The world is nutting batshit so I’m prescribing comfort food today. For me, that’s anything chocolate. Because…chocolate! Am I right? Of course, I am. 

Total Time: 50 Min.
Prep Time: 10 Min.
Cook Time: 40 Min.
12 servings, 1/2 cup each

Treat your family to a special dessert―without working too hard―with Turtle Dump Cake. Pecans, caramels, and chocolate come together beautifully in under one hour. Plus, a dollop of whipped topping adds the perfect flourish to Turtle Dump Cake.

What You Need
1 pkg. (11 oz.) KRAFT Caramels
2 cups milk, divided
1 pkg. (4 oz.) BAKER’S Rich Milk Chocolate, chopped, divided
1 cup chopped PLANTERS Pecans, divided
1 pkg. (2-layer size) devil’s food cake mix
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup (about 1/3 of 8-oz. tub) thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

Let’s Make It
1 – Heat oven to 350°F
2 – Microwave caramels and 1/2 cup milk in medium microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min.; stir. Microwave additional 1 to 2 min. or until caramels are completely melted, stirring after each minute. Stir in remaining milk.
3 – Pour into 13×9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; top with half each of the milk chocolate pieces and nuts.
4 – Sprinkle with dry cake mix, then top with remaining milk chocolate pieces and nuts. Drizzle evenly with butter.
5 – Bake 35 to 40 min. or until edges are lightly puffed. (Center of cake should be soft but not wet.)
6 – Serve topped with COOL WHIP.

Note: Some reviews say it’s soggy in the middle. One used dark chocolate at high altitude and had other problems. There’s a BIG difference in cooking with milk chocolate and dark chocolate. Weird, I know, but I’ve discovered this with tried and true brownie recipes. Milk chocolate has a higher liquid content. I’m wondering what would happen if you mixed the butter with the cake mix rather than dribbling across the top. Must experiment one of these days. Also, could you substitute slivered almonds or peanuts? More experimentation!

Also Note: Feel free to use ice cream (B.E.) instead of Cool Whip. 😉

All the details are HERE at My Food and Family. I’m not the only one who turns to chocolate when stressed and/or angry. Everytime I see the 🤬 face, I think of Hannah. We all know Hannah can’t cook. Luckily, Annie Donaldson does. Whenever Hannah gets stressed–or pissed, Annie shows up on the front porch with this cake. Then they invite all mates over for coffee and cake. Hannah does brew great coffee. The Wolves get together to send flowers to Annie whenever this occurs. 🤣 If you want to see all of the Wolves, their ladies, and the kids settle into their HEAs, check out MOON SHOT and see what life is like after and the excitement. Just click on the cover or the title to head over to Amazon to grab the book if you haven’t read it already. Warning, it IS the last book in the series so….read all the others first. 😉 Raise your hand if you rely on chocolate and/or comfort food when the times get tough. 🙋‍♀️

On a side note…

Y’all bear with me for a moment because I’m about to do something I never do on social media. I am angry. Gut-churning, clinch-fisted, screaming-at-people angry. And have been since last night. You [amorphous anonymous person] want to make a point with peaceful protest? Go for it. But you DON’T EFFING burn out businesses or charities or vandalize and damage the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial!!!! So yeah, I’m all about the comfort food at the moment. Me and Hannah both. I’m going to be shoveling it in with both hands for awhile.