Chocolate Turtle Cake

I know I've been a little pumpkin crazed, but don't think I've gone and changed my ways.  Nope, this home girl has not abandoned her one true love.  Chocolate.

yeah baby! come to mama... 

Speaking of mama's....that's who made this cake.  Mo's mommy, from whom I inherited my great love of chocolate.  Thanks Mom, my thighs are forever ungrateful.  This was made for my brother's birthday a couple weeks ago, and it was delish.  Mom said she was making a cake "completely from scratch!"  Come to find out, completely from scratch includes Betty Crocker :D

Chocolate Turtle Cake from Betty Crocker (and my mama)

1 box Betty Crocker Devils Food Cake Mix (I'm sure any brand is fine; or Heavens to Betsy you could make your cake mix from scratch) *plus whatever needed to prepare mix - oil/eggs/water

1 (14 oz) bag of caramels

1/2 cup evaporate milk

1 cup chopped pecans

1/2 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Mix cake mix according to directions on box.  Pour 1/2 the batter into a greased 9x13 pan.  Bake 20-25 mins.  Place other half of batter into refrigerator.  While cake is baking, melt bag of caramels in microwave.  After caramels are melted, mix 1/2 cup evaporated milk into caramel. *Be careful not to let caramels burn.

While the cake is still warm, pour the caramel mixture over the cake, then sprinkle 1 cup chopped pecans on the caramel mixture, then sprinkle 1/2 bag of chocolate chips over the nuts.  Pour the remaining half of cake batter over the caramel, pecans, and chocolate chips.  Cook for another 25-30 minutes or until cake springs back lightly when touched.  Cool at least 30 mins. and drizzle with toppings (more caramel, pecans, whipped cream, etc).  Serve with ice cream!  We had coffee ice cream (chocolate for the kids - yes, we love some chocolate! BTW - Breyer's Natural Chocolate ice cream - no eggs!)  

Verdict?  This cake was yummy.  However, my mom's version looks nothing like the one pictured on the Betty Crocker website (which I just found when I Googled 'chocolate turtle cake'. I think mom got her recipe from a friend).  She said that her caramel sunk right to the bottom when she placed it on the cooked cake layer....I'm not sure what happened there.  So, I'm not sure what finagling she did, but whatever it was, it worked!

And remember - honor our Veteran's tomorrow!!  (Maybe make them a cake?!)

I'm linking this recipe up with It's a Keeper Thursday, What's Cooking Thursday at Feeding Four, Full Plate Thursday at Miz Helen's Country Cottage, Thursday Friends Cafe at Menopausal New Mom (blog hop), Friday Potluck at EKat's Kitchen, Fantabulous Friday at Momma's Kinda Crafty, Fun for Kids Friday at Local Fun for Kids, Sweet Tooth Friday at Alli n' Son, Sweets for Saturday at Sweet as Sugar Cookies