A gooey, tropical, and chocolatey Southern classic made easy — no mixing bowls required!
The Gooey Goodness of a Southern Classic
Picture this: a warm, golden slice of German Chocolate Dump Cake with melted chocolate frosting seeping into caramelized pineapple, the top sprinkled with toasted coconut and crunchy pecans. The first bite is a mix of creamy, crunchy, sweet, and tangy — pure dessert perfection.
This cake, as the name suggests, is a “dump and bake” dessert. No whisking, no layers, no complicated frosting. You literally dump the ingredients into a pan, bake it, and end up with a treat that looks and tastes like it came straight from a Southern bakery.
The German Chocolate Dump Cake captures everything you love about traditional German chocolate cake — the richness, the gooey frosting, and the nutty coconut topping — but with a fraction of the effort. It’s comfort food at its finest, especially when served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting over the top.
The image you see — glossy chocolate top, lightly toasted coconut, and golden pineapple filling — perfectly sums up what makes this dessert so loved: it’s messy, luscious, and unapologetically indulgent.
So, preheat your oven and grab your baking dish — we’re about to make a cake that’s simple, soul-warming, and downright addictive.
Why This Recipe Works – Layers of Flavor, Texture, and Comfort
What makes this dump cake stand out from other easy desserts is its contrast of textures and layers. Each ingredient plays a vital role in creating that gooey, chocolatey magic:
- The crushed pineapple adds natural sweetness and keeps the cake moist and luscious.
- The German chocolate frosting melts into the pineapple, forming a rich, fudgy layer that’s both sweet and tangy.
- The dry cake mix transforms into a soft yet slightly crisp topping once baked.
- The butter seeps through everything, binding it all together into a caramelized crust.
- Finally, the pecans and coconut add crunch and flavor depth that make every bite unforgettable.
Together, these layers bake into something that’s halfway between a cake and a cobbler — moist and spoonable, yet firm enough to hold its shape on a plate.
And the best part? There’s zero mixing involved. You don’t even need a bowl. Just layer, bake, and let the oven do the magic.
This recipe works every single time because of its perfect balance of moisture and fat. The pineapple juice hydrates the cake mix, the butter melts into every crevice, and the frosting ensures the entire dessert stays irresistibly rich.
If you’ve ever wanted a dessert that feels like a hug from grandma — this is it. It’s rustic, gooey, and loaded with love.
Ingredients Breakdown – Simple, Affordable, and Full of Flavor
The beauty of this German Chocolate Dump Cake lies in its simplicity. Every ingredient is pantry-friendly, easy to find, and plays a specific role in creating that layered, gooey perfection you see in the image.
Cake Mix Magic
You’ll need 1 box of yellow cake mix.
Why yellow cake? Because its buttery flavor complements the chocolate and pineapple layers without overpowering them. It bakes up golden brown and slightly crisp, forming a light crust over the gooey filling beneath.
If you prefer, you can also use German chocolate cake mix for extra cocoa richness. Either way, the result will be heavenly.
Tropical Sweetness from Pineapple
The 20-ounce can of crushed pineapple (undrained) brings in tropical sweetness and essential moisture.
It forms the juicy foundation of the cake, giving it that melt-in-your-mouth texture. The juice mixes with the cake mix and frosting during baking, creating a caramelized, tangy base.
When baked, the pineapple pieces soften beautifully, blending seamlessly with the chocolate frosting — exactly like what you see in the glossy, golden layers of the photo.
Decadent German Chocolate Frosting
This is where the magic happens.
The 12-ounce can of German chocolate frosting doesn’t just sit on top — it melts into the cake as it bakes, turning into a fudge-like ribbon between the pineapple and cake mix.
It infuses the dessert with that signature rich chocolate flavor and sticky-sweet texture that’s impossible to resist. The glossy top layer in the image? That’s the frosting doing its job perfectly.
Toasted Coconut and Crunchy Pecans
The 1 cup shredded coconut and 1 cup chopped pecans are the heroes of texture.
As the cake bakes, the coconut toasts on top, turning golden brown and fragrant, while the pecans become buttery and crisp. Together, they give each bite a nutty crunch that balances the gooey chocolate and soft pineapple.
The sprinkle of coconut on top also gives the cake that beautiful snowy look — just like in the picture.
Butter – The Golden Glue
Finally, ½ cup of sliced butter ties everything together.
The butter melts through the cake mix and toppings, creating a golden, caramelized crust. It gives the cake its slightly crisp edges and rich flavor.
It’s not just an ingredient — it’s the secret to that gorgeous, shiny top and gooey center you see in the image.
Step-by-Step Instructions (With Pro Tips)
This cake is so easy it’s almost unfair. No need for a mixer, and no dirty bowls — just a few minutes of layering and a little patience while the oven works its magic.