Special Turtle Cake Food

TURTLE CAKE

Steps:

• For the candied pecans: Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Whisk the sugar, cinnamon and salt together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg white and water together until frothy. Toss the pecans in the egg white mixture, then add the sugar mixture and toss until the pecans are evenly coated. Spread the coated pecans on a baking sheet. Bake, stirring every 15 minutes, until the pecans are evenly browned, 1 hour.
• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cut two 8-inch parchment circles and use to line the bottoms of two 8-inch cake pans.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the four, white sugar, black and Dutch-process cocoa powders, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the buttermilk, brown sugar, oil, vanilla and eggs; beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Whisk in the hot coffee until completely incorporated--the batter will be quite thin.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes, then slide an offset spatula around the edge of the pans and flip out the cakes. Cool on a rack for another 30 minutes.
• For the buttercream: Combine the egg whites and powdered sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed for 5 minutes. (This helps dissolve all the sugar and prevents that grainy texture you often get with American buttercreams.) You will now have what looks like a really runny royal icing. Make sure your butter is soft. Set the mixer to medium and gradually add the butter, scraping down the bowl occasionally. Add the vanilla extract. Beat for 10 minutes on medium. Swirl in the butterscotch caramel.
• For the ganache: Heat the cream in a microwave just until boiling, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour the cream over the chocolate and allow to sit for 1 minute. Stir until the ganache is silky smooth--it look a bit curdled at first but will eventually come together. Leave the ganache on the counter to cool until it has reached the consistency of peanut butter. At this point it is ready to be used to frost the outside of the cake. (Makes 2 cups.)
• To assemble the cake: Remove the parchment paper from the bottoms of cakes. Split the cakes in half horizontally with a serrated knife (to make four layers). Place one layer on a serving platter. Spread a generous 3/4 cup buttercream over the layer to within 1/2 inch of the edge. Sprinkle 3 to 4 tablespoons candied pecans over the buttercream. Place a second cake layer over the first and repeat witht the buttercream and pecans. Continue with a third layer. Top the cake with the final layer and gently frost the outside with ganache.

CHOCOLATE TURTLE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease or spray bottom of 13x9-inch pan.
• Make cake batter as directed on box. Pour half of the batter into pan. Bake 22 minutes. Refrigerate remaining batter.
• Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, heat caramels and evaporated milk over medium heat, stirring frequently, until caramels are melted. Stir in pecans. Pour caramel mixture over warm cake in pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Spread with remaining batter. Bake 25 to 28 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen cake. Cool at least 30 minutes. Serve with ice cream, drizzle with toppings and sprinkle with pecans. Store loosely covered.

TURTLES® CAKE I

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9x13 inch pan.
• Mix cake mix according to package directions. Pour a little less than half of the batter into prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) remove from oven.
• Melt caramels, margarine, and milk in the microwave on high (takes about 10 minutes), stirring a couple times. Or alternately melt in a sauce pan over medium low heat. Pour melted caramel mixture over cake, sprinkle with pecans, and chocolate chips, and pour remaining cake batter over the top.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 20 to 35 minutes.

HEAVENLY TURTLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Mix cake mix per box directions. Pour 1/2 of cake batter into a well greased 13 X 9 pan. Bake until cake begins to pull away from sides of pan (15-20 minutes).
• In a non stick heavy sauce pan, melt butter, caramels and condensed milk until creamy and there are no lumps from candies.
• Add one bag of chocolate chips to the layer of cake in pan, add nuts, then pour on caramel sauce, then top with 2nd bag of chocolate chips and remaining cake batter.
• Return to oven and cook until top layer of cake springs back at touch (about 30 minutes).
• Cool, cut and serve.
• This always taste better if made a day ahead.

TURTLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease and flour a 13 x 9 inch pan.
• Pour half of the prepared cake mix into the pan.
• Bake for 25 minutes.
• In the meantime, place unwrapped caramels in a saucepan.
• Add 1/2 cup evaporated milk.
• Heat on low, stirring until caramels have melted.
• Remove cake from oven and pour melted caramel mixture on top of the cake.
• Sprinkle chopped pecans and chocolate chips on top of caramel layer.
• Press down lightly.
• Pour remaining half of prepared cake mix on top of the filling layer.
• Bake an additional 30 minutes.
• After removing cake from the oven, let the cake cool slightly (approx. 5- 10 minutes).
• Run a knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the cake.
• This is an important step- otherwise you'll have a tough time removing the pieces later!
• Store at room temperature.
• Note: Please see your cake mix box for exact amounts of vegetable oil, water and eggs.

TURTLE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350*.
• Line 13x9 pan with foil and lightly grease the foil.
• In small saucepan, slowly heat caramels and milk stirring until melted.
• Prepare cake.
• Beat on low 1 minute, add butter, beat on hi 2 minutes.
• Spread 1/2 the batter in pan.
• Bake for 13 minutes.
• Pour caramel mix over cake; spread to edges.
• Sprinkle with 1 cup choc chips and 1 cup pecans.
• Spoon remaining batter over; spread to edges.
• Bake for 40 minutes or until cake puffs up around the sides of pan and springs back when touched.
• Set the cake on a wire rack to cool.
• Melt remaining choc chips; spread over cooled cake; sprinkle with remaining pecans.

TURTLE CAKE

Steps:

• Mix cake as directed on package.
• Add in 1/2 cup eagle brand milk.
• Pour 1/2 of batter in a 13X9 pan and bake 10 minutes at 350*.
• Let cool 5 minutes.
• While cake is baking, melt caramels, butter and remainder of milk in double boiler.
• Pour over cool cake and sprinkle with chips and nuts.
• Pour remainder of batter over caramel, bake 25-30 minutes 350F degrees.

TURTLE CAKE FROM SCRATCH

Steps:

• Combine all dry ingredients (except sugar); set aside.
• Beat butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla until fluffy.
• Gradually add flour mixture alternately with milk (not canned milk), just until blended.
• Spread half of the batter in a greased and floured 9x13 pan. bake for 12-14 minutes in a 350°F oven.
• Heat caramels and canned milk. Melt.
• Pour caramel mixture over cake, spreading to the edges.
• Sprinkle with 1 cup of chocolate chips and the 1 cup of the chopped pecans.
• Spoon remaining batter over top, carefully spreading to the edges.
• Bake at 350°F for 35 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt remaining 1 cup of chocolate chips. Spread over cooled cake.
• Sprinkle with the remaining pecans.
• I like to serve this with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping.

CHOCOLATE TURTLE CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare cake mix as directed.
• Pour 1/2 of the batter in a 13x9 inch pan.
• Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
• Remove and let cool.
• In a double boiler, add caramels, milk and butter and stir constantly till melted.
• Pour melted caramel over cooling cake.
• Sprinkle on top 1 cup of pecans& chocolate chips.
• Pour remaining batter on top and bake for an additional 20 minutes.
• Enjoy.