Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Turtle Cake

Teresa Ambra

Turtle Cake is probably the richest, sweetest, most decadent cake recipe I make. It is chocolate and sugar on steroids! Seriously. Turtle Cake starts with a German Chocolate cake mix. You bake half of the batter in a 9×13″ baking dish. After that bakes you spread an incredibly delicious and high calorie caramel filling that includes butter and sweetened condensed milk on top.

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After that, you top the caramel filling with chocolate chips and pecans. Then you spread the remaining cake batter over top and finish baking the cake. Wow! But that’s not all. Then you spread a luscious and creamy Chocolate Marshmallow Frosting over top.

Uh, yeah….this is one of those 10,000 calories a slice cakes….well, perhaps not quite that bad, but you get what I mean. Turtle Cake is reminiscent of Turtle Candies. Gloriously rich!

I got this delectable recipe from my best recipe exchange friend, Mimi Pownall, in 1984, when she asked me to type her recipes into a cookbook on what was then a new phenomenon–personal computers and word processing! Yay. I remember her telling me later that I had left out the butter in the filling. So I hand-wrote that into my cookbook.

When I did get around to making this recipe not too long afterwards, we were all just in awe of the taste. I remember taking this cake with us as a birthday cake for our oldest son one year when we went camping with friends over his birthday. Everyone oohed and awed over it. Mimi always said this cake didn’t need any icing because it was in the middle of the cake, but I’ve always served it with icing because it looked better!

Turtle Cake is still one of our favorite cakes, but it really is rich and sweet. I served it for company last Sunday along with vanilla and chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. Ahem, did I say this cookie is rich and high in calories? Especially if you have it with a few scoops of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream! Nevertheless, it is one of those treats we indulge in on special occasions.

Here are a couple of recommendations when making this cake. Get your caramel layer going first. Unwrap all the caramels and put in a saucepan over LOW heat with the condensed milk and butter. If you try to speed up the process and cook on a higher heat the caramels will almost always scorch! Ugh.

It usually takes a full 15 minutes to get the caramels to completely melt down and that’s with me pressing the caramels against the edge of the saucepan with a spoon to make sure all of them dissolve. You want the caramel filling ready to go when your cake layer is baked. You can mix up the cake ingredients rather quickly and get the cake in the oven in less than 5 minutes.

Second, even though you only bake half the batter, make sure the cake is fully cooked before you try to pour the caramel sauce over top. It really doesn’t set up well if the cake is still gooey on the bottom. Test with a toothpick. Even though you should only have to cook it for 15 minutes, it took my oven 18 minutes before the cake was baked completely.

Third, make sure you spray the sides (and not just the bottom of your cake pan/dish). Otherwise the caramel layer will stick to the sides of the dish and be hard to get out.

Fourth, don’t skimp on ingredients. Use a high quality German Chocolate cake mix, real butter (no margarine!), caramels, chocolate chips, etc., for best results.

If you’re looking for a super-duper cake recipe that will wow your guests, then give Turtle Cake a try. I usually don’t serve it with more caramel sauce (or chocolate sauce) because it is so rich that that is really overkill. But feel free to go overboard if you wish! 🙂 But don’t say I didn’t warn you–this cake is addictive.

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Turtle Cake is one spectacular cake. But don’t say I didn’t warn you–this cake is highly addictive! It’s perfect for birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions.

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Rich, decadent and a chocolate lover’s delight!

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

The filling is made up of caramels, chocolate chips and pecans. Yum.

Here’s what I did.

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

I used these ingredients for the cake.

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Mix the German Chocolate cake mix with eggs, water and oil.

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Mix with an electric mixer until smooth.

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Spray the bottom and sides of a 9×13″ glass baking dish with cooking spray. Spread HALF of the chocolate cake batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 350 for approximately 15-18 minutes or until the cake is set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Meanwhile, unwrap all your caramels. (I actually do this step first). Add butter and condensed milk and stir until caramels have completely melted about 15 minutes over LOW heat. Don’t try to do this over medium heat or the caramels scorch easily. Then your cake will taste burnt!

