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Gooey Turtle Caramel Cake Recipe

Gooey Turtle Caramel Cake Recipe


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4.9 from 33 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Delectable turtle caramel cake blends rich chocolate, gooey caramel, and crunchy pecans into a heavenly dessert. Chocolate cake layers with caramel drizzle and pecan crumbles create an irresistible sweet experience you’ll savor to the last bite.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box chocolate cake mix
  • 3 eggs
  • ½ cup (120 milliliters) vegetable oil
  • 1 cup (240 milliliters) water
  • 1 cup (240 milliliters / 8 fl oz) caramel sauce or dulce de leche
  • 1 cup (120 grams / 4.2 oz) chopped pecans
  • ½ cup (90 grams / 3.2 oz) mini chocolate chips
  • 1 container (8 oz / 225 grams) whipped topping (or 2 cups whipped cream)
  • ¼ cup (60 milliliters / 2 fl oz) caramel sauce, for drizzling
  • ¼ cup (60 milliliters / 2 fl oz) chocolate syrup, for drizzling
  • ¼ cup (30 grams / 1 oz) chopped pecans, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare: Fire up the oven to 350F (175C) and coat a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray. Mix the chocolate cake batter according to package instructions and pour into the prepared pan.
  2. Bake and Cool: Bake until the cake achieves a golden hue, then remove and let rest for 10 minutes while maintaining residual warmth.
  3. Create Flavor Channels: Puncture the cake’s surface using a wooden spoon handle, generating strategic pathways for flavor infiltration.
  4. Caramel Infusion: Lavishly drench the perforated cake with caramel sauce, ensuring comprehensive coverage by guiding the liquid into every crevice with a flexible spatula.
  5. Texture Enhancement: Sprinkle chopped pecans and miniature chocolate chips across the caramel-saturated landscape, allowing these textural elements to nestle into the moist terrain.
  6. Creamy Topping: Once the cake reaches ambient temperature, blanket the surface with a smooth, even layer of whipped topping, creating a pristine covering.
  7. Decorative Finale: Execute elegant drizzle techniques with caramel sauce and chocolate syrup, creating artistic linear patterns across the creamy surface. Garnish with remaining pecan fragments for visual and textural contrast.
  8. Chill and Serve: Transfer the assembled dessert to the refrigerator, allowing a minimum one-hour integration period for flavor development and structural refinement before serving.

Notes

  • Caramel Absorption Technique: Create deep, evenly spaced holes while cake is warm to maximize caramel penetration and ensure rich, consistent flavor throughout each slice.
  • Temperature Control: Allow cake to cool slightly before adding caramel to prevent immediate absorption and maintain structural integrity of the dessert base.
  • Nut and Chocolate Distribution: Sprinkle pecans and chocolate chips immediately after caramel to help them naturally settle into sauce, creating a more integrated topping.
  • Chilling Strategy: Refrigerate for at least one hour to allow flavors to meld and develop a more cohesive texture, enhancing overall taste experience.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 380
  • Sugar: 34 g
  • Sodium: 280 mg
  • Fat: 20 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 45 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Cholesterol: 50 mg