Description
Earthquake Cake is a rich, gooey chocolate dessert with layers of moist cake, sweetened cream cheese, coconut, pecans, and melty chocolate chips. I love making it with a devil’s food cake mix, softened cream cheese, and sweetened coconut flakes. It’s a simple, forgiving recipe that offers dramatic texture and flavor in every slice. Also known as a fault-line cake or layered dump cake, this stabilized version holds up beautifully for parties and potlucks. I’ve tested variations with and without toasted nuts, and both are fantastic depending on your mood. Among chocolate desserts, Earthquake Cake stands out for its crackled top, surprise swirls, and the irresistible mix of textures. It deserves a place in your recipe collection for its ease, crowd-pleasing magic, and undeniable comfort.
Ingredients
1 box chocolate cake mix
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter, melted
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 large eggs
1 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Spread coconut and chopped pecans evenly on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
3. In a large bowl, prepare the chocolate cake mix according to package directions using eggs, water, and oil. Pour the batter over the coconut and pecans.
4. In a separate bowl, beat softened cream cheese with melted butter until smooth.
5. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Beat until creamy and lump-free.
6. Drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture over the cake batter. Do not mix or swirl.
7. Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the top.
8. Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until the center is set and the top has crackled.
9. Let cool in pan for at least 15–20 minutes before slicing.
10. Serve warm or at room temperature. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator.
Notes
Let the cream cheese fully soften before mixing to avoid lumps.
Do not swirl the cream cheese mixture—let it sink and create natural ribbons while baking.
For extra depth, toast the pecans lightly before layering in the pan.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 42g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: earthquake cake, chocolate cream cheese cake, easy chocolate cake, layered chocolate dessert