Name: Chocolate Turtle Cake
Prep time: 3 h
Cook time: 3 h
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 1 cup dark baking cocoa -; 1 cup boiling water -; 1 cup butter, softened -; 2-1/4 cups sugar -; 4 eggs -; 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract -; 2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour -; 2 teaspoons baking soda -; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder -; 1/2 teaspoon salt -; 1 cup buttermilk -; CARAMEL LAYER: -; 1 teaspoon butter -; 1 cup chopped pecans -; 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar -; 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar -; 1 cup heavy whipping cream, divided -; 1/2 cup dark corn syrup -; 6 tablespoons butter, cubed -; GANACHE LAYER: -; 1 teaspoon butter -; 1 cup chopped pecans -; 1 cup dark chocolate chips -; 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream -; Frosting: -; 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped -; 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips -; 4 cups confectioners' sugar -; 3/4 cup butter, softened -; 1/4 cup milk -

Ingredients for - Chocolate Turtle Cake

1. 1 cup dark baking cocoa

2. 1 cup boiling water

3. 1 cup butter, softened

4. 2-1/4 cups sugar

5. 4 eggs

6. 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

7. 2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

8. 2 teaspoons baking soda

9. 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

10. 1/2 teaspoon salt

11. 1 cup buttermilk

12. CARAMEL LAYER:

13. 1 teaspoon butter

14. 1 cup chopped pecans

15. 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar

16. 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar

17. 1 cup heavy whipping cream, divided

18. 1/2 cup dark corn syrup

19. 6 tablespoons butter, cubed

20. GANACHE LAYER:

21. 1 teaspoon butter

22. 1 cup chopped pecans

23. 1 cup dark chocolate chips

24. 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream

25. Frosting:

26. 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped

27. 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips

28. 4 cups confectioners' sugar

29. 3/4 cup butter, softened

30. 1/4 cup milk

31. 1 tablespoon dark baking cocoa

32. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

33. Garnishes:

34. Chocolate curls or other decorations

How to cook deliciously - Chocolate Turtle Cake

1 . Stage

Dissolve cocoa in boiling water; cool. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk and cocoa mixture, beating well after each addition.

2 . Stage

Pour into three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

3 . Stage

For caramel layer: Line a 9-in. round pan with foil and grease the foil with butter. Sprinkle with pecans; set aside.

4 . Stage

In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, brown sugar, 1/2 cup cream, corn syrup and butter. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir until smooth and blended, about 5 minutes. Gradually stir in remaining cream. Bring to a boil over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until a candy thermometer reads 238° (soft-ball stage), about 10 minutes.

5 . Stage

Remove from the heat. Quickly pour into prepared pan (do not scrape saucepan). Cool.

6 . Stage

For ganache layer: Line a 9-in. round pan with foil and grease the foil with 1 teaspoon butter. Sprinkle with pecans; set aside. Place chocolate chips in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Pour over pecans. Cool to room temperature; chill until set.

7 . Stage

For frosting: In a microwave, melt unsweetened chocolate and chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Cool slightly. In a large bowl, beat the confectioners' sugar, butter, milk, cocoa and vanilla until smooth; beat in melted chocolate.

8 . Stage

To assemble cake: Place one cake layer on a serving plate; remove foil from caramel and place on top. Top with another cake layer; remove foil from ganache and place on top. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake. Garnish as desired.