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Here the caramels are completely dissolved. Set aside, but be ready to pour over the cake when it’s done.

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Remove cake from oven after it tests done.

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Pour caramel filling slowly and evenly over the cake so that it spreads and fills in each place. This is easier than trying to spread it with a knife.

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Sprinkle evenly with chocolate chips.

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Now sprinkle evenly with chopped pecans.

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Cover with remaining cake batter. You will barely have enough. Spread the cake batter the best you can over top of the filling ingredients.

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Bake about 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

To make frosting: Mix powdered sugar, cocoa and salt in a mixing bowl. Add just enough milk to barely make the mixture spreadable.

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

You can see I use a whisk and the chocolate mixture is pretty thick. Now add Crisco shortening and marshmallow creme. 

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Whisk ingredients to combine. Now the frosting is of a nice spreading consistency.

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Spread Chocolate Marshmallow Frosting over top of the Turtle Cake.

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

This cake is easier to keep in the baking dish rather than trying to remove it and put it on an oblong serving plate. If desired, serve with additional caramel sauce.

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Look at that ooey, gooey caramel layer in the middle. Yum!

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Serve Turtle Cake with ice cream or more caramel sauce–if you dare!

Here’s the recipe.

TURTLE CAKE

(Recipe adapted from Mimi Pownall, when we attended First Baptist Church Indian Rocks, Largo, FL)

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Turtle Cake

Teresa Ambra
Rich, sweet, decadent cake based on Turtle Candies. German chocolate cake is filled with a creamy caramel layer, chocolate chips and pecans, then frosted with a luscious chocolate marshmallow frosting. This is one sensational cake!
3.57 from 44 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Cakes and Cheesecakes, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 20
Calories 455 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 9x13" glass baking dish
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 medium mixing bowl
  • 1 electric mixer
  • 2 wooden spoons
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 medium sauce pan
  • 1 potato masher

Ingredients
  

CAKE:

  • 1 box german chocolate cake mix
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/3 cup canola oil
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
  • 11 oz. bag caramels unwrapped (40 per bag)
  • 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
  • 6 oz. chocolate chips 1 cup
  • 1 cup pecan pieces

CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOW FROSTING:

  • 1/2 box confectioners’ sugar or 2 cups
  • 1/4 cup cocoa
  • dash salt
  • 1 to 2 tbsp. 2% Milk or as needed to make of spreading consistency (see note below)
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1/4 cup Crisco shortening no substitutes
  • 1/4 cup marshmallow crème

Instructions
 

CAKE:

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Unwrap caramels.
  • In medium saucepan, melt caramels with butter and condensed milk.
  • Continue stirring and mashing down the caramels with a potato masher until they melt completely.
  • (This will take about 15-20 minutes over low to medium heat).
  • Mix cake mix with eggs, water and oil with an electric mixer.
  • Pour half of the batter into a greased 9x13” baking dish.
  • Bake at 350° for 15-18 minutes or when cake is set.
  • Remove cake from oven.
  • Pour caramel topping over top of cake and spread evenly.
  • (It is better if you pour over every part of the cake because this is hard to spread. Do the best you can).
  • Sprinkle with chocolate chips, then pecans.
  • Finally pour remaining chocolate batter over top of filling.
  • Bake at 350° for another 20 minutes or until set.
  • Remove from oven to cool.

CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOW FROSTING:

  • Mix confectioners’ sugar, cocoa and salt.
  • Add vanilla, then a few tablespoons of milk and try to get this just to the workable point.
  • Use as little milk as possible so the ingredients are just barely moistened.
  • You probably won’t need more than ¼ to 1/3 cup of milk total.
  • Then work in shortening and marshmallow crème to give the frosting its proper spreading consistency.
  • Frost cake when cooled.

