Yummy recipe and beautiful pics as always, Averie! So random what sticks in my brain. 1/4 cup? I used the Lindt squares because they were on sale at the grocery store yesterday, and they melt into a really smooth, almost liquid consistency. Quickly spoon the caramel over the pecan clusters, making sure caramel is touching each of the pecans. So good! When you take it out, you should be able to roll it into a ball. Ghiradelli is also really yummy. 132 Comments, Posted in: All Recipes, Candy & Treats, Dessert, Gluten-Free. Then it's done. They cant be beat. Wonderful! Fill a small cup with ice and water and set aside. Thanks for pinning & enjoy your shopping trip :). I found this recipe was incredibly easy and they tasted amazing. Thanks for sharing! (Alternately, you can heat them in a hot skillet stirring constantly until they are fragrant, about 5 minutes.). thanks, These look beautiful and delicious! But any kind of chocolate chip will work. Im not sure Holy cow Averie!! Have the base be a pretzel, top it with chocolate and then with some caramel and a pecan. You want a fairly dark chocolate that melts smoothly. Fast, easy, no-bake and just 4 ingredients! They qere perfectly fine made as instructed, and EVERYONE knew exactly what they were. Shewas in cloth diapers then and now shes in glitterylip gloss. I feel like if someone took the time to buy the ingredients, make the recipe, and came back to tell me how it went, the least I can say is great job and thank you for trying the recipe! . Melt the chocolate chips and oil in the microwave at half power, stirring often till smooth. Use your fingers to pinch the caramelit should come together into a soft ball. If you use your imagination, the pecans covered in caramel and chocolate look like little turtles. Overall an unsatisfactory product. Especially because I already have homemade salted caramel sauce in my fridge :) Thanks Averie! :). Your email address will not be published. I ended up melting my caramel in the microwave with no added liquid on the third try and that worked beautifully. Thanks for the suggestion though that would be fun to try that way as well! Heat in 15-second increments until chocolate can be stirred smooth. Glad you found a method that worked great for you! It cools down to a more pasty solid than gooey solid. What choclate do you use. To make these easy pecan turtles, youll need: I used Trader Joes roasted, salted pecan halves. What a lovely gift! I think next time I will try a little less corn syrup. I would love to hear your experience. Why are they called turtles? Set aside. They will smell amazing! These treats make perfect neighbor gifts for the holidays! In a medium microwave-safe bowl, add 8 ounces chocolate and heat to melt, about 1 minute on high power. I wouldnt have a website without readers like you who did just that as well. Thanks for the compliments and you know I ALWAYS love all your pictures..like so much!! Reserve a handful of chopped chocolate off to the side and melt the rest in a double boiler (I just place a large heat-proof bowl over a pot of simmering water), or in the microwave in a heat proof bowl, stirring every 20 seconds until melted and smooth. Better than any turtle candies I have ever purchased. Required fields are marked *. Some Turtles in the photos below arecoated with milk chocolate and others with dark. I cant believe how much, you, Skylar, and your blog have changed! Dangerously amazing! Your white choc version sounds wonderful and creative! These look too easy and too goodbut worth a few extra miles! Take your time and stop and stir frequently so you dont burn the mixture and have to start over. Oh goodness your daughter is MUCH trendier than me! I used 1/4 cup total and have made the recipe with both Kraft brand caramels and Werthers Baking Caramels, but caramels vary and you may need less cream than I did. I will NEVER EVER buy turtles again! When cool they easily come off the parchment & then can be topped or dipped. Graham Cracker Toffee Bars If youre looking for a recipe that will disappear at holiday parties, cookie exchanges, neighborhood potlucks, or school bake sales, this graham cracker toffee is a guaranteed winner! Thanks for trying the recipe and Im glad it came out great for you! Spread pecans out onto a baking sheet and bake for 5-10 minutes, stirring once, until toasted and fragrant (but not burned!). Parchment paper is usually great in situations like this. You can alsoFOLLOW MEonFACEBOOK,TWITTER,INSTAGRAMandPINTERESTfor more great recipes! Like table for one bitter. