German’s Sweet Chocolate Cake Layers

• 4 oz. German’s chocolate bar broken into pieces (1 bar)
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1/4 teaspoon instant coffee or espresso powder (optional)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon fine grain salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk (see recipe notes)
• 4 egg whites

Coconut-Pecan Filling and Frosting

• 12 oz. evaporated milk (1 can)
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 2/3 cups sweetened flake coconut (7 oz. or 1 package)
• 1 1/2 cups toasted chopped pecans (see recipe notes)

Chocolate Ganache

• 2 cups chocolate chips or chopped semisweet chocolate
• 1 cup heavy cream

Toppings

• 1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans
• 16-18 toasted pecan halves