A Texas Turtle Sheet Cake is like a next-level version of the classic Texas Sheet Cake—rich, chocolaty, and absolutely loaded with caramel, pecans, and chocolate chips. It’s a crowd-pleaser for potlucks, parties, or honestly, just because.
🍫 Texas Turtle Sheet Cake
🧁 Ingredients
For the Cake:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup water
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Frosting:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup milk
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Turtle Toppings:
1 to 1½ cups chopped pecans (toasted is even better)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup caramel sauce (homemade or store-bought)
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Preheat & Prep
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Grease and flour a 13×18-inch sheet pan (a.k.a. jelly roll pan).
2. Make the Cake Batter
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt.
In a saucepan, combine butter, water, and cocoa powder. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
Pour hot mixture into flour mixture; mix well.
Stir in buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla until smooth.
3. Bake It
Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
4. Frosting Time
While cake bakes, make the frosting:
In a saucepan, melt butter with cocoa and milk over medium heat.
Bring to a simmer, then remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
5. Assemble the Turtle Magic
Pour warm frosting over warm cake (right after baking).
Immediately sprinkle on pecans and chocolate chips.
Drizzle with warm caramel sauce.
6. Cool & Serve
Let cool at room temperature. Slice into squares and serve.