Turtle Cake

This cake is rich, gooey, and a favorite of Bryan's.  It is quick and easy to make and a hit whenever and wherever it is served.

Ingredients:

1 box chocolate cake mix
3 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup strong, brewed coffee
1 stick butter

1 14-ounce package caramels

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup pecan pieces

Instructions:

Y'all, I was so excited to be making this yummy cake that I forgot to take a photo of the assembled ingredients but here is a mish-mash collage of most of what was used.

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Combine eggs, oil, and coffee and beat in cake mix.
• Pour half of batter into a 13" x 9" pan.
• Bake for 15 minutes.
• While this is baking, melt butter and caramels.  

Don't these look beautiful resting on that pretty little saucer?  Mike helped me to unwrap these little nuggets of wonderfulness and I think that helped him to appreciate the deliciousness of the cake!

I do this melting in the microwave by zapping on high for a minute and stirring.  Then, zap again in thirty second intervals till all is melted and creamy and beautiful.

• Add condensed milk to the melted butter/caramel mixture and stir till blended and smooth and creamy and luscious.
• Pour half this mixture over the baked half of the cake.
• Sprinkle with half of chocolate chips and half of pecans.

After the caramels looked so pretty on this saucer, I decided I'd have to get a shot of the morsels of wonderfulness on it too!  Isn't this a beautiful sight?

• To add another layer of yummyness, pour remaining cake batter on top and bake for 20 minutes.
• Remove cake from oven and pour remaining caramel mix on top of warm cake.
• Sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips and pecans.

This cake is divine served warm from the oven!  (Mainly because it looks so beautiful and tasty that I cannot wait to give it a taste.)  It is a little slice of heaven no matter when it is served, though.