Chocolate cake is always good, but if you want to take a box of cake mix to a whole new level, all it takes is this easy recipe for an Earthquake Cake! This dessert gets its name from the crags and cracks that happen while the cake bakes. It looks a bit like the earth after an earthquake, but it tastes like heaven. Some people call this a Hurricane Cake too. You can call it whatever you like, it doesn’t matter when it tastes this good! Devil’s food cake, a sweet cream cheese swirl, and plenty of shredded coconut and chopped pecans give this cake the most amazing texture and flavor. You should also try my better than sex cake. It’s made with a boxed cake mix too. Cake mix cookie bars are another favorite shortcut dessert.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
You’ll love making an Earthquake Cake because it’s super simple! Start by tossing some sweetened coconut and pecans in a pan. Then cover them with chocolate cake batter. The last step is the most important because we’ll be adding a cream cheese frosting swirl and baking it so that it ends up in the middle of the cake! There’s no need to frost a cake like this one because there is so much going on inside.
Ingredients In Earthquake Cake
Here’s what you need to make this cake:
Chocolate Cake Mix: Prepare the cake batter according to the directions on the package, adding water, oil, and eggs to the mix. Pecans: Toasted pecans will give you the most flavor. Chop the nuts into bite-sized pieces before adding them to the pan. Shredded Sweetened Coconut: Unsweetened coconut shreds just won’t give you the same flavor or texture. Cream Cheese: Let the cream cheese come to room temperature so that it mixes up into a smooth filling. Melted Butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt will blend with the cream cheese.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How To Make an Earthquake Cake
Get ready to bake by preheating your oven to 350°F (180°C) and greasing a 9×13-inch baking pan well with butter or cooking spray.
Tips for the Best Earthquake Cake
Add more chocolate: This cake can be further enhanced with a sprinkle of semi-sweet chocolate chips on top before baking. You can also add the chips right after baking the cake, and they’ll melt into the top layer. I’d recommend not using milk chocolate, as the cake would end up much too sweet. Careful with the cream cheese: You want to keep your dollops of cream cheese filling about 1 inch away from the edges of the pan so that they won’t ooze out. I recommend Devil’s Food cake mix, but this recipe will work well with a regular chocolate cake mix, German chocolate cake, or chocolate fudge cake mix too. Don’t overbake this! You want the cake to be soft and gooey inside. Bake it only until it’s set in the center. If you’re going to test it with a toothpick, try to poke it in a spot with mostly chocolate cake, and not as much cream cheese. If you want clean slices, be sure to allow the cake to cool completely before cutting it. You can serve this cake warm, but you may end up serving it with a spoon since it will be gooey!
Storing Tips
Keep any leftovers in a well-sealed container in the fridge. They could last for up to 4 days (I’ve just never seen this cake last more than 2 days in my house!) For longer storage, the baked cake can be frozen for up to 2 months. Be sure to let the cake cool completely, then wrap it in a double layer of plastic wrap.
Does Earthquake Cake Need to Be Refrigerated?
Because of the cream cheese in this cake, it should be stored in the refrigerator. It’s actually delicious chilled, or you can let it thaw a bit at room temperature before serving.
Can I make the cake from scratch?
Yes! I’d recommend that you use the chocolate cake recipe in my Halloween Dirt Cake, it’s the perfect amount for a 9×13-inch cake with extras added in.
Can earthquake cake be other flavors?
Sure! Any cake mix flavor that you think would pair well with pecans, coconut, and cream cheese can be subbed in for chocolate. Try this recipe with yellow cake mix, spice cake mix, or red velvet cake mix. This easy Earthquake Cake is just bursting with flavor in every bite! This will be your new favorite way to jazz up a box of cake mix, so be sure to Pin it for later! © Little Sunny Kitchen
