By Becky Hardin
Published Oct 3, 2017
Turtle Cake is decadent, gorgeous, and deserving of a spot on your holiday dessert table! A moist and chewy chocolate brownie bundt cake is topped with crunchy nuts, thick ganache and a sweet caramel drizzle. It’s super easy to make with boxed cake and brownie mixes, but tastes entirely homemade!
Why We Love This Turtle Cake Recipe
Fudgy, chewy brownie meets the ultimate moist chocolate cake. It doesn’t get better than this for chocolate lovers!
- Chocolatey. German chocolate cake mix, fudge brownie mix, and chocolate ganache make this cake triple-chocolate.
- Caramelly. Caramel sauce made from baking caramels adds a rich and gooey texture.
- Indulgent. Rich chocolate cake, gooey caramel, silky ganache, and crunchy pecans make this cake so flavorful.
Variations on Chocolate Brownie Cake
You can always sprinkle on some chocolate shavings, chocolate chips, extra nuts, more candies or even a side of gooey caramel sauce if anyone wants an extra drizzle. Go big or go home, right?
How to Store
Store turtle brownie cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
How to Freeze
You can freeze turtle cake for up to 3 months if stored properly in an airtight freezer-safe container. Let slowly thaw in the fridge prior to serving.
Serving Suggestions
I love serving turtle brownie cake for all holidays and special occasions like birthdays and graduation parties!
If you’re nervous about your cake overflowing while baking, you can always put your bundt pan on top of a baking sheet to catch any accidental spillage.
The cake itself features both cake and fudge brownie mix to create the very best consistency. It’s then topped with chocolate ganache, caramel drizzle and turtle candies.
Turtle cake has all of the same qualities of a turtle candy, which was named that because of its shape. It resembles a little turtle!
More Chocolate Dessert Recipes To Try
- Better Than Sex Cake
- Black Magic Cake
- Mint Chocolate Swiss Roll
- Cosmic Brownies
- Chocolate Pound Cake
- Ferrero Rocher Brownies
5-Star Review
“Made this for Easter. Didn’t change a thing, was awesome.” – John M.
Ingredients1x2x3x
For the Caramel Sauce
- ▢ 20 baking caramels 189 grams, unwrapped
- ▢ 3 tablespoons milk 43 grams
For the Cake
- ▢ 15.25 ounces German chocolate cake mix 432 grams (1 box), such as Betty Crocker
- ▢ 18.3 ounces Fudge Brownie Mix 519 grams (1 box), such as Betty Crocker
- ▢ 4 large eggs 200 grams
- ▢ 1¼ cups water 284 grams
- ▢ 1⅛ cups canola oil 225 grams
- ▢ 2 cups chopped pecans 227 grams, divided into 1¼ cups and ¾ cup portions
For the Chocolate Ganache
- ▢ 1 cup heavy whipping cream 227 grams
- ▢ 12 ounces semisweet chocolate morsels 340 grams (1 bag)
For Assembly
- ▢ 8 chocolate/caramel turtle candies 136 grams,chopped
Video
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a Bundt pan with nonstick spray.
- Make the caramel sauce first to allow it to cool in the refrigerator while the cake is baking.
For the Caramel Sauce
- Place the unwrapped caramel candies in a microwave-safe bowl. Add the milk. Heat on HIGH for 1½ minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until caramels are melted and sauce is smooth. Cool the sauce in the refrigerator until the cake has baked and cooled for 15 minutes. 20 baking caramels, 3 tablespoons milk
For the Cake
- Combine the cake mix, brownie mix, eggs, water, and oil in a large bowl. Using a hand mixer, mix on medium for 2 minutes. 15.25 ounces German chocolate cake mix, 18.3 ounces Fudge Brownie Mix, 4 large eggs, 1¼ cups water, 1⅛ cups canola oil
- Pour 1 cup of batter into the prepared Bundt pan. Add 1¼ cups pecans to the remaining batter, then pour the batter into the Bundt pan, filling ¾ of the way full. Bake for 50-55 minutes. Bake any leftover batter in a smaller cake pan, if desired. 2 cups chopped pecans
- When the cake is done, transfer it to a cooling rack to cool 5 minutes. Remove the cake from the pan and allow to cool.
- While cake is cooling, make the chocolate ganache.
For the Chocolate Ganache
- In a small saucepan, heat and stir the heavy cream over medium-low heat just until it begins to boil along the edges. Remove from heat and slowly add the chocolate morsels. Stir gently, then let the mixture sit for 5 minutes. Whisk the ganache 1 minute, until shiny and smooth. Let the ganache cool 15 minutes. 1 cup heavy whipping cream, 12 ounces semisweet chocolate morsels
For Assembly
- When the cake has cooled for 15 minutes, poke holes in the cake and pour half of the cooled caramel sauce over the top. Pour the chocolate ganache over the top. Sprinkle the cake with chopped turtle candies and ¾ cup chopped pecans. Drizzle more caramel sauce over the turtle candies and chopped pecans on top of the cake. 8 chocolate/caramel turtle candies
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- 10-Cup Bundt Pan
- Hand Mixer
Becky’s Tips
- Feel free to omit the nuts. You could also replace them with chocolate chips or butterscotch baking chips!
