Easy Turtle Cake

Start with a box mix of cake, add a gooey layer of melted caramels, pecans and extra chocolate chips to make a rich and Easy Turtle Cake.

If you love variations of chocolate cake you’ll enjoy this recipe!

Turtle Cake Recipe

We are a family of chocolate lovers.  All of us, all sides of the family love chocolate, especially chocolate cake.  A creamy caramel layer, chocolate chips and pecans make a German Chocolate cake mix even more delightful.

Our go-to chocolate cake is our Best Chocolate Cake, but sometimes it’s nice to mix it up and surprise people. Using a box mix of cake saves time and make these recipes so much easier!

Turtle Cake is one of those tried and true rich chocolate desserts that everyone loves and grabs a piece of. 

I recently made three desserts for our family reunion.  Chocolate Delight, Pistachio Pudding Cake and this easy Turtle Cake.  Chocolate cake covered in all kinds of gooey goodness and some amazing Chocolate Buttercream Frosting always catches people’s attention first!

Chocolate Turtle Cake

If you love chocolate and caramel this cake is the perfect dessert recipe to try!  Our Box Mix Turtle Cake with a cake mix is a chocolate cake with a rich layer of caramel and pecans in the middle. 

This Turtle Cake is so easy to make because it starts with a box mix, but the gooey caramel layer gives it that special touch that people really enjoy.  I like to frost with a jar of purchased Coconut Pecan Frosting, but chocolate frosting works great too.  Surely there are other options I haven’t tried yet that would also be delicious. 

Another delicious chocolate dessert using a German chocolate cake mix is our Marble Chocolate Cream Cheese Bars.  It’s a cross between a cake and a super easy cheesecake.

Ingredients Needed to Make Turtle Cake

• Box German Chocolate Cake Mix – or Devil’s Food Cake Mix or another box mix of chocolate cake
• Eggs – mix up the cake batter according to the directions on the box
• Vegetable oil
• Kraft caramels – a bag of the squares of caramels that are individually wrapped and provide the prominent turtle flavor
• Butter – makes the filling more rich
• Evaporated milk – adds a richness and milky base to melt the caramel into
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips – more rich chocolatey flavor that chocolate cake lovers crave
• Pecans give the crunchy, nutty, distinction to a classic turtle cake
• Can of icing – chocolate frosting OR a can of coconut pecan frosting if you want more of a German Chocolate cake flavor

How to Make Box Mix Turtle Cake

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 13 x 9 inch cake pan
2. Mix cake mix according to directions
3. Pour half of batter into greased pan, bake for 15 minutes
4. Melt caramels, butter and evaporated milk in a medium saucepan stirring constantly
5. Pour melted caramel mixture over baked cake
6. Sprinkle chocolate chips and pecans over cake
7. Pour remaining cake batter evenly over pan and bake about 20 more minutes until cake is set
8. Frost with a can of icing, we like Coconut Pecan but chocolate icing works well too

Step By Step Instructions

Unwrap all of the caramels and set aside. Preheat oven to 350°F and coat a 9×13″ baking dish with non-stick spray.

Mix up box of chocolate cake mix according to the directions on the package.

Pour half of the cake mix into a baking dish.

We usually have about 4 cups of cake batter. I don’t typically measure, I just guess when pouring.

Bake for 12 – 15 minutes until a toothpick is almost clean when inserted in the center.

While the cake is baking use a medium sauce pan and add butter, evaporated milk and unwrapped caramels.

Stir often over medium heat until caramels are melted.

Once cake is out of the oven pour this mixture over the bottom half of the cake.

Then sprinkle a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips and chopped pecans or whole nuts if you like over the caramel.

This is the layer that really makes the cake!

Pour the remaining half of the cake batter over the top of the filling.

Scrape the edges of the bowl to get all of the batter possible and spread it all out over the nutty filling as evenly as you can without pulling up the nuts to the top.

Bake an additional 20 minutes until the top layer of cake is baked. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.

Allow the cake to cool and then apply a thick layer of your favorite frosting.

Tips for Making Easy Turtle Cake

• Unwrap caramels before beginning the recipe – I always underestimate how long this step will take
• Stir caramels continuous while melting to avoid burning in the pan
• When cake is done baking cover with plastic wrap or use a tightly fitting lid to hold in moisture
• Use a coconut pecan or chocolate frosting to give your cake a different finish
• Sprinkle extra pecans on top if desired

Other Easy Cakes from a Box Mix

• Easy Pistachio Pudding Cake
• Sweet Potato Honey Bun Cake
• Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cake
• Sweet Potato Dump Cake
• Easy Devil’s Food Cake Cookies

Printable Turtle Cake from a Box Mix Recipe

Originally shared on June 25, 2019 with pictures updated on February 19, 2023.