Notes

NOTE: Don't cook the caramels on anything but a low heat. They tend to scorch and burn really easily. Continue pressing the caramels against the edge of the saucepan with a spoon to get them to break down and dissolve.
 
NOTE:  Avoid the temptation to add too much milk to the frosting or you will have to keep adding more and more powdered sugar to achieve the correct consistency. Use less, then add the shortening and marshmallow creme. If you still need to add milk you can add a little then if the frosting is too thick to spread.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 455kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 5gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 254mgPotassium: 255mgFiber: 1gSugar: 47gVitamin A: 246IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 129mgIron: 1mg
Keyword cake, caramel, chocolate, dessert, turtle cake
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Turtle Cake[/b]
Recipe Type: Cakes and Cheesecakes
Cuisine: American
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from Mimi Pownall, when we attended First Baptist Church Indian Rocks, Largo, FL
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 20
Rich, sweet, decadent cake based on Turtle Candies. German chocolate cake is filled with a creamy caramel layer, chocolate chips and pecans, then frosted with a luscious chocolate marshmallow frosting. This is one sensational cake!
Ingredients
  • 1 German Chocolate cake mix
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/3 cup canola oil
  • 1 stick unsalted butter
  • 11-oz. bag Kraft caramels, unwrapped (40 per bag)
  • 14-oz. can condensed milk
  • 6-oz. (1 cup) chocolate chips
  • 1 cup pecan pieces
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Unwrap caramels.
  3. In medium saucepan, melt caramels with butter and condensed milk.
  4. Continue stirring and mashing down the caramels until they melt completely.
  5. (This will take about 15-20 minutes over low to medium heat).
  6. Mix cake mix with eggs, water and oil.
  7. Pour [u]half[/u] of the batter into a greased 9×13” baking dish.
  8. Bake at 350° for 15-18 minutes or when cake is set.
  9. Remove cake from oven.
  10. Pour caramel topping over top of cake and spread evenly.
  11. (It is better if you pour over every part of the cake because this is hard to spread. Do the best you can).
  12. Sprinkle with chocolate chips, then pecans.
  13. Finally pour remaining chocolate batter over top of filling.
  14. Bake at 350° for another 20 minutes or until set.
  15. Remove from oven to cool.
Notes
Don’t cook the caramels on anything but a low heat. They tend to scorch and burn really easily. Continue pressing the caramels against the edge of the saucepan with a spoon to get them to break down and dissolve.

 

[b]Chocolate Marshmallow Frosting[/b]
Recipe Type: Cakes and Cheesecakes
Cuisine: American
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from Gladys Urbsis, our neighbor in Worcester, MA
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 20
Rich, sweet, decadent cake based on Turtle Candies. German chocolate cake is filled with a creamy caramel layer, chocolate chips and pecans, then frosted with a luscious chocolate marshmallow frosting. The frosting is spectacular.
Ingredients
  • ½ box confectioners’ sugar (or 2 cups)
  • ¼ cup Nestle’s cocoa
  • Dash of salt
  • Milk to make of spreading consistency
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • ¼ cup Crisco shortening
  • ¼ cup marshmallow crème
Instructions
  1. Mix confectioners’ sugar, cocoa and salt.
  2. Add vanilla, then a few tablespoons of milk and try to get this just to the workable point.
  3. Use as little milk as possible so the ingredients are just moistened.
  4. You probably won’t need more than ¼ to 1/3 cup of milk total.
  5. Then work in shortening and marshmallow crème to give the frosting its proper spreading consistency.
  6. Frost cake when cooled.
Notes
Avoid the temptation to add too much milk or you will have to keep adding more and more powdered sugar to achieve the correct consistency.
Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Doesn’t Turtle Cake with Chocolate Marshmallow Frosting look gorgeous?

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

This is one scrumptious cake!

Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

It’s so rich you will want to share it with company so you don’t consume all those calories by yourself!!! 🙂

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!

Reese’s Candy Cupcakes

Reese's Candy Cupcakes | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Banana Cake with Chocolate Marshmallow Frosting

Banana Cake with Chocolate Marshmallow Frosting | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic #cake is our favorite. It has a spectacular #chocolate & #marshmallow frosting to die for! Prepare to drool after the first bite! #dessert #bananas #almonds

Italian Creme Cake

Italian Creme Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this is the perfect #dessert for #Easter! 3 layers of decadence that you'll swoon over! #cake #Italian
Turtle Cake | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the richest, most decadent & divine #dessert ever! Tastes like eating #TurtleCandies but in #cake form. Uses #chocolate cake mix, #caramels melted with condensed milk, chocolate chips & pecans and topped with a luscious chocolate #marshmallow frosting.

Turtle Cake

Teresa Ambra
Rich, sweet, decadent cake based on Turtle Candies. German chocolate cake is filled with a creamy caramel layer, chocolate chips and pecans, then frosted with a luscious chocolate marshmallow frosting. This is one sensational cake!
3.57 from 44 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Cakes and Cheesecakes, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 20
Calories 455 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 9×13" glass baking dish
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 medium mixing bowl
  • 1 electric mixer
  • 2 wooden spoons
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 medium sauce pan
  • 1 potato masher

Ingredients
  

CAKE:

  • 1 box german chocolate cake mix
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/3 cup canola oil
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
  • 11 oz. bag caramels unwrapped (40 per bag)
  • 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
  • 6 oz. chocolate chips 1 cup
  • 1 cup pecan pieces

CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOW FROSTING:

  • 1/2 box confectioners’ sugar or 2 cups
  • 1/4 cup cocoa
  • dash salt
  • 1 to 2 tbsp. 2% Milk or as needed to make of spreading consistency (see note below)
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1/4 cup Crisco shortening no substitutes
  • 1/4 cup marshmallow crème

Instructions
 

CAKE:

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Unwrap caramels.
  • In medium saucepan, melt caramels with butter and condensed milk.
  • Continue stirring and mashing down the caramels with a potato masher until they melt completely.
  • (This will take about 15-20 minutes over low to medium heat).
  • Mix cake mix with eggs, water and oil with an electric mixer.
  • Pour half of the batter into a greased 9×13” baking dish.
  • Bake at 350° for 15-18 minutes or when cake is set.
  • Remove cake from oven.
  • Pour caramel topping over top of cake and spread evenly.
  • (It is better if you pour over every part of the cake because this is hard to spread. Do the best you can).
  • Sprinkle with chocolate chips, then pecans.
  • Finally pour remaining chocolate batter over top of filling.
  • Bake at 350° for another 20 minutes or until set.
  • Remove from oven to cool.

CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOW FROSTING:

  • Mix confectioners’ sugar, cocoa and salt.
  • Add vanilla, then a few tablespoons of milk and try to get this just to the workable point.
  • Use as little milk as possible so the ingredients are just barely moistened.
  • You probably won’t need more than ¼ to 1/3 cup of milk total.
  • Then work in shortening and marshmallow crème to give the frosting its proper spreading consistency.
  • Frost cake when cooled.

Notes

NOTE: Don’t cook the caramels on anything but a low heat. They tend to scorch and burn really easily. Continue pressing the caramels against the edge of the saucepan with a spoon to get them to break down and dissolve.
 
NOTE:  Avoid the temptation to add too much milk to the frosting or you will have to keep adding more and more powdered sugar to achieve the correct consistency. Use less, then add the shortening and marshmallow creme. If you still need to add milk you can add a little then if the frosting is too thick to spread.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 455kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 5gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 254mgPotassium: 255mgFiber: 1gSugar: 47gVitamin A: 246IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 129mgIron: 1mg
Keyword cake, caramel, chocolate, dessert, turtle cake
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

37 Comments

  • Cynthia

    October 26, 2023 at 9:26 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve made this cake many times over the years with slight changes. I use 14 ounces of caramels and no chocolate chips. I put nuts on top of the cake. I find it rich enough without frosting. It’s one of my personal favorites which generally never goes to waste.