- Be sure to fill your pan only ¾ of the way full to prevent the cake from spilling out into the oven!
- You can also place the cake pan on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any accidental spills.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Turtle Brownie Cake Step by Step
Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray a Bundt pan with nonstick spray.
Make the Caramel Sauce: Place 20 unwrapped caramel candies in a microwave-safe bowl. Add the 3 tablespoons of milk. Heat on HIGH for 1½ minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until the caramels are melted and the sauce is smooth. Cool the sauce in the refrigerator until the cake has baked and cooled for 15 minutes.
Make the Cake Batter: Combine 15.25 ounces (1 box) of German chocolate cake mix, 18.3 ounces (1 box) of fudge brownie mix, 4 large eggs, 1¼ cups of water, and 1⅛ cups of canola oil in a large bowl. Using a hand mixer, mix on medium for 2 minutes.
Bake the Cake: Pour 1 cup of batter into the prepared Bundt pan. Add 1¼ cups pecans to the remaining batter, then pour the batter into the Bundt pan, filling ¾ of the way full. Bake for 50-55 minutes. Bake any leftover batter in a smaller cake pan, if desired.
When the cake is done, transfer it to a cooling rack to cool for 5 minutes. Remove the cake from the pan and allow to cool.
Make the Ganache: While the cake is cooling, make the chocolate ganache. In a small saucepan, heat and stir 1 cup of heavy cream over medium-low heat just until it begins to boil along the edges. Remove from heat and slowly add 12 ounces of semisweet chocolate morsels. Stir gently, then let the mixture sit for 5 minutes. Whisk the ganache for 1 minute, until shiny and smooth. Let the ganache cool for 15 minutes.
Decorate the Cake: When the cake has cooled for 15 minutes, poke holes in the cake and pour half of the cooled caramel sauce over the top. Pour the chocolate ganache over the top. Sprinkle the cake with 8 chopped turtle candies and ¾ cup chopped pecans. Drizzle more caramel sauce over the turtle candies and chopped pecans on top of the cake.
Turtle Brownie Cake
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- 10-Cup Bundt Pan
- Hand Mixer
Ingredients
For the Caramel Sauce
- 20 baking caramels 189 grams, unwrapped
- 3 tablespoons milk 43 grams
For the Cake
- 15.25 ounces German chocolate cake mix 432 grams (1 box), such as Betty Crocker
- 18.3 ounces Fudge Brownie Mix 519 grams (1 box), such as Betty Crocker
- 4 large eggs 200 grams
- 1¼ cups water 284 grams
- 1⅛ cups canola oil 225 grams
- 2 cups chopped pecans 227 grams, divided into 1¼ cups and ¾ cup portions
For the Chocolate Ganache
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream 227 grams
- 12 ounces semisweet chocolate morsels 340 grams (1 bag)
For Assembly
- 8 chocolate/caramel turtle candies 136 grams,chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a Bundt pan with nonstick spray.
- Make the caramel sauce first to allow it to cool in the refrigerator while the cake is baking.
For the Caramel Sauce
- Place the unwrapped caramel candies in a microwave-safe bowl. Add the milk. Heat on HIGH for 1½ minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until caramels are melted and sauce is smooth. Cool the sauce in the refrigerator until the cake has baked and cooled for 15 minutes. 20 baking caramels, 3 tablespoons milk
For the Cake
- Combine the cake mix, brownie mix, eggs, water, and oil in a large bowl. Using a hand mixer, mix on medium for 2 minutes. 15.25 ounces German chocolate cake mix, 18.3 ounces Fudge Brownie Mix, 4 large eggs, 1¼ cups water, 1⅛ cups canola oil
- Pour 1 cup of batter into the prepared Bundt pan. Add 1¼ cups pecans to the remaining batter, then pour the batter into the Bundt pan, filling ¾ of the way full. Bake for 50-55 minutes. Bake any leftover batter in a smaller cake pan, if desired. 2 cups chopped pecans
- When the cake is done, transfer it to a cooling rack to cool 5 minutes. Remove the cake from the pan and allow to cool.
- While cake is cooling, make the chocolate ganache.
For the Chocolate Ganache
- In a small saucepan, heat and stir the heavy cream over medium-low heat just until it begins to boil along the edges. Remove from heat and slowly add the chocolate morsels. Stir gently, then let the mixture sit for 5 minutes. Whisk the ganache 1 minute, until shiny and smooth. Let the ganache cool 15 minutes. 1 cup heavy whipping cream, 12 ounces semisweet chocolate morsels
For Assembly
- When the cake has cooled for 15 minutes, poke holes in the cake and pour half of the cooled caramel sauce over the top. Pour the chocolate ganache over the top. Sprinkle the cake with chopped turtle candies and ¾ cup chopped pecans. Drizzle more caramel sauce over the turtle candies and chopped pecans on top of the cake. 8 chocolate/caramel turtle candies
Video
Notes
- Feel free to omit the nuts. You could also replace them with chocolate chips or butterscotch baking chips!
- Be sure to fill your pan only ¾ of the way full to prevent the cake from spilling out into the oven!
- You can also place the cake pan on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any accidental spills.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
