A delicious Turtles-inspired dessert, these Turtles Cupcakes feature a salted caramel center, lush chocolate buttercream frosting and a pecan-caramel topping. They are the perfect indulgent cupcake for my fellow Turtles fans!

Turtles Cupcakes Recipe

If you’re looking for the ultimate in cupcake decadence, you’ve found it!

These Turtles-inspired cupcakes are so incredibly rich and satisfying with that perfect flavor combination of chocolate, salted caramel and fresh pecans.

I used a boxed chocolate cake mix for this recipe and just focused on making the buttercream frosting from scratch. While I think there are some delicious boxed cake mixes out there that are just as good as many homemade recipes, I’ve never come across a canned frosting that even comes close to homemade – it is essential! This frosting is luscious, melts in your mouth and is incredibly easy to whip up as your cupcakes cool.

(Of course, you can swap out the boxed cupcake mix for a from-scratch recipe. Our Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes are incredibly chocolatey and decadent and would work perfectly with the other components of this recipe.)

The next time I make these cupcakes I think I’ll stir in some crushed pecans into the batter and maybe stir the caramel filling with some of the chocolate buttercream frosting to make the filling even more luscious.

For this recipe, I used Millican Pecan’s Pecan Pieces. I didn’t realize what a difference there could be between pecan brands, but these are so incredibly fresh and flavorful. They also have delicious snack options like the Sweet and Spicy Pecans which are perfect for the holidays. My next order, I’m trying their Pecan Butter and the Caramel Pecan Coffee! (And by the way, this is not sponsored – I just really love them.)

Check out our quick recipe video to see how easy it is to make these luscious Turtles-inspired cupcakes – and then don’t forget to scroll down to grab your free printable recipe:

More Christmas Cupcakes Recipes

• Gingerbread Cupcakes
• Andes Mint Chocolate Cupcakes
• Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes with Bailey’s Frosting (with Video)
• Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
• White Chocolate Cupcakes (with Video)
• German Chocolate Cupcakes

Turtle Cupcake Ingredients

• Chocolate Cake Mix
  • PLUS directions called for on the box
• Caramel Sundae Sauce <– thicker sundae-style is best
• Crushed Pecan Pieces

For the chocolate buttercream frosting:

• Butter
• Powdered Icing Sugar
• Cocoa Powder
• Vanilla Extract
• Milk or Cream, as desired

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: stir some caramel bits or crushed pecans into the batter, if desired. You can also top these cupcakes with Turtle candies.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Electric mixer <– this is a great hand mixer if you don’t want to make the investment into a stand mixer
• Cupcake pan
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Large mixing bowl
• Piping bag with large star tip <– a basic piping set will have all you need
• Cupcake Scoop
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Spoon or Spatula <– I like these spatulas because they are one solid piece and don’t have removable heads for bacteria to get trapped underneath. Plus they are heat-resistant and have a lifetime warranty.

How to Make Turtles Cupcakes

Prepare the boxed cake mix as described on the box.

Allow cupcakes to cool as you prepare the frosting.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, 4 cups of powdered sugar and the cocoa powder. Beat well for 2 minutes.

Add the vanilla and adjust the consistency as desired with more sugar or milk.

Scoop the frosting into a piping bag fit with a star tip.

Once the cupcakes are cooled, use a knife or cupcake corer to remove 1″ to 2″  of a 1/2″ diameter area from the center of the cupcakes (do not discard).

Fill the center of each cupcake with some of the caramel sundae sauce, then replace with a small amount of the cored cupcake to seal in the caramel.

Swirl the chocolate frosting over the cupcakes, starting in the center then working out to the edges of the cupcake and back to center to create a dome effect.

Drizzle with additional caramel sundae sauce and top with pecan pieces.

Makes 18.

Pin this Easy Turtles Cupcakes for your next chocolate craving:

Grab your free printable for our homemade Turtles cupcakes recipe:

These rich and indulgent Turtles cupcakes are the perfect dessert for the Turtles candy lovers in your life!

Check out our full cupcake collection here:

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