Earthquake Cake

This is EVIL good, I warn you! I always have people begging me to make it and it's become a family classic...

2/3 cup shredded coconut

2/3 cup pecan gems

2/3 cup chocolate chips

1 (18 oz.) box German chocolate cake mix (your favorite brand)

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese (room temperature)

1/4 lb. (1 stick) butter or margarine (room temperature)

1 lb. (usually half a bag) powdered sugar

Sprinkle the coconut, pecan gems, and chocolate chips over the bottom of a sprayed or greased 9x12 inch cake pan.  Prepare the cake, following the package directions, then pour batter into prepared pan.  In a saucepan, melt the cream cheese with the butter/margarine, then stir in the powdered sugar.  Spread or pour over top of the cake batter.  Spread topping a bit thicker at the edges.  Place in a preheated 350º oven and bake for 40-50 minutes.

This is a very rich dessert and could serve 20-30 people.  The ratio of the first three ingredients is pretty close to ideal, but this is not a "critical mass" recipe and just about everything could be changed, left out, or substituted. 

(The first image is after I poured the topping over the cake batter before baking. When baking, it kind of cooks down through the cake and leaves you with a gooey, crunchy, heavenly bottom! ...okay, and leaves ME with a big bottom...)