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Turtle Poke Cake

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Turtle Poke Cake is a decadent chocolate cake filled with a caramel and condensed milk mixture and topped with chocolate frosting, chopped pecans and mini chocolate chips.

Turtle Poke Cake is a decadent chocolate cake filled with a caramel and condensed milk mixture and topped with chocolate frosting, chopped pecans and mini chocolate chips.



Turtle poke cake is an easy dessert recipe using boxed chocolate cake mix and store bought chocolate frosting.

Turtle Poke Cake is a decadent chocolate cake filled with a caramel and condensed milk mixture and topped with chocolate frosting, chopped pecans and mini chocolate chips.

This caramel chocolate cake with pecans is perfect for serving at parties and holiday gatherings.

Turtle Poke Cake is a decadent chocolate cake filled with a caramel and condensed milk mixture and topped with chocolate frosting, chopped pecans and mini chocolate chips.

This turtle cake takes about two hours to prepare including one hour of chill time in the fridge.

Turtle Poke Cake is a decadent chocolate cake filled with a caramel and condensed milk mixture and topped with chocolate frosting, chopped pecans and mini chocolate chips.

Printable Recipe Card with a Full List of Ingredients and Instructions is Located at the Bottom of the Post.

Be sure to read through the entire post so that you don’t miss out on any important tips and tricks!

To make this chocolate caramel dessert, I started by preparing a 9 x 13 inch chocolate cake according to the package directions.

9 x 13 inch chocolate cake

I set the cake aside to cool completely.

I poured some caramel sauce and condensed milk into a mixing  bowl.

caramel topping and condensed milk in a mixing bowl

I stirred until the caramel and condensed milk were fully combined.

caramel and condensed milk mixture in a mixing bowl

I used the handle of a wooden spoon to poke rows of holes in the cake.

holes poked in chocolate cake in pan

I poured the caramel and condensed milk mixture over the cake and spread it to fill the holes evenly.

caramel and condensed milk mixture poured over chocolate cake in pan

I placed the cake in the refrigerator to chill for an hour.

I transferred the store bought chocolate frosting to a mixing bowl.

store bought chocolate frosting in a bowl

I used an electric mixer to whip the frosting until light and fluffy.

whipped chocolate frosting in a bowl

I frosted the cake with the prepared frosting.

chocolate frosting on top of chocolate cake

I drizzled some caramel sauce over the frosting.

caramel sauce drizzled over frosted chocolate cake

I sprinkled some chopped pecans and mini chocolate chips on top.

Turtle Poke Cake is a decadent chocolate cake filled with a caramel and condensed milk mixture and topped with chocolate frosting, chopped pecans and mini chocolate chips.

I drizzled more caramel sauce over the cake.

Turtle Poke Cake is a decadent chocolate cake filled with a caramel and condensed milk mixture and topped with chocolate frosting, chopped pecans and mini chocolate chips.

Then the moist and rich chocolate caramel cake was ready to slice and serve.

Turtle Poke Cake is a decadent chocolate cake filled with a caramel and condensed milk mixture and topped with chocolate frosting, chopped pecans and mini chocolate chips.

This decadent cake has all the flavours of Turtles chocolates.

Turtle Poke Cake is a decadent chocolate cake filled with a caramel and condensed milk mixture and topped with chocolate frosting, chopped pecans and mini chocolate chips.

This poke cake serves up to fifteen people and is perfect for parties.

Turtle Poke Cake is a decadent chocolate cake filled with a caramel and condensed milk mixture and topped with chocolate frosting, chopped pecans and mini chocolate chips.

If you are looking for a moist and gooey chocolate cake recipe, then you need to try this Turtle Poke Cake!

Turtle Poke Cake is a decadent chocolate cake filled with a caramel and condensed milk mixture and topped with chocolate frosting, chopped pecans and mini chocolate chips.

More Cake Recipes You’ll Love…

PRINTABLE VERSION OF THE RECIPE CAN BE FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make This Turtle Poke Cake:

  • 1 (15.25 ounce) box of chocolate cake mix (plus the ingredients listed on the package)
  • 1 (12-ounce) jar of caramel topping, divided
  • 1 (14-ounce) can of condensed milk
  • 1 (16-ounce) tub of chocolate frosting
  • ¾ cup pecans, roughly chopped
  • ¼ cup mini chocolate chips

How to Make Turtle Poke Cake:

  1. Prepare a 9×13-inch cake based on the package directions. Set the cake aside to cool completely.
  2. Remove ½ cup of caramel topping from the jar and set aside.
  3. Pour the remaining caramel sauce and condensed milk into a large mixing jug or a bowl with a spout. Stir well.
  4. Use a thin, handled wooden spoon or chopstick to poke rows of holes in the cake.
  5. Pour the caramel condensed milk mixture over the top of the cake and spread it to fill the holes evenly.
  6. Chill the cake in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
  7. Beat the tub of frosting with an electric mixer for one minute or until light and fluffy.
  8. Frost the cake with the whipped frosting.
  9. Drizzle ¼ cup of the reserved caramel sauce over the frosting.
  10. Scatter the pecans and chocolate chips over the top of the cake and drizzle with the remaining caramel sauce.
  11. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

FAQS:

How should I store Turtle poke cake?