    1. Teresa Ambra

      October 29, 2023 at 8:27 pm

      Hi Cynthia. Yes, it is a very versatile recipe. The original recipe I got from a friend did not actually include icing. It is truly rich enough without it! I do love it with chocolate chips, though. 🙂

  • Turtle love!

    December 13, 2021 at 8:07 pm

    Dear, dear Teresa.
    I can’t thank you enough. I made your turtle cake first for my brother’s birthday. Then for my family (seeing the assembly of all the delicious ingredients, I just had to eat it too.) This cake should be called ‘Better than Turtles Cake’ b/c I think your cake recipe totally blows the candies. In the last decade or so I’ve become very focused on calorie choices so I while I do eat things like turtle cake, I would not eat the candy b/c the candy is not worth the calorie load and the cake IS TOTALLY WORTH IT! You’ve outdone yourself. Congrats. I will take much pleasure perusing the rest of your recipes collection.

    1. Teresa

      December 15, 2021 at 8:30 am

      So glad you loved the recipe! I’ve been making this vintage recipe for decades and it can’t be beat. It is so rich, though, that a small piece will do! 🙂

  • Gayle Shepherd

    March 22, 2021 at 3:56 pm

    Can you use the kraft Carmel bits instead of the carmels for the cake? Thanks

    1. Teresa

      March 25, 2021 at 7:41 am

      Hi, Gayle. I don’t think you will get enough of the flavor or texture with that substitution. Sorry.

  • Gayle Shepherd

    March 21, 2021 at 6:48 pm

    Can you use crisco oil instead of the crisco shortening? Are what could you use? Thanks

    1. Teresa

      March 22, 2021 at 5:53 am

      Hi, Gayle. I’m not sure if you’ll get the fluffiness in the texture of the recipe if you substitute oil for the shortening in the icing.

  • Wanda Jordan

    January 11, 2021 at 9:00 pm

    I can’t wait to make this cake. My favorite is chocolate can’t. Am I alone? Don’t think so!

    1. Teresa

      January 12, 2021 at 8:21 am

      Hi Wanda. This is a fantastic cake. Hope you enjoy it.

  • Erni

    February 28, 2020 at 10:57 pm

    Hello! I’m in the process of making this decadence (currently in the oven). Was wondering about the icing instructions. Your direction indicate to use “1/2 box OR 2 cups” of confectioners sugar. But a single box is 2 cups. Soooooo, can you please clarify? TIA!

    1. Teresa

      March 1, 2020 at 9:35 am

      Hi, Erni, Normally a 16-oz. box would be 2 cups. But I think it takes three or four cups to get an actual 16 ounces in powdered sugar. I would measure out eight ounces (on a scale if you have it). (Sorry, this is one of those old vintage recipes where things were measured differently than today).

  • Lenoria Kelly

    December 10, 2019 at 9:14 pm

    I make a version of this often but my recipe has evaporated milk instead of sweetened condensed and for the last two years on my daughter’s birthday I have been melting another bag of caramels and everything that goes into the middle layer and pouring that over the top and yes it is so rich a little goes a long way! My family love it. I have never had it with the marshmallow buttercream icing but I can’t wait to try it!

    1. Teresa

      December 11, 2019 at 11:47 am

      Hi, Lenoria. I love the idea of more caramels and chocolate dumped on top! I’m sure it’s so rich and decadent that way.I hope you enjoy it with the icing this way too. I have heard of recipes using evaporated milk instead of condensed. The condensed milk sure does amp up the flavors though. 🙂

  • Gwen

    September 24, 2019 at 8:53 am

    Teresa, I’m unsure as to which type of Crisco shortening (liquid or solid that comes in either the can or solid quarters) to use in the frosting recipe. Can you u please clarify. Thank you.

