German Chocolate Birthday Cake

• 4 eggs,
• 4 ounces German sweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2-1/2 cups cake flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 egg yolks, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup butter, cubed
• 1-1/3 cups sweetened shredded coconut
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Let eggs stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Line a greased
2. with waxed paper. Grease and flour the paper; set aside.
3. In a microwave, melt chocolate with water; stir until smooth. Cool. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in chocolate mixture and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. In a small bowl with clean beaters, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into batter.
4. Spread batter evenly into prepared pan. Bake at 350u0b0 for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely. Remove waxed paper.
5. For frosting, in a heavy saucepan, combine the milk, sugar, egg yolks and butter Cook and stir over medium-low heat until thickened and a thermometer reads 160u0b0 or is thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon.
6. Remove from the heat. Stir in the coconut, pecans and vanilla. Beat on high until frosting is cool and achieves spreading consistency. Place cake on a serving platter; frost top and sides of cake.

eggs, sweet chocolate, water, butter, sugar, vanilla, cake flour, baking soda, salt, buttermilk, milk, sugar, egg yolks, butter, coconut, pecans, vanilla

Taken from www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/german-chocolate-birthday-cake/ (may not work)