• prep: 0 hr
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servings:

This decadent Chocolate Turtle Cake with chocolate cake layers, ganache, caramel sauce, toasted pecans, and chocolate buttercream is sure to please a crowd!

• 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
• 2 3/4 cups (322g) All Purpose Flour
• 1 cup (82g) unsweetened cocoa
• 2 teaspoons (10g) Baking Soda
• 1/2 teaspoon (2g) Baking Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon (2g) Salt
• 1 stick + 5 Tablespoons (185g) Unsalted Butter (I sliced the butter into 1 inch pieces onto waxed paper leaving on the countertop for 8 to 10 minutes. It will still be quite cool when adding to the dry ingredients. You should be able to make a fingerprint when you press the butter. If it becomes too soft, just refrigerate for a few minutes.)
• 1 cup (242g) Sour Cream
• 1 c. (220g) Milk
• 4 eggs room temperature
• 1 teaspoon (4g) vanilla
• 1 cup (220g) Hot Coffee
• 1/2 stick (57g) unsalted butter (if using salted butter, do not add additional salt)
• 1 cup (217g) light brown sugar (packed into measuring cup)
• 1/2 cup (126g) heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon (2g) salt
• 1 teaspoon (4g) vanilla extract
• 1 Tablespoon (18g) light corn syrup
• 3 oz Chocolate (Semi-sweet or Dark) We used Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate
• 3 oz Heavy Cream
• 3 sticks (339g) unsalted butter, softened (do not soften butter in the microwave)
• 9 cups powdered sugar (icing sugar in UK) (1034g) more if needed. ** For cupcakes, I like to use 8 c. (920g) for a softer frosting
• 1 cup Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa (82 grams) (measure then sift)-- You can substitute with 1 1/2 cups (124g) unsweetened cocoa if you don't have Special Dark Cocoa on hand. (It won't be quite as dark but still delicious).
• 1 teaspoon salt (6g) to cut the sweetness (preferably fine grain or popcorn salt). Adjust to taste.
• 1/2 cup milk (121 grams) more if needed to reach the spreading consistency you like
• 2 teaspoons vanilla (12 grams)
• 1 cup (106g) pecans (adjust amount to your liking). We chopped the pecans and baked on a parchment lined cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 4-5 minutes. Do not let them get too dark. Baking is optional but makes the pecans more flavorful.

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