Does the "German" in "German chocolate cake" refer to the chocolate or the cake?
A friend insists that the "chocolate" is the German part of German chocolate cake, the evidence being that there are no palm trees in Germany (for the coconut frosting). Is this correct?
Best Answer
A Baker's (now owned by kraft foods) employee named Sam German developed a chocolate recipe that was sweeter than semi-sweet chocolate, as well as containing a blend of chocolate liquor, sugar, cocoa butter, flavorings, and lecithin. Baker's honored Sam by naming the chocolate that he created Baker's German's Chocolate.
In 1957 the recipe was published in a Dallas newspaper, although nobody is sure exactly when the recipe was originally created. Generally Foods - who had bought the brand - noticed that alot of people liked the recipe and started a PR campaign for German's Chocolate using the recipe. They started sending it to newspapers all over - and people liked it. At some point the "'s" got dropped from the name, introducing all of the confusion we have about the origin of the cake today.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_chocolate_cake
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Baker_%26_Company
http://www.joyofbaking.com/GermanChocolate.html
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What is the difference in German chocolate cake and chocolate cake?
While the standard chocolate cake is chocolate through and through, with icing on top and sides, the German Chocolate Cake takes it up a notch with layers of caramel flavored icing between three layers of chocolate cake \u2014 making for a very moist cake.What do they call German chocolate cake in Germany?
German chocolate cakeA German chocolate cakeAlternative namesGerman's chocolate cakeCreated byMrs. George ClayInvented1957Main ingredientsChocolate cake, icing (egg yolks, evaporated milk, coconut and pecan)4 more rowsWhy do they call German chocolate cake?
The name comes from Sam German \u2014 who was either an American or an Englishman, depending on what you read. In 1852, he invented a style of sweet baking chocolate for the Baker's chocolate company. The company named it after him, but "German's Chocolate" didn't become well-known until 1957.What is cake called in Germany?
Kuchen is the German word for cake, and is used in other languages as the name for several different types of sweet desserts, pastries, and gateaux. Often sold at Christmas fairs and Carnival.The Most Amazing German Chocolate Cake
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Answer 2
The argument is bogus.
- There has been imported coconut in Germany for a very long time. (Probably since before Willhelm I established the second reich).
- But there is still a giveaway that the recipe is not from Germany. It's the pecans which you won't find in any German recipe.
- There are palms in Germany. (Yes, outside. No, no commercial plantages).
- Wikipedia says the cake wasn't named for Germany, but for the American guy who invented it.
I am not a native speaker of English, but in the configuration adjective - adjective/noun - noun, I'd say that it is more natural for the first two words to define the third. So it wasn't even Mr German's chocolate, it was his cake.
Answer 3
I believe the "German" refers to the last name of the inventor of a type of sweetened chocolate. This chocolate developed by Baker's was first used in the original recipe of "German's Chocolate Cake".
Answer 4
If I remember correctly, according to The Joy of Cooking, it was an insurance salesman named German who popularized the addition of coconut to chocolate cake.
So, German's recipe for chocolate cake, ergo German's chocolate cake aka German chocolate cake.
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