This Chocolate Turtle Poke Cake is simple to make with a cake mix. It's a delicious chocolate cake with holes poked in and caramel poured over that, then frosted with chocolate icing, topped with pecans and chocolate chips. Yum!
The kids are out of school all week for the Thanksgiving holiday, so we came to Alabama to visit family for a few days. I think it's wonderful that the children get 9 whole days off! Not having to wake up at 6 am for a few days is just fine with me. Plus, I love visiting my relatives.
One of the nice things about having a blog as your full time job is that you can make your own schedule. I can also blog while I'm out of town and that's what I'm doing today.
Since I'm always baking sweet treats, of course I wanted to bring something yummy to share with my family. I wanted something extra special that would also travel well.
Enter Chocolate Turtle Poke Cake. It's so ooey, gooey good! If you're a fan of chocolate turtles, then you will love this cake. Plus, it's very simple to make using the Caramel Flavored Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk. (Note: If you can't find the seasonal flavor of the Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk, you can substitute 1 cup of caramel flavored syrup, found in the ice cream section of your grocer.)
"Caramel Flavored and Chocolate Flavored Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk are limited-edition seasonal flavors which make great shortcuts while you’re baking delicious holiday favorites for your friends and family. Both the chocolate and caramel varieties of sweetened condensed milk bring the rich, creamy texture to holiday recipes that the entire family will love. Try them now, because just like the holidays, they’re here only for a short time."
Chocolate Turtle Poke Cake starts with an easy chocolate cake mix prepared according to package instructions. Then you poke holes in the top with a wooden spoon handle. Pour caramel flavored sweetened condensed milk over the cake and spread all around. Refrigerate for an hour. Then frost with chocolate frosting and sprinkle with pecans and mini chocolate chips.
This is a great dessert to serve your guests at a holiday party. It's sure to please all of those chocolate lovers in your life. It also looks impressive although you can whip it up in no time.
Caramel is something that's usually a bit tricky to make from scratch, but don't worry, you can use Eagle Brand Caramel Flavored Sweetened Condensed Milk right out of the can. No stirring over a hot stove and messing with a candy thermometer.
But it's a limited edition item, so make sure you try some during the holidays before it's gone! It also comes in Chocolate for a limited time only.
"The two new flavors provide the same quality that Eagle Brand consumers have trusted for over 150 years."
Making this cake couldn't be easier. Start by mixing up your favorite chocolate cake mix (I used my Kitchenaid mixer) and bake as directed in a greased 13" x 9" baking pan.
Click below to order either the Kitchenaid Mixer or 13" x 9" Wilton Baking Pan on Amazon (affiliate):
I baked mine for about 35 minutes. Let it cool slightly, then use the handle of a wooden spoon to punch holes all over the cake. That's the fun part! It brings out the kid in me and makes me feel like it's something I'm not supposed to do. Didn't your mom ever tell you you're not supposed to punch holes in your cake with your spoon! Punch away! (You could also use a straw to punch smaller holes.)
Click below to order the wooden spoon on Amazon (affiliate):
Next, pour a can of Eagle Brand Caramel Flavored Sweetened Condensed Milk over the cake (or caramel syrup if you can't find the seasonal Eagle Brand). Spread evenly, so the caramel gets into all of the holes. Put it in the refrigerator to chill for about an hour.
Frost with store bought chocolate frosting.
Add chopped pecans, mini chocolate chips and drizzle more caramel syrup on top.
It's ready to serve!
Once you slice it and place on a plate, you can drizzle more caramel syrup down the sides for dramatic effect. Who can resist caramel dripping down the side of your chocolate cake!
With chocolate, caramel and pecans, you can't go wrong! Try Chocolate Turtle Poke Cake at your next holiday party.
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Chocolate Turtle Poke Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box chocolate cake mix, prepared according to package instructions 15.25 oz
- 14 ounces Eagle Brand Caramel Flavored Sweetened Condensed Milk*
- 16 ounces store bought chocolate frosting
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- Store bought caramel syrup for drizzling on top of cake
Instructions
- Bake cake according to package instructions. Let cool for 10 minutes. Punch holes in top of cake using the handle of a wooden spoon.
- Pour can of Eagle Brand Caramel Flavored Sweetened Condensed Milk over the top of cake. Spread to make sure it gets into all of the holes. Put cake in refrigerator for 1 hour. Frost cake with chocolate frosting. Add nuts and chocolate chips on top. Drizzle with caramel syrup. Slice and serve. Store covered in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
Nutrition
Linda says
You can get condensed milk and also a caramel in the UK made by Carnation. They also have a chocolate type in same sort of tin which I have used as a cake covering, all of these products are great.
