If you love the combination of chocolate and caramel then you are going to LOVE this Caramel Turtle Cake. Made with the best chocolate cake recipe, homemade caramel frosting, homemade caramel sauce and topped with crunchy pecans! This Chocolate caramel turtle cake is such an amazing cake everyone will love it.
Caramel Turtle Cake
For one of my good friends birthday I was put in charge of making the cake but really there was no surprise there and so I came up with this Caramel Turtle Cake. Her husband wasn’t much help when it came to planning what flavor. So all of you out there make sure you learn what your spouse’s favorite cake flavor is so you can surprise them one day.
I decided to turn the candy caramel turtles into a cake! For anyone who hasn’t had one, it is pecans covered in caramel topped with rich chocolate. It is one of my favorite combinations. Rich and flavorful chocolate cake, with the sweet flavor of caramel and a bit of crunch from the pecans, you can not go wrong with this turtle cake recipe.
What is a chocolate turtle?
Chocolate turtles are a tasty candy that is made with caramel, chocolate, and pecans. This cake recipe is a tasty twist on that classic homemade candy.
What is turtle layer cake?
A turtle layer cake is a 2 layer chocolate cake that has caramel buttercream frosting, caramel sauce, and pecans. With this Chocolate caramel turtle cake, if you struggle with frosting a cake you don’t need to worry about that as this is an easy chocolate layer cake.
What’s in a turtle chocolate layer cake?
2 8 inch chocolate cakes, homemade caramel buttercream frosting, homemade caramel sauce, and pecans.
Turtle Dessert Recipes
Tips for Making this Recipe
To make this chocolate layer turtle cake you are going to use 1 batch of homemade caramel sauce and 1 batch of caramel icing.
If you do not want to make the caramel yourself you can always go to the sundae section and get a jar of caramel sauce. It will not be the same but it is very close, although I would be lying if I said I didn’t like the homemade one a lot more. If you do not want to take a try at making a caramel sauce, my next favorite one to use is this Ghirardelli Caramel sauce.
Grease the pan well. Grease the baking pans well or line with parchment paper. This is important in making sure the cake does not stick to the pan when baking and makes it easier to remove when done baking.
Cool Cake Completely. It is important that the cake is fully cooled before you start frosting them otherwise you will have issues with frosting as you frost the cake.
Don’t Over Mix. You do not want to over mix the ingredients.
Tips for Decorating
Frosting Swirls. When you are making this cake you are going to want to make frosting swirls on top of the cake, to do this you will do it in the same way as making frosting swirls on top of cupcakes. If you have never done frosting swirls check out how to make an icing swirl.
How to Store Homemade Cake
It is best to store the homemade cake in an airtight container on the counter. The cake is best to be enjoyed within 48 hours of making. It won’t be bad to eat after 48 hours but they will start to dry out and not be as fresh.
How to Freeze Homemade Cake
You can make this chocolate cake and freeze it to use later. You will want to freeze the cake without any frosting. Wrap the cake layers individually with plastic wrap and freeze on a baking sheet. Then the cake is solid store in a zip-close freezer bag. It will keep for up to 2 months when frozen.
To use, just defrost the cake in the fridge and then decorate as desired when thawed.
Caramel Turtle Cake Ingredients
- eggs
- buttermilk
- vegetable oil
- vanilla extract
- flour
- sugar
- Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa powder
- baking soda
- salt
- boiling water
- chopped pecans
Caramel sauce
- white granulated sugar
- water
- butter – salted butter will have a saltier flavor, unsalted is best to use if you don’t want to make salted caramel
- heavy cream
- vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Caramel buttercream
- butter room temperature
- powder sugar
- caramel sauce
- vanilla extract
How to Make Caramel Turtle Cake
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Grease two 8 inch pans and line them with parchment paper.
In a medium mixing bowl mix together the eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.
In a large mixing bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix just until they are incorporated.
Pour in the boiling water and stir until well combined.
Pour the batter into the two cake pans evenly.
Reduce the oven to 300 degrees and bake the cakes for 30-35 minute or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center.
Let the cakes cool for 5 minutes then transferring the cakes to a cooling rack. Let them cool for an hour.
Make the homemade caramel buttercream frosting
In a stand mixer bowl add the butter. Place the mixer bowl on the mixer stand and turn up to medium speed. Mix the butter until it is smooth.
Reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly pour in the confectioner sugar and mix until it is all incorporated.
Add the caramel sauce and the vanilla extract and turn the mixer speed up to medium.
