The most delectable, decadent dessert ever! Our delicious chocolate Turtle Poke Cake recipe is fast, easy, and totally FABULOUS!
Trust me when I tell you: This Turtle Poke Cake is overwhelmingly irresistible to eat and ridiculously easy to make! Moist, rich (box mix!) chocolate cake, drizzled with caramel condensed milk, covered in chocolate frosting and topped with pecans, turtle candies, and more caramel – if this cake doesn’t satisfy your sweet tooth, nothing will!
Poke Cakes are Restaurant-Quality Spectacular!
If you aren’t familiar with poke cakes, they are simply cakes with holes poked in them after baking, then a liquid like caramel sauce, condensed milk, flavored syrup, etc., is drizzled over the top, soaking deep into the cake. Poke cakes are quick and straightforward, but the result is a fantastically flavorful cake that tastes like you spent hours making it…instead of the 10 minutes you actually spent!
In addition, this Turtle Poke Cake recipe features soft cake, gooey caramel, creamy frosting, and crunchy pecans, bringing together the best flavors and textures in every bite!
Other Tempting Turtle Recipes
- Slow Cooker Chocolate Turtles are the easiest homemade candy! This recipe only has five ingredients!
- If you love the caramel pecan combo as much as I do, you’ll flip for this Turtle Pumpkin Cheesecake!
Ingredients
Cake: A simple boxed Chocolate Cake Mix is terrific! You’ll also need the ingredients required to make the cake (usually oil and eggs).
Drizzle: We’re using dulce de leche for this poke cake! (You can combine regular sweetened condensed milk and caramel syrup for the same effect.)
Frosting: A can of your favorite Chocolate Frosting ices this cake perfectly!
Toppings: Chopped Pecans and Turtle Candies are crumbled on top of this cake for crunchy, chocolately, caramel goodness!
How to Make a Turtle Poke Cake
STEP ONE: Follow the instructions on the box to make the chocolate cake with the listed ingredients. Pour the batter into a greased 9×13 baking dish.
STEP TWO: Bake in a 350°F oven for the time stated on the box (about 30 minutes). Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely. Then use a fork or the back of a wooden spoon to poke holes across the entire top of the cake.
STEP THREE: Pour the dulce de leche all over the top of the cake, saving a little for later. Use a knife or spatula to spread the caramel evenly across the cake, then refrigerate for 1 hour.
STEP FOUR: Remove the cake from the fridge and spread the chocolate frosting over it. Sprinkle the chopped Turtles and pecans over the top of the cake. Drizzle with the remaining dulce de leche. Cut into squares and share with your favorite people!
Tips for Success
- We recommend leaving this poke cake in the baking pan. However, if you want to move it to a cake plate or platter, do so before poking holes in it.
- Poke cakes are intended to be chilled, so store your cake, well-covered, in the refrigerator.
- Whipping the store-bought frosting makes it lighter, fluffier, and easier to spread.
- A Devil’s Food Chocolate cake mix can substitute for the regular chocolate.
- Sprinkle a little sea salt over the top for salted caramel goodness!
- Almonds or walnuts can also substitute for the pecans, if you like.
Why is My Poke Cake Soggy?
If your poke cake turned out a bit soggy on the bottom, no worries – it will still taste amazing! The issue could be too many holes in the cake, too-big holes, or – and this is probably the case – holes that went too deep into the cake. Ideally, you should poke the holes with a salad fork and only press down into the cake as deep as the tines – about one inch or so.
What is the Best Way to Store a Turtle Poke Cake?
Poke Cakes, of all varieties, should be stored in the fridge. Cover well with plastic wrap (I add a layer of foil on top of the plastic wrap), and your Turtle Poke Cake will stay fresh and delicious for 5-6 days.
Additionally, if you wrap it airtight (again with the plastic, then the foil), a poke cake can be frozen for up to 3 months! Thaw in the fridge overnight before serving. Enjoy!
Other Impressive Poke Cake Recipes!
- Lemon Poke Cake
- Oreo Poke Cake
- RumChata Poke Cake
- Boston Cream Poke Cake
- Toasted Coconut Poke Cake
- Caramel Apple Poke Cake
*This post originally posted on 03/30/2016.
Ingredients
- 1 box chocolate cake mix plus ingredients to prepare listed on box
- 13.4 ounces dulce de leche (1 can)
- 1 tub chocolate frosting (or 2 cups homemade)
- 2 cup pecans chopped
- 1 cup turtle candies chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare the chocolate cake mix according to the package directions. Pour the batter into a greased 9-inch x 13-inch baking dish. Bake for 28-33 minutes.
- Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool completely. Use the back of a wooden spoon to poke holes across the entire top of the cake.
- Pour the dulce de leche over the cake, saving a small amount for topping later. (If needed, heat the dulce de leche in a bowl in the microwave to make it easier to drizzle.) Using a knife, spread the caramel over the cake, making sure it gets in all of the holes.
- Place the cake in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
- Remove the cake from the refrigerator and spread the chocolate frosting over the top of the cake. Sprinkle the top with chopped pecans and chopped turtle candies. Then drizzle the remaining dulce de leche over the top.
- Cut into 12 slices and enjoy!
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