🎂 Box Mix Turtle Cake with Caramel & Pecans
🧁 Ingredients
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1 box chocolate cake mix (Devil’s Food or German Chocolate is perfect)
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Ingredients listed on the box (usually eggs, oil & water)
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1 cup chopped pecans
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1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
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1 cup caramel sauce OR
1 bag (11 oz) caramel bits + 1/3 cup heavy cream or evaporated milk -
Optional: extra pecans & caramel for topping
🍫 Instructions
1. Prepare the cake batter
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Mix the cake mix according to the box directions.
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Stir in ½ cup chopped pecans and ½ cup chocolate chips (optional but amazing).
2. Bake the first layer
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Pour half the batter into a greased 9×13 pan.
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Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15–18 minutes — just until set.
3. Make the caramel layer
If using caramel bits:
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Melt caramel + cream/milk over low heat until smooth.
If using a jar of caramel:
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Warm slightly until pourable.
4. Assemble the turtle layers
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Drizzle 3/4 of the caramel over the partially baked cake.
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Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup pecans and ½ cup chocolate chips over the caramel.
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Gently spoon the remaining cake batter on top.
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Smooth with a spatula.
5. Bake the final cake
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Return to oven and bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean (gooey is fine — it’s a turtle cake!).
6. Finish the top
When slightly warm:
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Drizzle with extra caramel
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Sprinkle with more chopped pecans
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Add extra chocolate chips if desired
✨ Tips for the BEST Turtle Cake
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Don’t overbake — turtle cake should be soft and gooey in the center.
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For deeper flavor, toast pecans 5 minutes before using.
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Warm slices for 10–15 sec in the microwave for a molten-style dessert.
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Serve with vanilla ice cream for the full experience.
If you want, I can also give you:
🍫 Turtle Poke Cake
🎂 Turtle Bundt Cake (boxed mix version)
🧁 Turtle Cupcakes
Just tell me which one!