Back for Seconds

Recipes you can't resist!

  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Work with Back For Seconds!
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • The Cookbook
  • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Dessert / Cake / Turtle Poke Cake

Turtle Poke Cake

June 7, 2015 by Stephanie Brubaker 39 Comments

Sharing is caring!

21.3K shares
  • Share280
  • Tweet3
  • Reddit
  • Yummly
  • Email

Turtle Poke Cake

Print recipe
  • Print with main photo
  • Print text only
Turtle Poke Cake
Serves 24
Prep time 30 minutes
Cook time 20 minutes
Total time 50 minutes
This Turtle Poke Cake is seriously the best cake ever!! Moist chocolate cake is filled with gooey caramel, and topped with chocolate ganache and pecans! YUM!

Ingredients

Cake

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
  • 1/4 cup oil
  • 1 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup hot water
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 3/4 cups buttermilk

Filling

  • 2 cups caramel sauce (divided)

Topping

  • 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup cream (or milk)
  • 24 pecan halves (or 1/2 cup chopped pecans)

Directions

Cake
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, oil, and sugar. Add the cocoa and mix well. Add salt and eggs, one at a time, until well incorporated. Mix in the water. Gradually add in the baking soda, baking powder, and flour until combined. Slowly pour in the buttermilk as you mix on low and mix until fully incorporated.
Grease a 9x13" pan and pour batter evenly into pan. Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs (no batter should be seen.)
Filling
Step 2
As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, poke holes all over it using a large fork, and pour 1 3/4 cups of the caramel all over the cake. Allow to cool completely.
Topping
Step 3
In a glass bowl heat the milk until simmering - about 60-90 seconds. Pour chocolate chips into milk and allow to sit for 2 minutes, then stir constantly until melted and smooth. Spread over cooled cake, cover and chill.
When ganache has set up, drizzle cake with remaining caramel and cut cake into 24 pieces. Top each piece with a pecan (or sprinkle with chopped pecans).
Store cake covered, in the refrigerator.
Pages: 1 2

Sharing is caring!

21.3K shares
  • Share280
  • Tweet3
  • Reddit
  • Yummly
  • Email

Filed Under: Cake, Dessert Tagged With: best ever chocolate cake from scratch, easy turtle cake recipe, moist chocolate caramel cake recipe, turtle poke cake recipe

« Chewy Brownie Cookies with M&M’s
No-Bake Pineapple Coconut Cookies »

Comments

  1. Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures says

    June 19, 2015 at 8:55 am

    So decadent!

    Reply
  2. Sue C says

    June 14, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    What kind of caramel did you use? Is caramel ice cream topping ok to use?

    Reply
    • Stephanie Brubaker says

      June 15, 2015 at 7:34 am

      Yes, caramel ice cream topping is perfect 🙂 Enjoy!

      Reply
  3. Sinea Pies says

    June 11, 2015 at 9:48 pm

    Wow this cake looks AMAZING! Pinned it twice 🙂
    Hey, tomorrow I am re=running my Cupcakes On Parade post that includes one of your delicious cupcake recipes. A little “blast from the past:

    Reply
  4. Melanie says

    June 11, 2015 at 10:10 am

    Oh good grief there goes my diet. This is a bit of art in sugar form. Dying over here.

    Reply
  5. Angie | Big Bear's Wife says

    June 11, 2015 at 7:39 am

    Mmm poke cake is so good!! I just started making these last year and I love them! Oh my gosh and YES, turtles are amazing! There isn’t much better than chocolate, caramel and pecans together!

    Reply
  6. Amanda @ The Kitcheneer says

    June 10, 2015 at 5:08 pm

    This cake looks absolutely delicious! Then you added caramel and I licked my screen…

    Reply
  7. Rose | The Clean Dish says

    June 9, 2015 at 8:14 pm

    Wait – it took you 10 minutes to take these gorgeous photos? I must be doing something wrong lol!! Or perhaps I should gather some hungry kids when I photograph – that might speed up the process 😉 This cake looks sooo yummy!

    Reply
  8. Cookin Canuck says

    June 9, 2015 at 5:08 pm

    I adored turtles (the candy!), so can only imagine how good this cake must taste. I’m bookmarking this for our next bbq potluck.

    Reply
  9. Andi @ The Weary Chef says

    June 9, 2015 at 10:53 am

    Oh my WORD this looks amazing! I wish I had a big ol’ piece with my coffee right now!

    Reply
  10. Ginny McMeans says

    June 9, 2015 at 10:21 am

    Great idea to turn a turtle into a poke cake. Sounds fantastic!

    Reply
  11. The Food Hunter says

    June 9, 2015 at 9:38 am

    holes filled with caramel sounds wonderful

    Reply
  12. Trish - Mom On Timeout says

    June 9, 2015 at 8:55 am

    Yes please! All my favorites right here Stephanie! Love a good poke cake 🙂

    Reply
  13. Lora @cakeduchess says

    June 9, 2015 at 6:23 am

    Poke cakes are so retro and so cool! I know that turtle desserts can create such excitement…something about all that gooey caramel!!

    Reply
  14. Des @ Life's Ambrosia says

    June 8, 2015 at 11:58 pm

    This looks absolutely heavenly! I want a slice right now!

    Reply
  15. foodwanderings says

    June 8, 2015 at 9:45 pm

    You know what?! I never understood what’s turtle cake? I guess it’s because I didn’t grow up here. If I understand correctly it’s the pecans?! Cool. Cool!

