Chocolate Earthquake Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 1 (3.5 ounce) can sweetened flaked coconut
• 1 (18.25 ounce) box German chocolate cake mix, batter prepared according to package directions*
• 1/2 cup butter
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 (16 ounce) box confectioners' sugar

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13 x 9-inch cake pan.
2. Cover the bottom of the pan with the nuts and coconut.
3. Pour the prepared cake batter on top.
4. Melt the butter.
5. Add cream cheese and confectioners' sugar; stir to blend. Spoon over unbaked batter.
6. Bake for 40 to 42 minutes. You will not be able to test for doneness with a cake tester as the cake will appear sticky even when it is done. The icing sinks into the batter as it bakes, forming the white ribbon inside.

Notes

* 18.25 ounce boxes of cake mix have been replaced by 16.5 ounce and 15.25 ounce boxes. To compensate for the volume loss in a 16 ounce box, whisk 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour into the dry cake mix before proceeding with the recipe. To compensate for the volume loss in a 15.25 ounce box, add 1/2 cup + 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour and 1/4 teaspoon baking powder.