Turtle dump cake is an easy, decadent dessert that is for the serious chocolate caramel lover. Only a few easy ingredients combine in one bowl and then pour into a baking dish. So simple to prepare! Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for one of the best desserts ever.

My two girls are serious chocoholics. It's not unusual to find them cutting open the bags of chocolate chips and eating them in the pantry. They usually do this in the mornings, like really early before anyone else is awake.

They usually do this on the weekend when I "try" to sleep in. I don't know how kids can live off so little sleep! We're in the midst of a sleeping battle at our house right now...... ugh! I need some more of this turtle dump cake to soothe my stress, haha 🙂

But seriously. This turtle dump cake is loaded, and I mean loaded, with all sorts of chocolate goodness. Traditional dump cakes call for a boxed cake mix to be sprinkled over a batter inside the baking dish. Like this pumpkin pie pecan cobbler. This turtle version is a bit different because you combine everything in one bowl and then dump it into the baking dish.

Sprinkle with some pecans and dark chocolate chips and let it bake away. If you want more of a gooey type cake then cook for the minimum time listed in recipe. Serve warm with some vanilla ice cream and dig in. You'll just love how the vanilla ice cream melts into the cake. So good!

The best part of this turtle dump cake dessert is that you only need 6 ingredients! A boxed cake mix, instant pudding, dark chocolate chips, caramel sauce (like the stuff you put on ice cream), pecans, and some milk. Super simple and you can have this in the oven in just about 10 minutes. Maybe 5 if you're super fast 🙂

I am normally not a fan of dark chocolate chips so I was hesitant to use them in this dessert. But I did it anyways and I am so glad I did. With so much other sweetness going on, the dark chocolate really balances everything else out. So please use the dark chocolate chips!

Top each serving with some vanilla ice cream and if wanted, drizzle some of the extra caramel sauce on top and/or some melted chocolate. I just melted some chocolate chips with about a teaspoon of oil in the microwave. The oil helps the chocolate be silky and smooth. Drizzle that over each serving if wanted.

I don't think it needs the chocolate or caramel drizzle because the cake is so rich and moist by itself, but it never hurts to have more 🙂

If you have leftovers simply store covered in the fridge and when you're ready to have another pieces, warm it up in the microwave for a few seconds and then top with ice cream.

If you're not familiar with turtle desserts (think those Turtle candies) they are just a combination of chocolate & caramel and usually with something salty. Like pretzels or in this recipe today, there are chopped pecans. It's basically sweet & salty perfection!

We're in the middle of the Holiday season (yay! 🙂 ) when all people want is decadent desserts. This one is just that. Cozy, comforting, chocolatey, and delicious.

Nutrition

Calories

622 cal

Fat

31 g

Carbs

81 g

Protein

8 g

Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info

Serves 8

{caramel & chocolate} Turtle Dump Cake

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Ingredients

1 small box (3.4 oz) Jell-O Chocolate Instant Pudding Mix
1 1/2 cups whole milk
3/4 cup caramel sauce, divided
1 box (15.25 oz) chocolate fudge cake mix, DO NOT prepare
1 bag dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans

optional drizzle

1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 teaspoon oil (canola, vegetable, coconut)
leftover 1/4 cup caramel sauce

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
In large bowl, stir dry pudding mix and milk with a wire whisk for 2 minutes.
Stir in 1/2 cup of the caramel sauce, the dry cake mix, and 1 cup of the dark chocolate chips. Stir until well blended.
Spread batter evenly in pan. Sprinkle pecans and remaining 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips over top.
Bake 32-38 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out almost clean. It should not be completely cooked like a cake, you want it gooey so to speak.
Scoop up some of the dump cake into a bowl and top with vanilla ice cream. If wanted, drizzle with the remaining caramel sauce and the chocolate sauce.
TO MAKE CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE : combine chocolate chips and oil in a microwave safe bowl and cook for 1-2 minutes or until it is completely melted and smooth.

Notes

I use the caramel ice cream topping. You can use any caramel you want, as long as it's in liquid/melted form. Melt down some caramel squares, etc....

https://togetherasfamily.com/caramel-chocolate-turtle-dump-cake/

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Comments

shirley

March 25, 2018 at 6:55 pm

C an you use a fudge bronie mix, iam am just learning to bake, never had time, now i am retired and can learn

- Together As Family
  
  March 27, 2018 at 11:34 pm
  
  I have never tested this recipe using a brownie mix so I can't say for sure if it would work out. So sorry but I suppose it's always worth trying it out :)
  
  - Jennifer
    
    December 01, 2018 at 11:20 pm
    
    I tried it with brownie mix. It is very dense and moist, but good.
    
Michael W Martin

October 30, 2018 at 2:18 pm

I don't need any eggs?

- Together As Family
  
  November 06, 2018 at 6:51 pm
  
  Nope. Just the recipe ingredients listed.
  
Vera

February 22, 2019 at 7:25 am

Can you substitute chocolate/hot fudge sauce for the caramel sauce? Also can you use devil’s food cake mix instead of chocolate fudge cake mix.

- Together As Family
  
  February 24, 2019 at 5:17 pm
  
  Yes those would work just fine.
  
caroline

March 13, 2019 at 1:02 pm

I made this for my husband today as a treat. The only thing I changed was I added in some toffee bits. Because I thought that kind of went with the turtle theme. It was absolutely amazing. My husband loved it. Thanks so much!

Sarah

August 24, 2019 at 1:06 pm

Could I make this in a springform pan?

- Together As Family
  
  August 26, 2019 at 11:08 pm
  
  I think it would be too much batter for a springform pan. I would suggest just using the 9x13 baking dish that the recipe calls for, for best results. If you really want to use a springform then you would want the largest size and even then I can't promise the results cause I have never done it. Hope that helps.
  
Gina D from Texas

February 23, 2020 at 8:19 pm

So if I don’t want it too gooey (have a thing about anything with a soggy texture) but more moist cake-like just bake longer?

- Together As Family
  
  March 25, 2020 at 6:41 pm
  
  Yes I would bake it for like 5 minutes longer (maybe longer I am not sure). But yes, baking slightly longer will help with that.
  
Pauline

March 11, 2020 at 10:02 am

Can you use pretzels since we have nut allergies in our home

- Together As Family
  
  May 07, 2020 at 10:22 am
  
  Yes I think pretzels work great instead of nuts. You would still get that salty crunch factor.
  
Carolyn

June 11, 2020 at 11:04 am

Can this cake be made satisfactorily the night before? I wonder if it would get too soggy.

- Together As Family
  
  June 12, 2020 at 8:40 pm
  
  This cake is best served right after making it. It's really good warm with ice cream.
  
Sharon Drover

September 10, 2020 at 10:35 am

Can this cake be frozen after baking and then reheated ??

- Together As Family
  
  September 12, 2020 at 3:29 pm
  
  For best taste I would make right before you need to serve it. I have never frozen it and then reheated it so I honestly can't say for sure if you could do it. Not sure how it would turn out flavor wise and texture if you did that.