Texas Turtle Sheet Cake Recipe

Texas Turtle Sheet Cake Recipe

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This Texas Turtle Sheet Cake is a decadent dessert that combines the rich flavors of chocolate, caramel, and pecans. It’s a large, shareable cake perfect for potlucks, parties, or any occasion that calls for a sweet treat.  

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour  
  • 2 cups granulated sugar  
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda  
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder  
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs  
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract  
  • 1 cup hot coffee

For the Frosting:

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter  
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

For the Topping:

  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 jar (12 ounces) caramel sauce

Instructions:

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 13×18 inch baking sheet.  
  2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder.
  3. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract.
  4. Mix Batter: Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Stir in the hot coffee. The batter will be thin.
  5. Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  6. Make the Frosting: While the cake is baking, prepare the frosting. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the cocoa powder and milk, and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat.  
  7. Add Sugar and Vanilla: Gradually whisk in the powdered sugar until smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract and salt.
  8. Frost the Cake: Immediately pour the frosting over the hot cake and spread evenly.
  9. Add Toppings: Sprinkle the chopped pecans over the frosting. Drizzle the caramel sauce over the pecans.
  10. Cool and Serve: Let the cake cool completely before cutting into squares and serving.

Tips and Notes:

  • Cake Batter: The cake batter is intentionally thin, which contributes to the moist texture of the cake.  
  • Frosting Consistency: If the frosting is too thick, add a little more milk to thin it out. If it’s too thin, simmer it longer to reduce.
  • Pecan Variations: You can use other nuts like walnuts or almonds instead of pecans.
  • Caramel Variations: You can use homemade caramel sauce instead of store-bought.  
  • Make Ahead: You can bake the cake and make the frosting ahead of time and store them separately. Assemble and frost the cake just before serving.
  • Storage: Store any leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

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