I made this cake for company recently and the cute twenty somethings said, “Oh my goodness, this is amazing…did you get this recipe from Pinterest?” And I proceeded to tell them a story about the olden days (also known as the 90’s) when I clipped this recipe from …the newspaper. Shocking, but true. As a newlywed I had to rely purely on my Betty Crocker cookbook, the newspaper and calls to my mother for recipes and tips. Somehow we survived.

This recipe has been a staple in our family since I tore it from the newspaper all those years ago. (And it’s easy!)
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Earthquake Cake

1 cup finely shredded coconut
1 cup chopped nuts
1 package German Chocolate Cake mis
1 stick butter
1 lb. powdered sugar
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese

Place coconut and nuts in a greased 9X13 pan.

Mix cake mix according to package directions and spread over nuts/coconut

Melt butter and cream cheese in a saucepan. Add powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Pour over cake mixture or drop by spoonful onto batter. Don’t try to spread, stir or mix. It doesn’t have to look pretty.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. The cream cheese layer does some funky stuff in the oven that I can’t explain (hence the name earthquake cake) The cream cheese layer somehow ends up on the bottom, mixing with the nuts and coconut for a moist and yummy frosting. It’s a delicious mystery and fun for the kids to watch with the oven light on.

So all you newlyweds who are happily pinning recipes, take a minute to thank your ancestors for feeding themselves in a world before Pinterest. And make some Earthquake Cake.