This decadent turtle poke cake is topped with whipped topping, crunchy pecans, and mini chocolate chips, with drizzles of caramel and chocolate syrup. Inside this delicious cake is a sweetened caramel sauce that soaks through the poked holes and settles on the bottom of the cake. Making it a moist chocolate cake that is easy to make and is sure to be a hit.
This decadent cake is the perfect dessert for any special occasion. Take this rich chocolate cake recipe along to barbecues in the summer or to any holiday gatherings. Or when you are craving those delicious turtle candies in a cake form.
Easy Turtle Cake Recipe
Caramel, chocolate, chopped pecans how could you resist, I know I sure can't. Then again, I love any type of candy or dessert with gooey caramel and chocolate in it, especially if it resembles turtle candies. Make that into a delicious chocolate poke cake and I definitely can't resist it.
This chocolate turtle cake has been a requested hit time and time again in our home. Maybe it's the sweetened caramel sauce that soaks the bottom of the cake and fills the holes, making this an incredibly moist cake.
Or maybe it's the add chopped pecans and mini chocolate chips to the top of this poke cake that gives it a sweet, decadent twist. Or the drizzles of chocolate and caramel sauce that's on top. This decadent chocolate cake is defiantly for chocolate lovers and those that love any type of turtle dessert.
How To Make
This chocolate caramel poke cake recipe is simple to make. Grab your favorite box of cake mix, I used Betty Crockers devil's food cake mix. Make the cake according to the package directions.
While the cake is baking mix together sweetened condensed milk and caramel syrup. I like to mix these two ingredients in a liquid measuring cup however, a large mixing bowl will also work. I find the measuring cup makes it easier to fill the holes of the cake with the sweetened caramel sauce.
With the handle of a wooden spoon poke holes in the cake. Only go about three-quarters of the way through the cake when poking the holes. Then pour caramel sauce into the holes. I like to fill all the holes then go back and top them off more, I will also drizzle a bit of the sweetened sauce on top of the cake.
Place the chocolate poke cake recipe into the refrigerator for ten minutes to allow the sweetened caramel sauce to set up some.
After the cake has cooled a bit add thawed whipped topping to the top. Next, drizzle a bit of chocolate and caramel syrup on top of the whipped topping. Sprinkle chopped pecans and mini chocolate chips to finish this chocolate caramel poke cake off. Before serving, place in the refrigerator for two hours to set completely.
Serve this chocolate turtle poke cake recipe with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or even caramel ice cream.
Questions
Did you know the history of poke cakes goes back only to the 1970s? Poke cakes first appeared in advertisements in order to increase the sales of gelatin. Not only are these cakes fun to make but they can be colorful and a great way for kids to get involved in the kitchen. Kids will love poking holes in the cake with the end of a wooden spoon.
It sure can! If you have a favorite chocolate cake recipe you could use that. You could also make some homemade caramel sauce to mix together with the sweetened condensed milk. Or just drizzle a bit on top of this delicious chocolate cake.
I would say this depends on you and how many holes you want to have in your poke cake. Personally, I find 30 holes about right for my poke cake recipes.
The cake can be made up to 3 days ahead of the desired time as long as it's stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I wouldn't poke the hole into the cake or top of the cake with the cool whip and toppings until needed though.
Tips
It's best to store this in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container. Turtle chocolate poke cake will last stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. That is if it doesn't get eaten right away, I have a fan of chocolate turtles in my home and this cake doesn't seem to last longer than 2 days tops.
Change up the whipped topping for chocolate frosting. Or add a bit of cocoa powder to the whipped topping for more sweetness to this turtle cake. A splash of vanilla extract could really enhance either the cake itself or the whipped topping.
This delicious cake features all the flavors that make up a turtle candy, we hope you enjoy this rich chocolate cake.
More easy poke cake recipes you may enjoy:
Turtle Chocolate Poke Cake
This moist chocolate cake is poked with holes and then covered with a sweet gooey caramel. A whipped topping with sprinkles of chocolate chips and chopped pecans covers the delicious cake.
Ingredients
- 15.25 Ounce Chocolate Cake Mix I used a devils food
- 14 Ounce Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 12 Ounce Caramel Syrup
- 8 Ounce Whipped Topping thawed
- ½ Cup Pecans Chopped
- ½ Cup Mini Chocolate Chips
- ¼ Cup Caramel Syrup
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350℉ spray a 9x13 baking pan with non stick cooking spray.
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Make the cake according to the recipe on the back of the box. Bake the cake according to the directions on the back of the box.
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In a mixing bowl or large liquid measuring cup mix together the sweetened condensed milk and 12 ounces of caramel syrup. Set aside until the cake is fully baked.
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Once the cake is fully baked use the end of a wooden spoon to poke holes over the surface of the cake. Making sure to only poke two-thirds of the way into the cake. I ended up with about 30 holes in my cake.
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Slowly pour the caramel and sweetened condensed milk mixture over the holes in the cake. Making sure to evenly distribute the sauce so each hole receives some.
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Place the cake into the refrigerator for 10 minutes to allow the cake to cool some before the whipped topping is added.
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Cover the cooled cake with the thawed whipped topping. Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips and chopped pecans. Drizzle with a bit of chocolate and caramel syrup.
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Place the turtle poke cake in the refrigerator for at leaset 2 hours.
Recipe Notes
Nutritional information on this website is provided as a courtesy and for your convenience only. In addition to the USDA Food Composition Database, other online calculators are used to gather nutrition data.
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