Ooey-gooey caramel turtle cake recipe

Ingredients

• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1½ cups granulated sugar
• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 12⁄3 cups all- purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt

• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• ¼ cup packed dark brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar

• 1 cup caramel apple dip
• ¼ cup finely chopped pecans, toasted

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat the bottoms of two 8- inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray and line with wax paper. Coat the wax paper with nonstick cooking spray and dust with 1 tablespoon flour.
2. To prepare the cake, combine 1½ cups boiling water and the cocoa in a small bowl; whisk until well blended. Set aside to cool completely.
3. Combine the sugar, butter, and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl; mix well. Add the flour mixture and cocoa mixture alternately to the sugar mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Pour the batter into the prepared pans; sharply tap the pans once on the counter to remove any air bubbles. Bake for 25 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from the pans and cool completely on wire racks.