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Turtle Candy – a homemade candy of pecans, covered in gooey caramel and topped with chocolate!
One of my favorite things about the holidays is all the baking and making treats! There are so many that hold memories from childhood and new ones I want to try.
This turtle candy recipe is a homemade version of one that my mom used to buy from the store every year when I was a kid. And just like so many other things, it is so much better homemade!
Turtle Candies
Turtles are one of those treats that you usually find in a chocolate shop or prepackaged around the holidays. They are a super simple treat that you really can make at home in no time. Gooey caramel and chocolate are never a bad combination! Then you add the saltiness of the nuts and you have a well balanced bite that is perfect for with a cup of coffee or tea or an after dinner treat!
What Are Turtle Candies Made Of
- Pecans
- Caramel
- Chocolate
They are super simple, but oh so delicious! You often see turtle candy in chocolate shops all over the place, but making them at home is so darn easy and tasty.
Why is Turtle Candy Called Turtle?
They get their name from the way they look. The pecans peeking out the bottom look like the feet, and the chocolate is like the hard turtle shell.
How To Make Turtle Candy
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.
- Arrange pecans in little clusters on a lined baking sheet.
- Melt together caramel and milk until smooth. You can microwave at 50% power for 45 seconds at a time, stirring after each time.
- Spoon melted caramel over the pecans. It will get into all the cracks and act like glue to hold everything together. Let the caramel set up for just a few minutes before you add the chocolate.
- In a separate bowl melt the chocolate and shortening together.
- Spoon chocolate over the caramel. Let it set up and harden before serving.
How To Store
Store homemade turtle candy in an air tight container at room temperature for about 2 weeks. You to not need to refrigerate these. If it is very warm where you are storing them, you may want to keep them chilled so the chocolate doesn’t melt.
Turtles make a great gift for friends and neighbors over the holidays. They are great to give in a jar with a festive ribbon.
Can You Freeze Turtle Candy
Yep, you can freeze these. If you want to make a big batch at the beginning of the holiday season, they will last in an air tight container for a few months in the freezer.
Turtle Variations
There are so many easy ways to mix things up!
- Top with a little bit of sea salt for a sweet and salty combo that is delicious
- Top with chopped nuts or coconut for a different twist.
- Mix up your chocolate. I like to use semi-sweet chocolate, but if you love dark chocolate or milk chocolate they both work well.
- Use different nuts! I love to make it with cashews, but almonds or even walnuts would be delicious.
And if you love the flavor combo, check out Turtle Brownies and Turtle Cheesecake for even more decadent treats!
More Fun Christmas Recipes
- Frosted Sugar Cookies
- Christmas Magic Bars
- Andes Mint Cake Mix Cookies
- White Chocolate M&M Fudge
- Chocolate Toffee Bars
- Caramel Cashew Clusters
- Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Turtles
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups toasted pecan halves
- 14 oz caramels, unwrapped
- 1 Tablespoon milk
- 1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon shortening
Instructions
- Arrange 18 piles of pecans on a lined baking sheet.
- In a microwave safe bowl melt the caramel and the milk together. Microwave at 50% power for 45 seconds at a time, stirring after each time.
- Once fully melted, spoon caramel over the pecans. Make sure to kind of spread it around, so they all stick together once cooled. Let the caramel set up for about 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips and the shortening together. If using a microwave follow the same technique as the caramel.
- Spoon melted chocolate over the caramel and the pecans. You can leave a little bit of the pecans sticking out
- Let the chocolate set before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Definitely adding these to my baking line up this holiday season; they look like little bites of heaven!
I love how super easy these are, and they make a great gift too!
These are my favorite! The perfect little treat!!
Homemade turtles are the best!! I am so excited to try this recipe! 🙂
These treats have all the ingredients that I love! Deliciousness!
My husband is going to love this recipe! I can’t wait to make these at home now! So excited!
How did you toast your pecans for this?
@Shannon, put in the oven at 350 for 10min