Chocolate Turtle Cake (2024)

Chocolate Turtle Cake (1)

November 5, 2020

5 from 1 review

  • Prep time: 30 min
  • Cook time: 45 min
  • Total time: 1 hr 30 min

All your favorite flavors of a gooey chocolate turtle in cake form! Thischocolate turtle cakeis the perfect decadent layer cake for all the chocolate caramel lovers out there.

November 5, 2020

Chocolate Turtle Cake

Chocolate Turtle Cake (2)

All your favorite flavors of a gooey chocolate turtle in cake form! Thischocolate turtle cakeis the perfect decadent layer cake for all the chocolate caramel lovers out there.

5 from 1 review

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Chocolate Turtle Cake

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All your favorite flavors of a gooey chocolate turtle in cake form! Thischocolate turtle cakeis the perfect decadent layer cake for all the chocolate caramel lovers out there.

Chocolate Turtle Cake (6)

Chocolate Turtle Cake

Looking for the perfect unique cake to make for Thanksgiving this year? Allow me to introduce you to this chocolate turtle layer cake. This decadent chocolate recipe takes all your favorite flavors from a gooey chocolate turtle and reimagines them into a layer cake. The result is a decadent chocolate caramel cake with an insanely good salted caramel pecan filling and a dreamy chocolate butter cream.

I mean…am I the only one drooling?

Chocolate Turtle Cake (7)

What is a chocolate turtle?

If you’ve never had a chocolate turtle I want to first offer you my sincerest condolences. They’re one of my favorite fancy chocolates to grab at a the chocolate shop or gift for the holidays. Chocolate turtles are made with pecans, caramel and chocolate. They’re salty sweet, decadent, and easily inhaled. Plus they have ideal amount of crunch from the nuts and gooey-ness from the caramel that makes for the perfecttexture combination.

So…what is turtle layer cake?

Basically, you take all those scrumptious flavors of a classic chocolate turtle and put them into a cake made up of layers of chocolate cake, salted caramel mixed with toasted pecans, and held together with a creamy, dreamy chocolate buttercream. It’s decadent, chocolatey, salty-sweet, and so so so so so so tasty. Plus, it’s actually pretty easy to make and super customizable!

Chocolate Turtle Cake (8)

The key components of this turtle layer cake:

When you break it down, this fun chocolate cake is actually pretty simple. But put those three flavors together and you’re in for a real treat.

  • Caramel:If you know us, then you know we like anything filled with caramel. And we ESPECIALLY like making our own super easy homemade caramel. You can find our full tutorial on homemade caramel here!
  • Pecans: The key textural component of any turtle dessert are crunchy, toasted pecans. Unlike chocolate turtles, which traditionally use whole pecans, you can save a few bucks and just get pecan pieces.
  • Chocolate Cake: You’ll need a damn good chocolate cake for this turtle layer cake recipe. And luck for you, we have one. Bonus points because it’s made in one bowl and comes together super quickly–no stand mixer required!
  • Chocolate Frosting: Chocolate on chocolate is my fav cake/frosting flavor combo. It’s decadent, delicious and nottoo sweet.

Chocolate Turtle Cake (9)

What size cake does this recipe make?

You have some options. You can make this recipe in the following formats with just a few tweaks. This recipe will make:

  • A 3 layer 6 inch cake
  • A 2 layer 8 inch cake
  • A 9 x 13 inch sheet pan

Chocolate Turtle Cake (10)

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Chocolate Turtle Cake (11)

  • Author: Sofi | Broma Bakery
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 hours
  • Yield: 16 servings
  • Category: dessert
  • Method: oven
  • Cuisine: american

Chocolate Turtle Cake

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star5 from 1 review

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All your favorite flavors of a gooey chocolate turtle in cake form! Thischocolate turtle cakeis the perfect decadent layer cake for all the chocolate caramel lovers out there.

  • Author: Sofi | Broma Bakery
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 hours
  • Yield: 16 servings
  • Category: dessert
  • Method: oven
  • Cuisine: american

Units:

Ingredients

for the chocolate cake

  • 1 3/4 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cups dark cocoa powder
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup strongly brewed coffee

for the pecan caramel filling

  • 1 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
  • 1 recipe for homemade caramel

for the chocolate buttercream

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3 cups powdered sugar (about 1 lb)
  • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 24 Tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder

Instructions

    1. First, make the chocolate cake. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease and line 3 6 inch rounds or 2 8 inch rounds with parchment paper on the bottom. Set aside.
    2. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, cocoa powder, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk oil, vanilla, eggs, and buttermilk.
    3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, whisking until no lumps remain. Pour in brewed coffee, mixing until just combined.
    4. Pour batter into prepared pans and bake for roughly 30 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
    5. While the cakes cool, make the homemade caramel. Prepare the caramelaccording to directions and allow to cool completely. Reserve 1/3 cup of the caramel for drizzling on top fo the finished cake and place the remaining caramel in bowl. Add the chopped pecans to remaining caramel and stir to combine. Transfer to a piping bag and set aside.
    6. Next, make the frosting. Place the room temperature butter in a stand mixer fit with the whisk attachment. Beat the butter until creamy.
    7. Scrape down the bowl and add the cocoa powder. Beat on low speed and gradually increase to high speed until hom*ogenous.
    8. Scrape down the bowl and add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, espresso powder and 3 Tablespoons of milk to start. Beat on low speed and gradually increase to high speed, beating until light and fluffy.
    9. To assemble the cake, place the first layer on a cake stand or flat plate. Pipe about half of the caramel filling around the cake. Place the second layer on top of the filling and repeat with the remaining half of the filling. Frost the cake with the chocolate frosting, covering the top and pulling down to cover the sides of the cake. Put the cake in the fridge to chill for 15 minutes. This will help the frosting and filling to set.
    10. While the cake is chilling warm up the remaining 1/3 cup of caramel in a microwave safe bowl. Pour over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides. Top the top of the cake with crushed up pecans. Enjoy!