Erica says
Buy cans of REGULAR sweetened condensed milk, take the paper wrapper off and boil WHOLE cans for 3.5 hours. Boiling water steams away quickly so make sure water stays well over the tops of the cans. After 3.5 hours, let cans completely cool before opening can. Mix with wish or fork. I've opened it too early and the caramel oozed out. It'll be the easier, most delicious caramel sauce EVER!! I just boiled three cans tonight!!
Mom Loves Baking says
Hi Erica, That is a terrific method for making caramel, but I wouldn't recommend it for this cake. The boiled sweetened condensed milk comes out very thick and it won't sink down into the poked holes unless you try to thin it out with cream maybe? I would suggest using the store bought caramel sauce that is more of a liquid consistency for this particular recipe if you can't find the SEASONAL Eagle Brand Caramel. Thank you for you comments.
Carol says
I can't find them, live in southern calif
Mom Loves Baking says
Hi Carol! You can substitute caramel sauce (found in the ice cream topping section) if you can't find the caramel sweetened condensed milk.
LC says
Does caramel gets soaked up by the cake that were in the holes? Or when you cut the cake with a fork, you can see caramel coming out of those holes? Thank you for posting it, definitely will try to make it.
Mom Loves Baking says
The caramel is mostly soaked up by the cake. That's why I like to drizzle extra caramel on to each cake slice you serve on a plate.
Chichi says
Can I use brownie mix instead of cake mix?
Amy Deleon says
You can also open a can of condensed milk, pull off the outside paper. Open with a can opener. Puqt it in a slow cooker over night. Fill your small slow cooker to the rim but not over fill and let it cook slowly. 6 hours should be enough. It's the same as you buy it in the store ?
Joan says
OK...I'm going to have to make this for a pot luck, reunions, B-B-Q's, you name it!
Oh, here's an addition to making your own caramel with the condensed milk.....on gal said she makes at least 5 or 6 at a time! Sure saves Time in the long run. She used for a lot of things
This looks Great too! So...THANX for the recipe again!
Amie says
The caramel sweetened condensed milk is seasonal. You can only find it close to fall time last I checked.
Mary Neveln says
I use Mrs. Richardson's caramel ice cream topping (in the jar) for my poke cake. I also add a dab of Cool Whip on each piece when serving it.
Kim says
One of the best desserts I have ever made at home! It was so nice to get the gooey-ness from the caramel and chocolate while also getting that light, fluffy factor from the cake. The pecans and chocolate chips also added a good crunch to the dessert also. I have to admit I found myself struggling to stop eating it! Thank you for the recipe!
Mom Loves Baking says
Thanks, Kim! I'm so glad you liked it! 🙂
Matthew Banda says
baking this right now for my mothers birthday! Excited
Diana says
This is one of the best cakes I have ever made and my family loves it. It is easy to make and who doesn't love chocolate and caramel? This will be added to my recipe book under "favorites" and since the book has been passed down through my family it will be passed to my daughter and so forth and so on so as I see it the Chocolate Turtle Poke Cake recipe shall live on forever! Thanks for sharing it otherwise I would have gone through the rest of my life without ever enjoying all that gooey chocolate and caramel!
Dianne says
I made this today for dinner with some of my high school girlfriends (we are in our 60s). It was a hit. Everyone loved it.
Jenj says
I mix a can of the condensed sweetened milk & 6-8 oz of caramel syrup in a saucepan & heat on lowest temp possible while I the cake bake (make sure you stir it frequently so it doesn't scorch). I usually heat it was he last ten minutes of baking. Then remove it from heat after you pull cake outta oven (while its resting for 10-min). This allows the sauce to thicken just enough (just as good as eagle brand caramel flavor). If a receipe calls for one can of flavored sweetened milk then mix half a can of sweetened milk & 8oz of caramel sauce. I used the whole can of milk for this receipe and 6 oz of caramel sauce just cuz I like the cake to be moist!!!! Just a lil tip...hopefully its useful!!!!
Babz. U.K. says
If the Eagle brand is not available, I'm pretty sure the brand Nestle is known for condensed milk and caramel. By the time one simmers the condensed milk to make caramel, it would probably cost more! Have never tried 'poke' cake,( I believe to be called) 'pokay'? Shall make a chocolate/ caramel and lemon blueberry. Love the recipes!