To store turtle poke cake, follow these steps:

  1. Allow the cake to cool completely.
  2. Cover the cake with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container.
  3. Place the cake in the refrigerator and store it for up to 3-4 days.
  4. Before serving, remove the cake from the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature for about 30 minutes.

Can I freeze this poke cake?

Yes, you can freeze turtle poke cake for later use. Here’s how you can freeze the cake:

  1. Allow the cake to cool completely.
  2. Wrap the cake tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
  3. Place the wrapped cake in an airtight container or freezer bag.
  4. Label the container or bag with the date and contents.
  5. Place the container or bag in the freezer.

You can freeze turtle poke cake for up to 2-3 months. When you’re ready to serve the cake, remove it from the freezer and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Once the cake has thawed, you can bring it to room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving.

What substitutions can I make?

Turtle poke cake is a delicious dessert that typically consists of a chocolate cake that has been poked and filled with caramel sauce, topped with whipped cream and chopped pecans. However, you can make several substitutions to the recipe to suit your taste preferences or dietary requirements. Here are some ideas:

  1. Chocolate cake: You can use a different flavour of boxed cake mix or your favorite homemade recipe. You can also use a gluten-free cake mix or substitute some of the flour for almond flour or coconut flour to make it gluten-free.
  2. Caramel sauce: You can make your own caramel sauce instead of store-bought caramel sauce. If you don’t like caramel, you can use chocolate syrup or fruit preserves as a filling.
  3. Pecans: If you don’t like pecans or have a nut allergy, you can use chopped walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts instead. You can also omit the nuts altogether.

Overall, turtle poke cake is a versatile dessert that can be customized to your liking. Feel free to experiment with different flavors and ingredients to create a unique dessert that suits your taste.

Turtle Poke Cake is a decadent chocolate cake filled with a caramel and condensed milk mixture and topped with chocolate frosting, chopped pecans and mini chocolate chips.

Turtle Poke Cake

Yield: 15 servings
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Chill Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 2 hours

Turtle Poke Cake is a decadent chocolate cake filled with a caramel and condensed milk mixture and topped with chocolate frosting, chopped pecans and mini chocolate chips.

Ingredients

  • 1 (15.25 ounce) box of chocolate cake mix (plus the ingredients listed on the package)
  • 1 (12-ounce) jar of caramel topping, divided
  • 1 (14-ounce) can of condensed milk
  • 1 (16-ounce) tub of chocolate frosting
  • ¾ cup pecans, roughly chopped
  • ¼ cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions

    1. Prepare a 9x13-inch cake based on the package directions. Set the cake aside to cool completely.
    2. Remove ½ cup of caramel topping from the jar and set aside.
    3. Pour the remaining caramel sauce and condensed milk into a large mixing jug or a bowl with a spout. Stir well.
    4. Use a thin, handled wooden spoon or chopstick to poke rows of holes in the cake.
    5. Pour the caramel condensed milk mixture over the top of the cake and spread it to fill the holes evenly.
    6. Chill the cake in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
    7. Beat the tub of frosting with an electric mixer for one minute or until light and fluffy.
    8. Frost the cake with the whipped frosting.
    9. Drizzle ¼ cup of the reserved caramel sauce over the frosting.
    10. Scatter the pecans and chocolate chips over the top of the cake and drizzle with the remaining caramel sauce.
    11. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

Notes

  • Store leftovers at room temperature in an airtight container for up to three days. Note the cake will soften the longer it sits, but it is still delicious.
  • Start checking your cake for doneness 5-6 minutes before the bake time listed on the box. I often find the times on the box inaccurate despite my oven being calibrated to the correct temperature.
  • Don’t skip chilling the cake after adding the caramel condensed milk. The chilling allows the flavors time to get to know each other and meld together.
  • Feel free to use your favorite homemade frosting rather than a tub of storebought. If using homemade frosting, you will need two cups.
  • You can substitute the caramel topping for homemade caramel sauce. You will need 1 ½ cups if using homemade caramel. One cup to mix with the condensed milk and ½ cup to top the cake.
  • I recommend cooling the cake completely before adding the caramel condensed milk. If the caramel condensed milk is added while the cake is still warm, it will likely ‘melt’ and become thinner once it hits the warm cake. This will result in the mixture pooling on the bottom of the cake rather than soaking into the cake.
  • Try sprinkling some flakey sea salt over the cake before serving for a salted caramel turtle flavor.
  • This recipe was tested using Duncan Hines dark chocolate fudge cake mix, Smucker’s caramel topping, and Duncan Hines creamy milk chocolate frosting.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 15 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 82Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 32mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 1gSugar: 7gProtein: 1g

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