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Delicious and easy to make. The Easiest Foolproof Fudge Recipe Look no further than this recipe for the EASIEST and most FOOLPROOF fudge that takes less than 3 minutes to make!! I made these tonight and they are delicious! Its pretty typical for the pecans to be layered on the bottom with the caramel and chocolate taking on the shell of the turtle on top. Once cooled, roughly chop the pecans and set aside. This reminds me how I used to hide chocolates from my family (when I was a teenager), but I have a feeling if I made these Id had them from my family now or at least store them way in the back of the pantry behide the chips. Give me strength :). Chocolate turtles make a great Christmas gift, and so do Homemade Caramels, Easy Truffles, and Chocolate Pretzel Rods. I also love (hate) that theyre so easy to make :). originally published August 12, 2014 last updated May 17, 2020 I think you should make them they way you want. Refrigerate until set, about 20 minutes. Thanks for trying the recipe and Im glad it came out great for you and that you impressed everyone! RATE and COMMENT below! I love turtles! Share it with your Facebook friends (you know theyll love it). Simply incredible. I havent tried those but I guess I kind of made my own version of those with these by adding sea salt, although I havent seen them so I dont know for sure! You probably could use chocolate chips, but for these, baking chocolate in hunks is preferred! Beautiful! . & Instead of using parchment paper, I sprayed cupcake tins with some Pam and they turned out amazing! Christmas Crack A highly addictive, salty-sweet, crunchy, EASY Christmas treat thats IRRESISTIBLE!! These homemade turtles are no-bake, easy, ready in under a half hour, and you only need 4 ingredients. When making the pecan piles, I recommend overlapping some of the nuts so that the caramel doesnt ooze straight through. I ended up with perfectly round turtles and theyre about 2 bites each. I went ahead and pinned these to my Christmas board, because I do NOT want to forget about these come December! My family said they were better then the store bought ones. If it wont come together to form a ball in your fingers, return it to the microwave for an additional 30 seconds, and test again.. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto the parchment paper lined baking sheet to create individual mounds of caramel candy. That was my mistake that made this difficult. I need a few of these this afternoon! Youre so sweet and thank you for pinning :) I cant remember which board I saw it on today, but your Neapolitan Fudge. Sounds so easy with the caramels squares. The carmel mixture was liquidy but perfect to spoon. 2022 Tastes Better From Scratch Privacy Policy and Disclosure. Then spoon a small amount of chocolate on top of each turtle. (I usually get about 20, but you can make the candies as small or large as you like). They were easy, albeit time consuming, but everyone was so impressed I made homemade turtles, it really was worth the time! I cant have pecans, so Ill have to use almonds instead. I made these last night and although they arent as good looking as your pics, they are delicious! It does not get easier or more delicious than these homemade turtles. Holiday White Chocolate Fudge This EASY foolproof white chocolate fudge recipe is perfect for Christmas and holiday parties! I had carmels to make a few batches. Also, what is it with non-Americans making blanket statements in criticisms of Americans? I just made these for mothers day after she mentioned liking turtles. Homemade is totally always better and these turtles are no exception!!! It was probably on the thin side and you could have used less milk/cream so that it stayed thicker. Yum! Your turtles look absolutely perfect, Averie! I also thought this would be perfect for the holiday gift-giving season glad somebody was thinking that far ahead too :), I dont have to wait until Xmas to eat chocolate and caramel thats a year round thing FOR SURE :). Thanks for the photo compliments and the tweet! Return bowl to microwave and cook for 5-6 minutes. Made these today and have learned a lot! Yours are simply candy not turtles. Love it! Pinned! Made these over the weekend !! Not that Ive done that recently, ahem. Im lucky if I make it out of my PJs And its a miracle if I remember to put on mascara. (I usually get about 20, but you can make them as small or large as you like). I like to use 3-4 pecans, depending on size. It will probably take about 3 to 4 minutes total, but you must stop and stir the mixture every 30 seconds so you dont burn it. :) You most definitely have come a long way Averieyour photographs are always stunning. You should pour chocolate on sheet put pecans pointing out like feet. Then I placed the pan in my freezer. My moms maiden name is Luna, and Im one of the many crafty Lil Lunas in the fam. Homemade Chocolate Turtles Fast, easy, no-bake and just 4 ingredients! = Isnt that the truth!! Would so enjoy making him homemade versions. I think they