Ingredients:
For the Cake:
- 1 box of chocolate cake mix (or use homemade chocolate cake if preferred)
- 1 cup of water
- 1/2 cup of vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Caramel Sauce:
- 1 cup of brown sugar
- 1/2 cup of unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup of heavy cream
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
For the Topping:
- 1 cup of pecans (chopped or whole)
- 1 cup of chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk chocolate)
- 1/2 cup of heavy cream
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix, water, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake according to package instructions (usually around 30-35 minutes), or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Once the cake is done, let it cool completely in the pan.
2. Make the Caramel Sauce:
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Stir in the brown sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then let it simmer for about 3-5 minutes until it thickens.
- Remove from heat and allow the caramel to cool slightly before pouring over the cake.
3. Assemble the Cake:
- Once the cake has cooled, use a fork or skewer to poke small holes all over the top of the cake.
- Pour the caramel sauce over the cake, allowing it to soak into the holes.
4. Add the Toppings:
- In a small saucepan, heat the heavy cream until warm, then pour it over the chocolate chips in a bowl. Let it sit for a minute or two and then stir until smooth.
- Drizzle the melted chocolate over the cake.
- Sprinkle the pecans on top for the “turtle” effect.
5. Chill and Serve:
- Let the cake cool completely and allow the caramel and chocolate to set. You can refrigerate it for 30 minutes to an hour to make sure everything is firm.
- Slice and enjoy your delicious homemade chocolate turtle cake!
