For the cake:

• 3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks)
• 1 1/4 cups dark
  cocoa powder
• 1 cup brewed coffee (Or any liquid. I guess some people are
  against adding coffee, but it really just brings out the flavor of the
  chocolate.)
• 2 cups milk (I used coconut milk)
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (or rice flour for gluten free)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Place a greased circle of parchment
   on the bottom of 3 8-inch pans (or grease them and dust them with cocoa
   powder).
2. Combine the butter and cocoa and cook on the stove or in the
   microwave until melted. Slowly add the coffee and milk, whisking to combine.
   Add the sugars, eggs, and vanilla and whisk until smooth. 
3. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add
   to the rest and mix just until combined. Divide evenly between 3 prepared pans.
   Bake for 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out mostly clean. 
4. Cool before removing from pans (you might want to loosen
   from the edges with a sharp knife). Cool completely before frosting.

For the German chocolate frosting:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 3 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
• 3 teaspoons vanilla
• 3 cups Sweetened
  Flaked Coconut
• 1 1/2 cups pecans (lightly toasted in the oven or in a pan
  on the stove)

1. Combine the sugar, milk, yolks, and butter. Cook on the
   stove, whisking constantly until bubbling and thickened. Add the vanilla,
   coconut, and pecans. Cool before frosting cake. 

For the milk chocolate frosting:

• 2 cups chopped Milk
  Chocolate or milk chocolate chips
• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 5 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 5 cups powdered sugar
• 3-6 tablespoons milk

1. Melt the chocolate (I do it in the microwave). If you’re
   using chocolate chips instead of baking chocolate, make sure you turn your
   microwave power way down and stir often.
2. Beat together the melted chocolate and butter. Add the cocoa
   powder and vanilla. Alternately add the powdered sugar and milk until desired
   consistency is reached.

To assemble cake:

1. Fill middle layers and top with German chocolate frosting.
   Frost the edges with milk chocolate frosting. 

Base Recipe adapted from this SITE