Earthquake Cake

 Have you ever had Earthquake Cake? It’s so much fun! You sprinkle the bottom of the cake pan with coconut and pecans before pouring in the chocolate cake batter. Then you mix up the filling and plop it on top. It’s finished off with a generous sprinkling of chocolate chips and then baked. It’s called earthquake cake because as it bakes the filling settles into the cake, leaving craters and making the surface of the cake look like an earthquake hit it. You’ve gotta give it a try. If you don’t like coconut and pecans, try these Swirled Cheesecake Brownies. They are very similar but without the coconut and pecans…they are actually one of my VERY favorite versions of a brownie.

I’ve been wanting to try this recipe for a long time. Not sure what took me so long…so many things to bake, so little time. This is a great cake to serve for almost any occasion. It’s also a perfect one for kids to make. The steps are simple, and it has a fun outcome they will get a kick out of. My kids really loved the frosting-like filling that settles into the center of the cake. So yummy! I am so excited for you to try this fun cake next time you need/want to make a dessert. 

TIP: The filling for this Earthquake Cake is basically cream cheese frosting. So if you really want a no-fuss, simple dessert, you could try this recipe with storebought cream cheese frosting in place of the cream cheese filling listed in the recipe.

More Delicious and Simple Cake Recipes

• Zucchini Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Upside Down Peach Cake
• Almond Cake
• Oreo Poke Cake
• Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Cake
• Cream Cheese Crumb Cake

step-by-step pictures for how to make Earthquake Cake

Frequently Asked Questions for how to make Earthquake Cake

Does it have to be a chocolate fudge cake mix or can I use a devil’s food cake mix?

Chocolate fudge is my preferred cake mix for this recipe because it is a little less intense than devil’s food, but really it’s not going to make a huge difference. Devil’s food will still be delicious. 

Do I have to melt the butter first for the filling?

No, but it makes the filling a little smoother and softer to dollop on top. You could try it with just softened butter if you don’t want to melt the butter.

Can I make this Earthquake cake recipe into cupcakes?

I haven’t tried it yet, but I plan to. I think it would work great. Just sprinkle a little coconut and some pecans on the bottom of each liner, and then fill them half full with cake batter and put a spoonful of the filling on the center of each one. I think these would be such fun cupcakes.

Do I need to toast the coconut first?

No, no need to toast the coconut first. If you happen to have some toasted coconut, you could use it, but there is no need to toast it specifically for this recipe.

Can I make this cake ahead of time and freeze it?

Yes. This cake would freeze really well. Just make sure to let it cool completely, and then cover it tightly and freeze it.

Will this recipe work with a gluten-free cake mix?

In my experience, most gluten-free cake mixes are for an 8×8 pan. If you want to use a gluten-free cake mix, either halve the other ingredients for the recipe or use two cake mixes.

baker’s tools:

• 9×13 Baking Dish
• Baker’s Spray
• Hand Mixer
• Mixing Bowls
• Measuring Cups
• Dessert Plates