• Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
Subscribe & never miss a recipe →
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Proportional Plate
  • RECIPES
  • LIFESTYLE
  • DESIGN
  • ABOUT
menu icon
go to homepage
  • RECIPES
  • LIFESTYLE
  • DESIGN
  • ABOUT
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • RECIPES
    • LIFESTYLE
    • DESIGN
    • ABOUT
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Sweets

    Chocolate Ginger Cake with Coconut & Pecans

    Published: Oct 13, 2020 Modified: Oct 12, 2020 by Candice

    JUMP TO RECIPE PIN RECIPE
    Two pieces of chocolate cake with coconut and nuts stacked on top of each other with title text.
    Two slices of brown cake topped with nuts and coconut with title text.
    Front view of one piece of cake on a white table with green background with title text.
    Cake in a glass baking dish covered in pecans and coconut after baking with title text.
    Top view of two slices of cake covered in coconut and pecans with title text.
    Top view of cake in white dish topped with coconut and pecans with title text.
    Cake in a white baking dish covered in pecans and coconut after baking with title text.
    Front view of one piece of cake topped with whipped cream on a white table with green background.
    Two slices of brown cake topped with nuts and coconut.
    Front view of one piece of cake on a white table with green background.
    Cake in a glass baking dish covered in pecans and coconut after baking.
    Two pieces of chocolate cake with coconut and nuts stacked on top of each other.
    Top view of two slices of cake covered in coconut and pecans.
    Cake in a white baking dish covered in pecans and coconut after baking.
    Top view of cake in white dish topped with coconut and pecans.
    Front view of one piece of cake topped with whipped cream on a white table with green background with title text.

    A spin on my fresh ginger cake, this time with chocolate, coconut, and pecans. It's decadent, heavenly, and made with olive oil instead of butter. And if it weren't for the chocolate, this cake would also be dairy-free!

    Two pieces of chocolate cake with coconut and nuts stacked on top of each other.
    TABLE OF CONTENTS hide
    1 Why You Should Make this Recipe
    2 Ingredients & Baking with Fresh Ginger
    3 Step-by-Step Recipe with Photos
    4 Ginger Cake FAQs
    5 More Chocolate & Cake
    6 Chocolate Ginger Cake with Coconut & Pecans

    Why You Should Make this Recipe

    This is an indulgent everything-but-the-kitchen-sink take on the classic fresh ginger cake! If you’re looking for a moist, indulgent cake with incredible flavor, this is the cake for you.

    Cocoa powder in the cake mix adds a subtle chocolate flavor to the ginger cake, and the topping of coconut and pecans adds a complementary crunch with every bite. It’s the perfect cake to serve with tea and coffee, or just as an afternoon treat.

    Ingredients & Baking with Fresh Ginger

    Labeled ingredients for chocolate ginger cake on a white countertop.

    chocolate - you can use bar chocolate or chocolate chips in this recipe. I prefer chopping up bar chocolate to a size smaller than chocolate chips. I find it melts into the dough better in this recipe.

    coconut & pecans - I use unsweetened coconut and large, chopped chunks of pecans for the topping of the cake. You can also make the cake without either of these toppings, or by substituting your favorite nut.

    Fresh Ginger Tips

    Fresh ginger has varying levels of wetness, which makes it a tricky ingredient to keep consistent in your bakes. Here are some things to look out for:

    • Dryness: Old ginger can be quite dry. Make sure you are buying fresh ginger at the store. If it is wrinkled and shriveled up, it probably isn't good anymore.
    • Woodiness: Old ginger is also woody. Snap a small piece of the ginger off at the store. If it easily snaps and you see a clean, yellow, wet center, then you have found some good ginger.
    • Stringiness: Bad ginger can also be stringy. If your ginger is stringy, make sure you chop it up very well or you will experience a stringy cake.

    I tend to find better, fresh ginger (and at a better price) at the local Asian market.

    I grate the ginger on a coarse cheese grater (link opens in new tab) and yield the best results this way. Grating on a smaller grater separates the ginger and liquid leaving the ginger dry and adds too much water directly into the batter.

    Step-by-Step Recipe with Photos

    Lightly oil a glass or ceramic baking dish with olive oil. I prefer to use 8x8 (link opens in new tab), but this recipe also works with 9x9.

    Start with the dry ingredients. Sift your flour, spices, and salt into a medium bowl. Set aside. Next, mix the wet ingredients. Mix your brown sugar, molasses, egg, olive oil and ginger in a large bowl.

    Dry cake ingredients in a strainer over a glass bowl.

    Pour hot water over the baking soda and mix until the baking soda is dissolved. Stir into the wet ingredients. Then, stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just mixed. Finally, gently fold in the chopped chocolate.

    Wet cake batter in a glass bowl with a metal spoon.