    1. Teresa

      September 25, 2019 at 4:44 pm

      Hi Gwen, I always use the solid Crisco shortening in a can. Hope this helps.

  • tiffinee

    November 30, 2018 at 11:06 pm

    is this cake meant to serve warm? or room temperature?

    1. Teresa

      December 1, 2018 at 9:24 pm

      I serve it either room temperature or cold.

  • Anonymous

    September 10, 2016 at 12:35 pm

    Where are the measurements for the frosting?

    1. Teresa

      September 10, 2016 at 2:37 pm

      Hi, my new recipe card conversion has not worked properly so I did this one by hand. The frosting ingredients are now included. Thanks for your patience.

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  • Sheila

    March 17, 2016 at 7:35 pm

    So, 1 11 oz bag of caramels? So, 40 total caramels? I’m asking because in the picture of ingredients it shows 2 bags. Thank you!

    1. Teresa

      March 18, 2016 at 7:04 am

      Hi, Sheila. I think when I originally took the pictures I wasn’t sure how many caramels were in each bag. You need 40 caramels. I believe I found that I could get that amount in an 11-ounce bag and not have to use a second bag. Hope this helps.

  • Alexandra

    August 28, 2015 at 10:00 am

    I assume the filling doesn’t have to be baked right? I’m asking because I was going to make a smaller layered round cake. Thanks , looks good!

    1. Teresa

      August 28, 2015 at 10:53 am

      Alexandra, actually after baking half of the cake, you top the baked cake with the caramel sauce, pecans and chocolate chips. Cover the remaining cake batter and rebake it again for the final cooking time. So yes, the filling is baked even though it is pre-cooked on top of the stove. Hope you enjoy it.

  • Veronica

    June 10, 2015 at 1:02 pm

    Hi Teresa,
    I have made numerous recipes of yours and they have all been fantastic. I would love to make a layer cake for two people only or a cake for two people. do you have any recipes or advice on how to do so?

    1. Teresa

      June 10, 2015 at 2:43 pm

      Hey, Veronica. That’s difficult. You would probably have to have special pans. But this is what I do. I bake a cake and then either give the rest away or freeze it. You can even freeze it already sliced in separate containers if you desire, so that you pull out just the amount you want. Do you have 4-inch or 6-inch round cake pans? Maybe you can purchase some at a restaurant supply since bakers use them. If you have some of those, I would recommend cutting a recipe in half (same for the icing), and give it a whirl. Start with a basic chocolate cake or vanilla cake and see how it works. Then you can expand it out to other recipes as you see fit. Please let me know how it turns out (and where you found the cake pans). 🙂

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  • BNance509

    October 29, 2014 at 5:32 am

    5 stars
    Can you use butter in your frosting instead of Crisco?

    1. Teresa

      October 29, 2014 at 7:22 am

      You can try it. I’ve never used it in this recipe before.

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  • Anonymous

    August 21, 2014 at 2:23 pm

    Do I mix the cake mix according to box directions and add the water, eggs, and oil that you have listed? It seems like I’m doubling the amount.

    Thank you,

    Regenia

    1. Teresa

      August 21, 2014 at 3:14 pm

      Hi, Regenia, I’m sorry the recipe isn’t clear. I’ll change it. Mix the cake mix, and the eggs, oil and water I have listed in the ingredients list. It should be similar to most cake mixes. I hope you enjoy the recipe. Be prepared for rich, decadent and a sugar high! 🙂

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  • Tamara Leigh

    March 22, 2014 at 1:14 pm

    5 stars
    Sinful, Teresa! Makes my mouth water 🙂

    1. Teresa

      March 22, 2014 at 7:21 pm

      Yes, it’s breathtaking, Tamara! 🙂

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