I will forever associate this amazing Turtle Cake with birthday celebrations. It used to make an appearance every now and then at the office many years ago, honoring some lucky employee on their special day. But sadly, that tradition ended quite some time ago, and I haven’t had the cake since.
I did find the recipe on the website of the cake’s maker, Cafe Latté, however. I printed it out a long time ago, filed it away with all my other recipes to try “some day”, but secretly wondered if I would ever really make it. I was hesitant. I mean, what if my own version wasn’t as wonderful as my memory was recalling?
Then, as I was searching for something extra special and super decadent to celebrate my first blogiversary – yep, one year!! – this recipe kept nagging at me from the pile of chocolatey choices. I knew it was the proper moment in time.
Time to make a turtle cake!
The recipe went off without a hitch and was really rather simple to assemble. I can say the cake was downright FUN to put together! Blake even found me in the kitchen, laughing at the sinfulness I was concocting.
And the taste? It was every bit as evil as I remembered. Gorgeously lofty, with three layers of dark chocolate cake, smothered with rich fudgy frosting, creamy caramel, and crispy salted pecans…ooohhhhhhh, baby! Come to Mama!
It was the perfect decadence to celebrate my first blogiversary.
I’m not in the mood for sentimental and sappy right now.
I only wish to revel in the amazingness of the past year.
And to THANK YOU for being a part of it.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Now, go eat some cake!
Turtle Cake
Ingredients
for the cake:
- 1 large egg
- ⅔ c. vegetable oil
- 1 c. buttermilk
- 2 c. flour
- 1.75 c. sugar
- ½ c. good quality cocoa
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 T. baking soda
- 1 c. hot coffee
for the frosting:
- ½ c. milk
- 1 c. sugar
- 6 T. unsalted butter
- 2 c. good quality semisweet chocolate chips I like Guittard!
- ¾ c. caramel I used my favorite caramel from a jar, by Tastefully Simple.
- 1.5 c. toasted and salted pecans I like the ones from Trader Joe’s.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease three 9″ round cake pans. Cover each bottom with a disk of parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine egg, oil, and buttermilk. In a separate large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add wet ingredients to dry until well mixed. Slowly add the hot coffee. Divide batter evenly into prepared pans. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cakes rest in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
- To make the frosting, mix milk and sugar in a saucepan. Add butter. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Remove from heat. Add chocolate chips to the pan. Using a wire whisk, mix until smooth. If frosting is too thick or grainy, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of hot coffee.
- To assemble the cake, place one cooled cake layer, top side down, on a cake plate. Spread with one-third of the frosting, pushing it out gently from the edges to make a petal effect. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup pecans, drizzle with 1/4 cup caramel. Add next cake layer, again top side down. Repeat with the same measurements of frosting, pecans, and caramel. Add final cake layer, top side up, and frost with petal effect and finish with remaining pecans and caramel.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
I’m connecting this memory evoking cake to “forgotten finds”, a challenge set forth by Amber of Bluebonnets and Brownies and Maggy of Three Many Cooks. Please click on their links to find out more about their desire to actually make all those recipes we’ve snipped, flagged, and saved over the years!
OMGosh! This looks simply scrumptious!!! Happy blog birthday. Wishing you many more :)
Hi Renee! Thank you so very much!
It’s a little late, but happy anniversary! What an accomplishment! The cake looks to-die-for!
Thank you, Stephanie!
Whoah! Such a scrumptious gorgeous cake! Perfect way to celebrate, happy blogiversary!
Thank you, Maria. :)
Wow! Now that is one gorgeous cake. Happy one year blogiversary and thanks for sharing this mouthwatering recipe! I’m so happy to have found your blog and am looking forward to exploring your recipes. :) – Georgia
Hi Georgia – thank you so much! I’m so glad you left a comment – nice to meet you. Your blog is beautiful!
The cake looked amazing. My fear is mine would look like a lopsided version of this! It sounds so very good!! Great for a party. Putting it on my list…
Thank you so much. You really should give it a try. It came together so nicely.
Happy anniversary for your blog! This cake looks like the perfect way to celebrate!!!
Thank you, dear Robyn!
That picture is GORGEOUS! love love love
Yummy and CONGRATS!
thank you, thank you, thank you, Rachel!
I can’t stop staring at all the caramel and chocolate oozing out of that cake. What a way to celebrate! Happy Blogaversary Brenda.
Thank you so very much, Sylvie.
That looks absolutley gorgeous! And very calorific as well! But it looks great and really fun to make! Another blog for me to save and come back to to bake in the summer!
Hi Harriet – thank you!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!! Your blog has become such a beautiful spot to visit. GORGEOUS photos and delicious recipes. Congratulations on hitting the one year mark & here’s to MANY more.
Thank you, thank you, sweet Kim! What a lovely and much appreciated comment. I have enjoyed getting to know you!
that looks heavenly!
Thank you very much, Beverly!
What a delicious way to celebrate your blog anniversary. Congratulations on a fantastic year and looking forward to many more.
I made your Gramma’s Brownies and frosted them with Savory Sweet Life’s Chocolate Buttercream Frosting. Your Gramma’s brownies are delicious on their own and with the frosting they are doubly delicious! Thanks for sharing the family recipe.
Thank you, Paula – it’s been so wonderful getting to know you. You’re a gem. Upon your recommendation last week, I made those brownies again with that frosting. SPECTACULAR!!! The frosting is fab – thanks for sharing!
Happy Blogiversary!! I’m so excited to count you as a friend, Brenda. And that cake seems like the most perfect way possible to celebrate your special day. Thanks so much for linking into Forgotten Finds! You’re our first!
Thank you, Amber! I feel the same way about getting to know you. I’m sure I’ll come up with more Forgotten Finds for you!!
What a gorgeous cake, Brenda! Happy blogiversary!
Thank you – so nice to hear from you, Amy. I’ve been enjoying getting to know you – and we saw eachother 2x this past week!! :)
wow — a whole year! Congrats Brenda :)
Oh, and that cake looks absolutely delicious!
Great to hear from you, Andrea! You’re one of the great things that has happened to me this past year – I’m so glad to know you!!
This looks scrumptious! I want some!! Happy 1st anniversary, dear daughter!
Thanks, Mom – you would LOVE this. I promise!!
Congratulations on your weblog anniversary! Thinking about trying this; could you re-check how much buttermilk there is?? It is listed twice.
Thank you so much! I’ve made the change, it’s correct now – thanks for letting me know!
Congratulations on your anniversary, Brenda! How wonderful! Also, very excited to make that cake — it’s one of my favorites in the cities. You don’t happen to have Cafe Latte’s recipe for their Tres Leche? I’ve been searching for that one.
Have a great weekend!
Thanks, Laurie! I have looked for the Tres Leche one, too, but haven’t come across it. I am half-way done making a Tres Leche cake as of this afternoon, though. I’ll finish it up tomorrow. Will let you know if it’s a keeper. Was great to see you again this past week!
That is one amazing looking cake! I love that the frosting is oozing all over the place. Congrats on your one year!
Thank you, Christina. It honestly was so fun to make – I can’t wait for a celebratory reason to make it again!
That cake looks amazing! Congratulations on your blogiversary!
Thank you so much, Katie!