped by to check it out! 🙂
    Cathy

  2. This might call for a box of cake mix to stay in the pantry just for emergencies!
    Can’t wait to try it!

    1. Have fun making it. And even though the recipe does everything from scratch, they really are quite easy to make.

  3. Wahoo! I have all these ingredients in my kitchen so I can make these tomorrow! Thanks so much for the recipe.

    I would love for you to share this post at my Show Me Saturday linky party. The party starts at 7:00am EST each Saturday morning. See you there!
    ~ Ashley

    1. Now THAT does make for a happy weekend. Have fun making the cookies and tell me what you think of the recipe 😀

  4. These cookies look delicious! I love that they are made from scratch too as I am trying to stay away from the prepackaged mixes as much as possible. Thank you for sharing!

    1. Absolutely. Making things from prepackaged mixes is convenient, but making things from scratch really isn’t that much more work. It’s actually just some extra measuring. Have fun making the cookies and please come back and tell me what you think. I always love feedback 🙂

  5. Since hubby loves German Chocolate Cake, I am sure he will love these. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Pinning this!

    1. You’re absolutely welcome, Kirsten. Even though the recipe is from scratch, they really are quite simple to make. Have fun baking 😀

  6. German Chocolate cake is so good, I cant imagine these cookies would be anything else but amazing! Great recipe, pinning for all my followers to see! xo, Jess @ DreamingofLeaving.com

    1. Thanks for sharing, Jess. If (when?) you make these, be sure to come back and let me know what you think!

  7. These looks great! Thank you for sharing on WW at OMHG!! xx Ashleigh

  8. This does look yummy! Thank you for sharing at Snickerdoodle. I love this recipe!

  9. Ok, DANGEROUS!!! These wouldn’t last long in my house. 😉 Appreciate you linking this up at Snickerdoodle Sunday, will we see your latest makes tomorrow evening? 🙂

    Sarah (Sadie Seasongoods)

  10. Who doesn’t like German Chocolate Cake? Besides my son that is. That’s ok, more for me.

    Thanks for sharing on Tasty Tuesdays, hope to see you back next week.

    1. Haha! It doesn’t matter if the kids like it… sometimes we have to make something just for us!

  11. These look so yummy however they do nothing for my diet. LOL You took all the calories out when you created this recipe. Thanks for linking up at #HomeMattersParty this week.Hope you will come back and link up again next week.

  12. These are very nice cookies. My husband really enjoyed them. Thank you!

    1. Wonderful! So thrilled you tried the recipe and that you all enjoyed them, too 😀

  13. I am going to make these on my next cheap day… this coming weekend. I can’t wait, I am a huge chocolate fan.

  14. Yum! Thank you for linking with us at #HomeMattersParty. We would love to have you again next week.

  15. I love German Chocolate Cake and these sound delicious!

  16. WE LOVE German choc cake so these will be a hit! Thank you so much for sharing w us at Creative Muster! Pinned this!
    xoxo Sharon from Adoring Creations

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