Leave the mixer mixing for 5-10 minutes until the caramel frosting is light and fluffy.
Make Homemade Caramel Sauce
Place the heavy cream and butter next to the stove already.
Place a small cup of water with a pastry brush next to the stove so you will be able to wash down the inside of the pot as needed.
In a very clean sauce pan combine add sugar and water and mix with a rubber spatula.
Place the heavy cream and butter next to the stove already.
Place a small cup of water with a pastry brush next to the stove so you will be able to wash down the inside of the pot as needed.
In a very clean sauce pan combine add sugar and water and mix with a rubber spatula.
Remove the pot from the stove and add in all of the butter at once making sure you whisk it well while you add it.
The caramel will boil up but make sure you keep an eye on it. Add in the heavy cream being careful of the bubbling and whisk it all together.
Whisk in the vanilla and salt until well combined.
Assemble the Chocolate Turtle Cake
Slice the tops of the cakes just so they are nice and flat. Place one cake onto your serving platter.
Place the buttercream into a pastry bag that has a star tip inside. Pipe out a half inch layer of buttercream onto the first layer of cake. Sprinkle half of the pecans over the buttercream then drizzle with about 2 tablespoons of caramel sauce.
Place the second cake on top. Pipe another half inch layer of buttercream and sprinkle the remainder of pecans on top making sure to leave a half-inch border around the cake.
Drizzle the caramel sauce over the top of the pecans.
Pipe a border of buttercream around the top of the cake and one swirl right in the middle. You can add a whole pecan right in the middle of the cake to finish.
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Caramel Turtle Cake
Ingredients
Buttermilk chocolate Cake Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup boiling water
- 3 cups chopped pecans
Caramel sauce
- 1 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Caramel buttercream
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 2 cups powder sugar
- 1 cup caramel sauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
How to Make Buttermilk chocolate Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease two 8 inch pans and line them with parchment paper.
- In a medium mixing bowl mix together the eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.
- In a large mixing bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix just until they are incorporated. Pour in the boiling water and stir until well combined.
- Pour the batter into the two cake pans evenly. Reduce the oven to 300 degrees and bake the cakes for 30-35 minute or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center.
- Let the cakes cool for 5 minutes then transferring the cakes to a cooling rack. Let them cool for an hour.
Make the homemade caramel buttercream frosting
- In a stand mixer bowl add the butter. Place the mixer bowl on the mixer stand and turn up to medium speed. Mix the butter until it is smooth..
- Reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly pour in the confectioners sugar and mix until it is all incorporated.
- Add the caramel sauce and the vanilla extract and turn the mixer speed up to medium.
- Leave the mixer mixing for 5-10 minutes until the caramel frosting is light and fluffy.
Make Homemade Caramel Sauce
- Place the heavy cream and butter next to the stove already.
- Place a small cup of water with a pastry brush next to the stove so you will be able to wash down the inside of the pot as needed.
- In a very clean sauce pan combine add sugar and water and mix with a rubber spatula.
- Place the heavy cream and butter next to the stove already.
- Place a small cup of water with a pastry brush next to the stove so you will be able to wash down the inside of the pot as needed.
- In a very clean sauce pan combine add sugar and water and mix with a rubber spatula.
- Remove the pot from the stove and add in all of the butter at once making sure you whisk it well while you add it.
- The caramel will boil up but make sure you keep an eye on it. Add in the heavy cream being careful of the bubbling and whisk it all together.
- Whisk in the vanilla and salt until well combined.
Assemble the Chocolate Turtle Cake
- Slice the tops of the cakes just so they are nice and flat. Place one cake onto your serving platter.
- Place the buttercream into a pastry bag that has a star tip inside. Pipe out a half inch layer of buttercream onto the first layer of cake. Sprinkle half of the pecans over the buttercream then drizzle with about 2 tablespoons of caramel sauce.
- Place the second cake on top. Pipe another half inch layer of buttercream and sprinkle the remainder of pecans on top making sure to leave a half-inch border around the cake.
- Drizzle the caramel sauce over the top of the pecans.
- Pipe a border of buttercream around the top of the cake and one swirl right in the middle. You can add a whole pecan right in the middle of the cake to finish.
Nutrition
42 Weight Watchers SmartPoints per serving on the Freestyle Program
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Jane says
How are we suppose to remember these receipes? If they have no print command for them what do we have to do? Memorize them?
Stephanie says
I have now added a print off so you will be able to print it.
Ami says
Ummm, write it down.