    Add the batter to your prepared baking dish. Top with chopped pecans and coconut. Sprinkle on raw brown sugar. Bake 30-35 minutes. It is ready when a toothpick comes out clean. Start checking at 28 minutes for a 9x9 pan, and at 32 minutes for 8x8.

    Cake in a white baking dish covered in pecans and coconut before and after baking.

    Let cool on a rack. Best if cooled overnight. Delicious when served with whipped cream.

    Ginger Cake FAQs

    How do I make my ginger cake moist?

    There are two tricks I use to keep this ginger cake moist: Use fresh ginger, and dissolve the leavener for this recipe, baking soda, in hot water before adding it to the batter.

    Does ginger and chocolate go together?

    The two are a match made in heaven in all kinds of desserts. Cake is a favorite, or you can simply dip crystalized ginger in dark chocolate for a wonderful treat.

    What is the difference between gingerbread and ginger cake?

    Gingerbread is slightly drier than ginger cake, but the terms are often used interchangeably.

    What Can I Make with Lots of Ginger?

    I love using ginger in my recipes, and this chocolate ginger cake is a variation on my fresh ginger cake, that uses even more fresh ginger! Here are some other recipes and ideas I love that use fresh ginger:

    • Hot Ginger Tea: Simple steep a few slices of peeled, fresh ginger in hot water to enjoy a cup of grounding, ginger tea.
    • Fresh Ginger Cake
    • Sweet & Spicy Garlic Ginger Salmon
    • Ginger Scallion Noodles with Broccoli & Carrots
    • Miso Ginger Salmon
    • Add a knob of fresh ginger to your favorite bone broth recipe for a delicious, added flavor.
    A slice of chocolate ginger cake with nuts and whipped cream on top.

    More Chocolate & Cake

    Here are my favorite holiday treats and other similar recipes... or check out all my sweets recipes to find what you are looking for.

    • Persimmon Bread & Baking with Persimmons
    • Earl Grey Hot Chocolate with Lavender Whipped Cream
    • Matcha & Chocolate French Silk Pie
    • Apple Slab Olive Oil Cake

    ★ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!★

    I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m up to.

    Two pieces of chocolate cake with coconut and nuts stacked on top of each other.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 12 votes

    Chocolate Ginger Cake with Coconut & Pecans

    A spin on my fresh ginger cake, this time with chocolate, coconut, & pecans. Decadent, heavenly, and made with olive oil instead of butter.
    Prep Time30 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time1 hr
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Kosher, Vegetarian
    Servings: 9
    Calories: 377kcal
    Author: Candice

    Equipment

    • 8x8 Glass or Ceramic Baking Dish

    Ingredients

    Dry Ingredients

    • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
    • ¼ unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    Wet Ingredients

    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • ½ cup dark molasses
    • 1 egg room temperature
    • ½ cup fresh ginger grated with a cheese grater
    • ½ cup olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ cup hot water
    • ½ cup dark chocolate finely chopped

    Toppings

    • ½ cup pecans chopped
    • ¼ cup coconut I use unsweetened, but also delicious with sweetened
    • Raw brown sugar for sprinkling

    Instructions

    • Lightly oil an 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish with and preheat the oven to 350F.
    • Sift your flour, cocoa powder, spices, and salt into a medium bowl. Set aside.
    • Mix your brown sugar, molasses, egg, olive oil and ginger in a large bowl.
    • Pour hot water over the baking soda and mix until the baking soda is dissolved. Stir into the wet ingredients.
    • Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just mixed.
    • Fold in the chopped chocolate.
    • Add the batter to your prepared baking dish. Top with chopped pecans and coconut. Sprinkle on raw brown sugar.
    • Bake 30-35 minutes. It is ready when a toothpick comes out clean. Start checking at 28 minutes for a 9x9 pan, and at 32 minutes for 8x8.
    • Let cool on a rack. Best if cooled overnight. Delicious when served with whipped cream.

    Notes

    Start checking if the cake is ready at 28 minutes for a 9x9 pan, and at 32 minutes for 8x8.
    I grate the ginger on a coarse cheese grater (affiliate link opens in new tab) and yield the best results this way. Grating on a smaller grater separates the ginger and liquid leaving the ginger dry and adds too much water directly into the batter.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 377kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 226mg | Potassium: 396mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 26IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 2mg
    Did you try this recipe?Don't forget to leave a rating and/or comment! And tag @ProportionalPlate on TikTok or Instagram... I'd love to see what you're making.
    « Sauceless Potato Jalapeño Pizza With Garlic Olive Oil
    Mushroom & Jalapeño Pizza »
    85 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Chandice Probst

      October 19, 2020 at 6:56 am

      5 stars
      I love that you have so many nourishing things in this delicious and beautiful dessert! Pecans are my favorite and they add a great flavor and crunch to this!

      Reply
      • Candice

        October 19, 2020 at 3:54 pm

        Thank you so much, Chandice... I'm so glad you liked it!