    Leave a comment and rate this recipe!

    1. If I use two 9inch pans, would that be okay? Does it change the baking time at all?
      Thanks in advanced!

      Reply

      • You should multiply the recipe by 1.5 to use 9” pans and make cupcakes with any leftovers. 😉

        Reply

      • That will be totally fine! The bake time should be about the same, but keep an eye on them towards the end because ovens can vary so much!

        Reply

    2. Should the coffee be added to the batter hot? I hope so – because that’s what we did! LOL!

      Reply

      • Yes! That is exactly right! It’s okay if it’s room temp too–whatever will work 🙂

        Reply

    3. Like

      Reply

      Chocolate Turtle Cake (2024)

      FAQs

      What is turtle cake made of? ›

      Basically, you take all those scrumptious flavors of a classic chocolate turtle and put them into a cake made up of layers of chocolate cake, salted caramel mixed with toasted pecans, and held together with a creamy, dreamy chocolate buttercream. It's decadent, chocolatey, salty-sweet, and so so so so so so tasty.

      Why is it called turtle cake? ›

      This cheesecake, using caramel, chocolate, and nuts, is named after Turtles, a confection developed in the United States by Johnson's Candy Company in 1918, so named because the shape of the treat resembles a turtle.

      What is turtle chocolate made of? ›

      Turtles are a candy made with pecans and caramel dipped in chocolate, with a shape resembling a turtle.

      Why are chocolate and caramel called turtles? ›

      Developed in 1918 by DeMet's Candy Company, these delectable bites were made of pecan pieces that were coated in caramel and then enveloped inside a glob of gourmet chocolate. And why were they called turtles? Because they actually looked like turtles with a large, chocolate covered shell.

      What is in a frog cake? ›

      The frog cake is a small dessert shaped to resemble a frog with its mouth open, consisting of a sponge base with a jam centre, topped in artificial cream and covered with a thick layer of fondant icing. The recipe today remains identical to the one employed when the cake was first produced in the 1920s.

      What does chocolate turtle taste like? ›

      Three ingredients that can perk up any palate or day, Turtles ® clusters are bursting with crunchy pecans, creamy caramel, and all wrapped up in luscious chocolate. The taste of the original caramel nut cluster is made to delight.

      Why is it called a turtle brownie? ›

      The shape of them with a hump of caramel in the middle resembles a turtle shell, hence the name. I've turned one of my favorite fudgy cocoa brownie recipes into the ultimate decadent treat by adding pecans, chocolate chips and drizzles of salted caramel to deliver a nostalgic taste of that famous confection!

      What is another name for chocolate turtles? ›

      Whether you call them chocolate turtles or bear claws, these decadent treats that combine chocolate, caramel, and pecans have delighted people of all ages for decades.

      Are turtles sweet Georgia Browns? ›

      You may know these caramely, choclatey and crunchy candies as Sweet Georgia Browns or Pecan Clusters, but I have always recognized these candies as Turtles.

      What is the flavor of the turtle dessert? ›

      A turtle pie is a dessert pie, originating in the United States. The turtle pie got its name due to the caramel, chocolate and pecans that are used to top the pies, which are said to have a similarity in flavor to that of DeMet's Turtles, which use similar ingredients.

      What are Nestle turtles made of? ›

      Ingredients. Milk Chocolate (Sugar; Modified Milk Ingredients; Cocoa Butter; Cocoa Mass; Soy Lecithin; Natural Vanilla Flavour; Salt); Caramel (Glucose; Sugar; Modified Milk Ingredients; Water; Modified Palm Oil; Salt; Natural Vanilla Flavour); Pecans. May contain peanuts and other tree nuts.

      Why is it called turtle flavor? ›

      The turtle pie got its name due to the caramel, chocolate and pecans that are used to top the pies, which are said to have a similarity in flavor to that of DeMet's Turtles, which use similar ingredients.

      What is the turtle flavor? ›

      Three ingredients that can perk up any palate or day, Turtles ® clusters are bursting with crunchy pecans, creamy caramel, and all wrapped up in luscious chocolate. The taste of the original caramel nut cluster is made to delight.

      What is turtle cheesecake made of? ›

      The cheesecake starts with an Oreo cookie crust that is covered in caramel sauce, then a layer of creamy cheesecake. Once cooled, it is sprinkled with toasted pecans and drizzled with both caramel and chocolate.

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