Cream Cheese Turtle Cake
Description: This decadently ooey and gooey Cream Cheese Turtle Cake hails from the esteemed “Loca Luna” restaurant in Little Rock, Arkansas, and it’s a recipe to treasure, taken from the pages of Bon Appétit. Rich, indulgent, and bursting with flavor, this dessert promises to delight your taste buds and leave you craving more!
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Recipe Category: Dessert
Keywords: Fruit, Nuts, Kid Friendly, Potluck, Weeknight, Oven, < 4 Hours
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 765
- Fat Content: 40.3g
- Saturated Fat Content: 15.1g
- Cholesterol Content: 104.9mg
- Sodium Content: 403.8mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 100g
- Fiber Content: 3.7g
- Sugar Content: 74g
- Protein Content: 7.9g
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Pecans | 1 cup |
| Water | 1 cup |
| Eggs | 3 |
| Unsalted Butter | 1 1/4 cups |
| Powdered Sugar | 1/3 cup |
| Cream Cheese | 3 packages (8 oz each) |
| Vanilla Extract | 1 teaspoon |
For the Cake:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Butter and flour a 13x9x2-inch metal cake pan.
- Sprinkle 1/2 cup almonds and 1/2 cup pecans evenly over the bottom of the prepared pan.
- In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, 1 1/4 cups water, oil, and eggs.
- Using an electric mixer, beat at low speed until the mixture is moistened, about 30 seconds.
- Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
For the Cream Cheese Mixture:
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Gradually stir in the powdered sugar (the mixture will form clumps), then add the cream cheese.
- Whisk until smooth, about 1 minute.
- Pour the cream cheese mixture in large ribbons atop the cake batter in the pan.
- Use a knife to swirl the mixture into the batter, being careful not to overmix.
Baking and Finishing:
- Bake the cake until a tester inserted into the center (in the cake part only) comes out clean, about 50 minutes (the bottom of the cake will be very moist).
- Cool the cake in the pan on a rack.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup almonds and 1/2 cup pecans over the cake.
For the Icing:
- Mix the sugar and cocoa in a medium bowl.
- In a heavy medium saucepan, bring the milk and butter to a simmer over medium-low heat.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, then add the powdered sugar mixture and whisk until melted.
- Add the chocolate chips and whisk until smooth.
- Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Drizzle the warm icing over the cooled cake.
- Let the cake stand until the icing is set, about 2 hours.
Serving Suggestions:
For an extra indulgent touch, drizzle caramel topping over the finished cake just before serving. This Cream Cheese Turtle Cake is perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a family gathering, a potluck with friends, or simply a weeknight treat to savor with loved ones. Its rich flavors and irresistible texture are sure to make it a crowd favorite! Enjoy every delicious bite of this heavenly dessert masterpiece 🍰🐢.