        Reply
    2. Gunjan

      October 19, 2020 at 5:54 am

      5 stars
      I love ginger. This is absolutely delicious. It vanished the moment I took it out of my I en. This cake came out so well.

      Reply
      • Candice

        October 19, 2020 at 3:54 pm

        Thank you, Gunjan... I am so glad to hear it!

        Reply
    3. Eileen Kelly

      October 18, 2020 at 4:46 pm

      5 stars
      Made this yummy cake last night and it was a success. I was intrigued by the fresh ginger and it did not dissapoint. Everyone loved it and wanted your recipe. Delish.

      Reply
      • Candice

        October 18, 2020 at 7:29 pm

        I am so glad to hear it, Eileen... thank you for this sharing with me!

        Reply
    4. Ramona

      October 18, 2020 at 1:54 pm

      5 stars
      Yumm, i lovee ginger and coconut, and the two combined together just are great! The texture of this is so good. Delicious! thank you for sharing this recipe.

      Reply
      • Candice

        October 18, 2020 at 7:30 pm

        I am so glad to hear it, Ramona!

        Reply
    5. HEATHER PERINE

      October 18, 2020 at 1:08 pm

      5 stars
      Ooh this cake looks so moist! And I love that it uses real ingredients too. Thanks for the tips on ginger as well 🙂

      Reply
      • Candice

        October 18, 2020 at 7:30 pm

        My pleasure, Heather. Glad you liked it!

        Reply
    6. Beth

      October 18, 2020 at 4:17 am

      5 stars
      We love ginger in recipes for the flavor, aroma and health benefits - and it's a great combo with the chocolate, molasses and pecans -- just yum.

      Reply
      • Candice

        October 18, 2020 at 7:32 pm

        Glad to hear you liked the combo as much as I do, Beth!

        Reply
    7. Neha

      October 17, 2020 at 9:19 pm

      5 stars
      Love the crumb on this cake, so moist and yum! I like the fresh ginger and coconut here.

      Reply
      • Candice

        October 18, 2020 at 7:31 pm

        I am so happy to hear you liked it, Neha!

        Reply
    8. Amy

      October 16, 2020 at 9:51 am

      5 stars
      I may say that this is such a promising recipe and then you added coconut and definitely made this so tasty and delicious. I love the texture it gives out plus this is such an overloaded cake, loved it!

      Reply
      • Candice

        October 16, 2020 at 3:33 pm

        Thank you, Amy... I am so glad to hear you loved all the fun toppings!

        Reply
    9. Andrea

      October 15, 2020 at 7:08 am

      5 stars
      Oh yum, I absolutely love ginger! It’s perfect for fall and winter. And in cake form, even better! Thank you for sharing such a lovely recipe. Can’t wait to make it again!

      Reply
      • Candice

        October 15, 2020 at 8:36 am

        I am so glad to hear it, Andrea... enjoy!

        Reply
    10. Amy

      October 13, 2020 at 3:30 pm

      5 stars
      These are absolutely delicious! I love that you've used fresh ginger for this recipe. I'm a massive ginger fan and we always have some in the pantry. My daughter loves ginger too and she liked these for her school lunch. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Candice

        October 14, 2020 at 12:08 pm

        I am so glad to hear it, Amy... and glad your daughter loved it, too!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Woman with a flower.

    Meet Candice

    On this blog, I get to share the food that I love, and get to enjoy in my own home. My Persian Jewish heritage influences most of my recipes, and my travels inspire them. And I'm sure you'll notice my love for everything matcha. Welcome, and enjoy!

    READ MORE
    • TikTok
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram

    Spring Recipes

    • 9 Nowruz Recipes & The Ultimate Guide to the Persian New Year
    • Noon Berenji - Cardamom Rose Cookies
    • Saffron Cod - Mahi ba Zafferan
    • Kuku Sabzi

    As Featured In

    Collage of logos.

    Fan Favorites

    • Dalgona Matcha Latte
    • Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream
    • Quick & Easy Steak Taco Recipe
    • Easy Homemade Gnocchi

    Woman with a flower.

    Meet Candice

    On this blog, I get to share the food that I love, and get to enjoy in my own home. My Persian Jewish heritage influences most of my recipes, and my travels inspire them. And I'm sure you'll notice my love for everything matcha. Welcome, and enjoy!

    READ MORE
    • TikTok
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram

    Spring Recipes

    • 4 Ways to Make a Matcha Latte without a Whisk
    • Saffron Bamieh
    • Doogh
    • Matcha Lace Cookies (like Florentines)

    As Featured In

    Collage of logos.

    Fan Favorites

    • Pasta Puttanesca
    • Cardamom Krumkake with Mascarpone Filling
    • Cranberry Orange Scones
    • How to Make Bubble Tea with Any Tea

    Footer

    ^ back to top


    • TikTok
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Proportional Plate LLC Accessibility Statement
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    © 2023 Proportional Plate LLC

    85 shares