    Reply
  16. Meg @ The Housewife in Training Files says

    June 8, 2015 at 7:51 pm

    As a preggo with not many food cravings, THIS is definitely one of them now! Oh my word. That cake drenched in caramel? I can’t even stand it….Pinned!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Brubaker says

      June 8, 2015 at 8:46 pm

      I’m in the same boat, but this cake was goooooood 😉 thanks for the pin!

      Reply
  17. Julianne @ Beyond Frosting says

    June 8, 2015 at 6:53 pm

    Umm yes! This is my kinda poke cake!

    Reply
  18. Cynthia/What A Girl Eats says

    June 8, 2015 at 6:22 pm

    turtles are my weakness! Chocolate/caramel and nuts are a winning combination!

    Reply
  19. Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says

    June 8, 2015 at 4:04 pm

    This is PERFECTION. Everyone loves Turtles! And I love it in poke cake form! Pinned 🙂

    Reply
  20. Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel says

    June 8, 2015 at 3:49 pm

    Wow, does this ever look good! Love how caramely it is!

    Reply
  21. Jerry says

    June 8, 2015 at 2:41 pm

    You had me at poke cake, but adding caramel just put it well over the top. Now I’m craving cake. I blame you.

    Reply
  22. amanda @ fake ginger says

    June 8, 2015 at 12:49 pm

    I am obsessed with poke cakes AND turtles. I need this in my life!

    Reply
  23. Marilyn says

    June 8, 2015 at 11:22 am

    Couldn’t you use a choco box cake instead of making your own?

    Reply
    • Stephanie Brubaker says

      June 8, 2015 at 11:44 am

      Yes you could. I prefer to bake from scratch, but either way would work! Enjoy, Marilyn 🙂

      Reply
  24. heather @french press says

    June 8, 2015 at 11:19 am

    turtles are like the best things EVER – ans so I’m sure this is the BEST poke cake ever – because chocolate and caramel how can it not be

    Reply
  25. Martha @ A Family Feast says

    June 8, 2015 at 10:38 am

    This is one of those times where I wish I could reach into my computer monitor and grab a piece! Yum!

    Reply
  26. Faith (An Edible Mosaic) says

    June 8, 2015 at 9:47 am

    Oh heck yes! Turtles are like the best flavor combo ever and I bet this cake is melt-in-your-mouth amazing! And would you believe I’ve never made a poke cake? I need to get on this!

    Reply
  27. Levan @ MyWifeMakes.com says

    June 8, 2015 at 9:41 am

    LOVE the name of this cake and the way it looks. Look at that delicious oozing topping! Amazing stuff! 🙂

    Reply
  28. Kacey @ The Cookie Writer says

    June 8, 2015 at 9:38 am

    Okay, so I am still friend’s with my manager (well, I guess ex-manager since I have not worked in years!) and her favourite dessert are Turtles. Totally inspired me for her birthday at the end of the month!

    Reply
  29. Sara @ Bitz & Giggles says

    June 8, 2015 at 8:41 am

    I heart poke cakes and this one looks sweet, gooey and delicious – just perfect. You’re making me hungry this morning for sure!

    Reply
  30. Judy@ImBoredLetsGo says

    June 8, 2015 at 8:08 am

    Oh so yummy looking! Now I’m craving cake, this cake!

    Reply
  31. Lee - Fit Foodie Finds says

    June 8, 2015 at 8:08 am

    Can you believe I’ve never had poke cake?!?! This looks so fab!

    Reply
  32. Amy @ A Healthy Life For Me says

    June 8, 2015 at 8:03 am

    I can imagine it is one of the best, it looks incredible. Can’t wait to enjoy it here at home!

    Reply
  33. Medeja says

    June 8, 2015 at 3:38 am

    I can imagine this cake is very sweet.. and very good!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 25 Dreamy Pudding Poke Cakes You Shouldn’t Live Without! – Cookie, Brownie & Chocolate Obsessed The Baking ChocolaTess – Cookie, Brownie & Chocolate Obsessed! says:
    August 27, 2020 at 3:22 pm

    […]  Turtle Poke Cake @ Back for […]

    Reply
  2. Poke Cakes You've Just Got to Make! - The Best Yummy Recipes | Cooking Techniques Tips&Tricks says:
    August 4, 2020 at 4:09 pm

    […] This Turtle Poke Cake is seriously the best cake ever!! Moist chocolate cake, made from scratch, is filled with gooey caramel, and topped with chocolate ganache and pecans! YUM! Recipe HERE.&l… […]

    Reply
  3. Poke Cakes You've Just Got to Make! - The Best Sea Recipes | Cooking Techniques Tips&Tricks says:
    July 27, 2020 at 12:54 am

    […] This Turtle Poke Cake is seriously the best cake ever!! Moist chocolate cake, made from scratch, is filled with gooey caramel, and topped with chocolate ganache and pecans! YUM! Recipe HERE.&l… […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Please follow & like us :)

RSS
Follow by Email
Facebook
Facebook
Pinterest
Pinterest
fb-share-icon
Instagram
Twitter
Visit Us
Follow Me
GET NEW RECIPES BY EMAIL

Search the Site

Welcome…

Welcome to BackForSeconds

Welcome! I'm Stephanie. Recipe developer, baker, photographer, and author here on Back For Seconds.

Read more →

Visit Back For Seconds's profile on Pinterest.

This Cookbook Makes a Great Gift!

This Cookbook Makes a Great Gift!

Copyright © 2023 Back For Seconds