Your mouth will water as you are making this sheet cake. It is irresistibly rich and decadent. Make sure that you save a slice for yourself, because it will disappear quickly!
2 c. granulated sugar
2 c. self-rising flour
1 c. butter
1 c. strong black coffee
1⁄3 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 eggs
1⁄2 c. buttermilk
chocolate frosting:
1⁄4 c. butter
4T. buttermilk
3 T. unsweetened cocoa
2 1⁄2 c. powdered sugar
turtle topping ingredients:
1⁄2 c. chopped pecans or peanuts
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c. caramel sauce, to drizzle
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 × 13 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar. Set aside.
In a saucepan, combine 1 cup butter, 1 cup coffee, and 1/3 cup cocoa. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Pour into the prepared dry ingredients. Using a hand-held mixer, mix on medium speed until wet and dry ingredients are thoroughly combined. Add eggs and the buttermilk. Mix on medium speed for another minute or so, until well combined.
Pour into baking pan; bake for 25-30 minutes. When cake is done, a toothpick or fork inserted into the middle of the cake should come out clean.
Prepare chocolate frosting:
In a medium saucepan, combine butter, buttermilk, and cocoa powder. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; use a wire whisk to gradually mix in powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time. Spread or pour warm frosting over the cake.
While cake is still warm, sprinkle with the turtle topping ingredients: chopped pecans and chocolate chips and the drizzle with caramel sauce.
If you need to make your own buttermilk, mix 1/2 cup milk with 2 tsp. vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit a few minutes, before you add it to the other ingredients.