Easy Texas Turtle Sheet Cake
A Texas Turtle Sheet Cake is a delicious dessert featuring a combination of chocolate, caramel, and pecans. Here’s an easy recipe for making this classic Texas treat:
Ingredients:
FOR THE CAKE:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
FOR THE FROSTING:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup milk
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
FOR THE TOPPING:
- 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
- 1 cup caramel sauce
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Make the Cake:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
- Prepare the Butter Mixture:
- In a saucepan, melt 1 cup of butter. Add water and cocoa powder, and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
- Pour the hot butter mixture over the dry ingredients and mix until well combined.
- Add Eggs and Buttermilk:
- Add the lightly beaten eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract to the batter. Mix until smooth.
- Bake:
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Make the Frosting:
- In the last few minutes of baking, prepare the frosting. In a saucepan, melt 1/2 cup of butter. Stir in cocoa powder and milk. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Combine with Powdered Sugar:
- Remove the saucepan from heat and whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
- Frost the Cake:
- Immediately pour the warm frosting over the hot cake as soon as it comes out of the oven. Spread the frosting evenly.
- Top with Pecans and Caramel:
- Sprinkle chopped pecans evenly over the frosting. Drizzle caramel sauce on top.
- Cool and Serve:
- Allow the cake to cool completely before cutting it into squares and serving.
This Texas Turtle Sheet Cake is a delightful combination of moist chocolate cake, rich chocolate frosting, pecans, and gooey caramel. It’s a perfect dessert for any occasion, and its easy preparation makes it a great choice for potlucks or family gatherings. Enjoy!