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Decadent Turtle Cake Roll

Featured in Sweet Treat Sensations.

Savor the mix of caramel, chocolate, and pecans in this rolled dessert. Moist cake pairs perfectly with smooth filling, ganache, and topping. Perfect for any gathering!

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Ranah
Updated on Fri, 25 Apr 2025 14:37:52 GMT
A creamy-filled chocolate roll topped with crunchy nuts and caramel drizzle. Pin it
A creamy-filled chocolate roll topped with crunchy nuts and caramel drizzle. | chefemmakitchen.com

This swirly chocolate roll cake feels like heaven with each mouthful. I've stuffed it with smooth caramel buttercream, drizzled rich chocolate ganache over the top and scattered crunchy toasted pecans throughout. Whenever I bring this to family events, everyone begs for another piece. These flavors blend wonderfully, creating a knockout treat that seems fancy but isn't hard to make.

What Makes This Recipe So Special

From my many baking adventures, I can say this treat nails everything. The mix of chocolate with caramel just can't be beat, and those pecans give such a nice crunch. This dessert will have your friends wanting the directions before they've even cleaned their plates.

Ingredients You'll Need For This Wonderful Roll Cake

  • Eggs: 3 large eggs
  • Chocolate Cake Mix: 1 ¾ cups (I picked Betty Crocker SuperMoist Devil's Food)
  • Water: ⅓ cup (79ml)
  • Vegetable Oil: 2 tablespoons
  • Powdered Sugar: 1 tablespoon
  • Unsalted Butter: ½ cup (113g), softened
  • Caramel Sauce: ¼ cup (59ml)
  • Powdered Sugar (for Buttercream): 2 cups (226g)
  • Vanilla Extract: ½ teaspoon
  • Heavy Whipping Cream: 1 cup (237ml)
  • Chocolate Chips: 1 cup (170g)
  • Chopped Toasted Pecans: 1 cup
A decadent chocolate roll cake filled with cream and caramel, topped with a glossy chocolate glaze and chopped pecans. Pin it
A decadent chocolate roll cake filled with cream and caramel, topped with a glossy chocolate glaze and chopped pecans. | chefemmakitchen.com

Steps To Create This Fantastic Cake Roll

Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan
Warm your oven to 350°F (175°C). Take your jelly roll pan, cover it with foil and spray it with baking spray.
Prepare Cake Batter
Whip those eggs until they're fluffy and yellowish. Add your cake mix, water and oil. Mix thoroughly then pour into your prepared pan.
Bake the Cake
Stick it in the oven until it springs back when touched, roughly 12-15 minutes.
Roll the Cake
While still warm, roll it up in a towel dusted with powdered sugar and let it cool all the way.
Make Buttercream
For the yummy buttercream, blend your butter, caramel sauce, powdered sugar and vanilla until creamy.
Make Ganache
Heat your cream and chocolate chips, stirring until completely smooth.
Assemble the Cake Roll
Unroll your cake once cooled, spread that tasty buttercream everywhere, then roll it back up. Top with ganache and scatter those toasted pecans all over.

How To Store Your Delicious Creation

Store your finished cake roll in a sealed container in your fridge. It'll stay good for 3 days, though at my place it never sticks around that long because everyone gobbles it up so fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ How far ahead can I prep it?

You can prepare it up to 2 days in advance. Just refrigerate it tightly covered, and it's good to go when needed.

→ Why do cracks form when rolling?

Cracking happens when the cake cools too much. Roll it while warm using a towel sprinkled with powdered sugar for smooth results.

→ Is freezing an option?

Absolutely! Wrap it well with plastic and foil, freeze it for up to 3 months, and thaw in the fridge overnight before enjoying.

→ What if I don’t have caramel?

No problem! Use caramel ice cream topping or make your own by melting sugar with cream. Both are tasty choices for the filling.

→ Can I swap pecans for other nuts?

Definitely! Walnuts or almonds work just as well. Toast them to really enhance their flavor and crunchy texture.

Turtle Cake Roll

Indulge in a rich chocolate roll with caramel filling, creamy ganache, and crunchy pecans on top.

Prep Time
30 Minutes
Cook Time
15 Minutes
Total Time
45 Minutes
By: emma

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 8 Servings (1 roll)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 1 ¾ cups of Devil's Food cake mix.
02 3 large eggs.
03 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar for rolling.
04 ⅓ cup of water.
05 ¼ cup of caramel sauce.
06 ½ cup of softened unsalted butter.
07 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
08 1 cup of toasted chopped pecans.
09 1 cup of heavy cream.
10 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
11 1 cup of chocolate chips.
12 2 cups of powdered sugar.

Instructions

Step 01

Warm up your oven and line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper.

Step 02

Whisk the eggs until they’re nice and airy.

Step 03

Stir the water, cake mix, and vegetable oil into the eggs until fully mixed.

Step 04

Evenly spread the batter into the parchment-lined pan.

Step 05

Cook the batter until it’s springy when you lightly touch it.

Step 06

Sprinkle powdered sugar generously over a clean towel.

Step 07

Flip the warm cake onto the towel, roll it up with the towel inside, and let it cool completely.

Step 08

Beat the butter until it’s fluffy. Slowly add the caramel and vanilla. Sift in powdered sugar and blend until smooth.

Step 09

Heat the cream just under boiling, pour it over the chocolate chips, and mix until glossy.

Step 10

Unroll the cake gently, take away the towel, spread on the filling, roll it back up (no towel this time), top with ganache, sprinkle pecans, and chill until firm.

Notes

  1. Store it in the fridge for no more than five days.
  2. Let sit at room temp for 15–20 mins before eating for the best flavor and texture.

Tools You'll Need

  • A jelly roll pan.
  • Mixer (electric).
  • Parchment paper.
  • A clean towel.
  • Small saucepan.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Wheat.
  • Tree nuts like pecans.
  • Eggs.
  • Dairy.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 320
  • Total Fat: 18 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 35 g
  • Protein: 5 g