Originally I wanted to do an elaborate 7+ layer cake, but because we are celebrating in the middle of the week, I caved and went with a recipe that was much simpler, but no less fattening. Both boys are not only sweet lovers, but majorly love chocolate. I chose Paula Dean's recipe for "volcano cake". Very easy, but it looks delicious!
Preheat oven to 350*. Place 1 cup of shredded, sweetened coconut and 1 cup of pecans in the bottom of a greased 13x9 inch baking dish.
Prepare a box of German Chocolate cake mix according to package directions, and stir in 10 chopped up mini Almond Joy bars. Pour mixture over the coconut and pecans.
Next, combine 8 oz of cream cheese (room temperature) with 1 stick of butter, 1 teaspoon of vanilla, and 2 cups of powdered sugar. Place in randomly distributed dollops over the cake mix. Bake for 40-50 minutes.
Remove cake from oven, and hope that yours turns out prettier than mine! My cake mix rose well above the cream cheese dollops making my cake look like a crater-filled moon. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 stick of butter, 2 T cocoa powder, 1 tsp vanilla, and 1/4 cup milk. Heat until butter is melted, remove from heat, and add 11/2 to 2 cups of powdered sugar (depending on your desired consistency), stir until smooth, then add 1 cup of chopped pecans. Pour over the baked cake, and enjoy? I ask that, as we have not yet consumed the cake. I will report back tomorrow with an "enjoy!" or "wa wa wa."
