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Cafe latte turtle cake for two with chocolate layers, coffee frosting, caramel drizzle, and pecan topping

Cafe Latte Turtle Cake for Two with Caramel Pecan Topping

Cafe Latte Turtle Cake for Two is a rich small-format chocolate dessert with a soft cake texture, smooth coffee chocolate frosting, caramel, and pecan topping. It is a special treat for sharing when you want a decadent coffeehouse-inspired dessert.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Rest Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 2 large servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 529
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cake
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup sour cream or plain full-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2-3 tablespoons strong hot coffee
Frosting
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 tablespoon coffee
Topping
  • Caramel
  • Toasted or candied pecan pieces

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
  2. Whisk the cake ingredients together into a batter, adding the coffee to loosen the thick mixture.
  3. Coat four 8-ounce ramekins with cooking spray. Divide the batter evenly among the ramekins and spread it across the bottoms.
Baking
  1. Bake the cakes for 15-20 minutes.
  2. Carefully remove the cakes from the ramekins and let them cool for at least 20 minutes before frosting.
Frosting
  1. Combine the milk, sugar, and butter in a small saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil.
  2. After boiling for 15-20 seconds, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the chocolate chips until melted and smooth.
  3. Add the coffee and whisk until the frosting is glossy and slightly thinner. Let it cool briefly before spreading.
Assembly
  1. Layer the cake, frosting, pecans, and caramel, repeating the layers to create either one 3-layer cake or two 2-layer cakes.
  2. Spread frosting from the center outward for the desired finish, add chopped pecans between layers, and arrange whole pecans on top.
Serving
  1. Serve the cake warm or enjoy it after storing it in the refrigerator for a day or two.

Notes

The variations shown in the photos can help guide the cake style. The earlier version uses a more fluid frosting that flows over the edges, while the later version uses a slightly thicker frosting for more defined layers. Cooking spray is recommended for preparing the ramekins because it helps the cakes release easily.