TURTLE CAKE is a chocolate lovers dream. This Turtle Brownie Cake recipe is a dense and moist chocolate brownie cake with walnuts and topped with the most incredible ganache and caramel drizzle. It simply doesn’t get better than this Chocolate Turtle Cake! Crave worthy baking!
Brownie Cake Recipe: Chocolate Turtle Cake
Brownie Cake is one of my all-time favorite chocolate dessert recipes and this chocolate turtle cake recipe really…takes the cake!
Turtle Brownie Cake is taking over our house one slice at a time. If there’s one dessert I love and never tire of, it’s BROWNIES! Brownies were my #1 craving while I was pregnant with Henry (well, and Coca-Cola). Pat came home at one point to another batch on the counter and he tenderly said “Wow I just haven’t ever seen this many brownies made this many days in a row…” BACK OFF I’M STARVING AND GROWING A HUMAN.
Anyways…now that Henry is here, 6 months later I still crave the chocolaty goodness of a moist brownie more than I’d like to admit. This Chocolate Turtle Cake feels just a little bit classier than a boring (but delicious) brownie and I cannot get enough.
This Chocolate Brownie Cake is a mix of German Chocolate Cake Mix and Brownie Mix to make the most decadent bundt cake in history! The chocolate and caramel icing is OMG and the walnuts add such a nice crunch and flavor. If you love turtle candies, you’ll love this cake!
This Chocolate Turtle Cake is one of my favorite desserts. You really have to try this turtle brownie cake right away!
Tips for making this Turtle Brownie Cake recipe
If you’re going to make this Turtle Brownie Cake recipe, you might as well chop up some turtle candies and douse that cake in as much chocolate and caramel as you can. I mean, why not. At this point there’s no hope in this recipe being healthy, so just go for the gold. There’s no scrimping on this amazing chocolate turtle cake. And you better cut yourself an extra-large slice! You won’t regret it. Put on some stretch pants, it’s fine.
You can never go wrong with chocolate. When I’m craving chocolate I make this Turtle Cake, our Easy French Silk Pie, Chocolate Truffles, Oreo Poke Cake, or Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake Cookies!
Chocolate Turtle Cake
This chocolate Turtle Cake is bound to change your life because you’ll be addicted with the first bite!
If you’re able to make this Turtle Chocolate Brownie Cake and NOT dip into the chocolate and caramel with a spoon, then I commend you. I was not that controlled. Pat caught me with a slice with some extra caramel on the side actually dipping each bite before I ate it. SORRY.
It’s stressful some days having a 6-month-old and I won’t apologize for extra caramel. I just won’t. Chocolate Brownie Cake is the ultimate chocolate dessert recipe. I cannot wait for you to try it!
This Turtle Brownie Cake recipe is truly the best of both worlds. Fudgy, chewy brownie meets the ultimate moist chocolate cake. It doesn’t get better than this for chocolate lovers! I hope you enjoy this chocolate Turtle Cake and savor it like I do. A little (A LOT) of chocolate goes a long way. If brownies are more your thing be sure to make our BEST EVER Homemade Brownies from Scratch.
See the recipe card below for full details on How to Make Turtle Brownie Cake. Enjoy!
If you like this turtle cake, try some of our other favorite desserts too:
- French Silk Pie
- Oreo Poke Cake
- White Chocolate Mousse
- Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Pie
- Giant Chocolate Caramel Cookie
Turtle Brownie Cake
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
Recommended Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
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
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
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
Made this for Easter. Didn’t change a thing, was awesome
It looks amazing, John!!
Can I omit pecans from cake batter
Yes! My recipes can always be modified!
You will need a larger bundt pan than the one you used. Getting a larger one will actually be beneficial in many other recipes as well. I broke down and purchased a 16 cup Angel Food cake pan. I can bake just about any cake recipe now.
Can the nuts be eliminated from this recipe? My daughters HATE nuts :(
Thanks
Yes definitely! Just leave them out :)
Looking for more recipes
Looking for next cake recipes.
Awesome..!!
Yummy,,
Thanks for sharing.
I tried making this cake and it bubbled over all over my oven. Too much batter!
Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear that. :(
nice post