will be a hit for Halloween tomorrow! This is such a good idea for holiday gifts! I absolutely adore the combination of chocolate, caramel, and nuts. Sometimes with doubling recipes, it doesnt always work out to be exactly doubling them. I love sharing home decor ideas, DIY projects, tasty recipes, and simple tips! The shape then appears to be a turtle, hence the name. Storage: Turtleswill keep airtight at room temperature forweeks, or in the fridge or freezer for many months. Have dark, milk, and 72% always on hand :). Dont worry about perfection, just work fast. What is it with Americans and cooking food in the microwave? Thanks for the recipe! Make piles of about 5 pecans each and top each pile with caramel sauce. Have you tried the mini sweet and salty ones yet? Well you better get on that :). The carmel wasnt stiff enough to hold together. I love this recipe and will have to try it! Im a huge fan of sees nuts and chews so these Homemade Turtles Candy recipe - Baked pecans covered in a delicious homemade caramel and topped with with melted chocolate! Ivemade the chocolate turtles recipe with both Kraft brand caramels and Werthers Baking Caramels and can recommend both. I used the square caramels as indicated in the recipe with 1/4 c heavy whipping cream. I tried these out (I know they will taste delicious) but the only thing is, that the process was difficult. Hoooooly smokes. help! Way way too sweet. They look great! I just never know if caramel will turn out for me. These little beauties look so delicious and caramel-y! Homemade always tastes better! 1/4 cream or half-and-half. Let sit for 1-2 hours, or till hardened. Thank you! Christmas candies and desserts are so much fun! Its helpful if they will fit in either fridge or freezer. So the actual amount of time stirring could depend on how quickly your stovetop heats I hope that the caramel hardened for your gifts and that they were a hit! i would love to order the turtles with peanut butter and carmel ones Just put them in cupcake holders! I just made turtles last night and I tried two different methods with the pecans, the first was clumping the pecans into mounds as your recipe states. Yum!! I used about a bag and half of caramels and then 2 cups of chocolate pellets and that made about 40 turtles for me. Im not sure its a good thing that I now know how to make these so, Averie, you like nuts in candy, just not in baked goods? I would definitely hoard these. Its too loose to dip entirely even. My husband loves the store bought Turtles and he said these were way better than store bought! I had 40 caramels i used less cream and they still stuck. What a difference to eat turtles with fresh ingredients! These turtles are so delicious. I love the combination of all those flavors and textures too! Hi Avery made these today, when it is cold and snowing at my house. So irresistible! I need to invest in silicone liners or next time I will assemble them right on the baking sheet or counter. Thanks for being here. Im so glad that they were easy and you enjoyed them!! I mean it should be as loose as caramel sauce, but it shouldnt be rock hard. Let sit to harden. It can really vary depending on how many nuts you use, how spread out the nuts are, etc. Test caramel to see if its done (see instructions in recipe card). Caramel can be so finicky and if you over do it, itll turn solid and hard; under-do it and its runny. After the chocolate, I set them on a parchment lined pan to set. These treats make perfect neighbor gifts for the holidays! I just copied you but mine arent coming out of the tin. Chocolate Caramel Pecan Turtles Candy Baked pecans covered in a delicious homemade caramel and topped with with melted chocolate! Thanks for posting this! Refrigerate. Like honestly, thats my #1 candy in the whole world! I have to advise though, I made the recipe as written twice and both times it was a flop (using two different brands of caramel). Lift the cluster up with a fork, and tap it several times to allow excess chocolate to fall through the tines of the fork, into the bowl. Melt Chocolate. Ive made that mistake before and everything stuck lol. I did not microwave this recipe at all. I seriously love homemade turtles! I used dark chocolate & the caramels from Nuts.com and both are fabulous & I highly recommend!! Im so glad that I found your recipe with the caramels instead of making it from sugar and water or butter as that sounded really tricky & I dont have a candy thermometer. Disappointing. Turned out great just like the store bought ones. I tried these for the first time and the caramel was still a little too soft even the next day. Id love to sample 1 of each :). You want to buy soft, individually wrapped caramel candies (not hard caramels). Oh boy, these look delicious! I made this to take to Christmas dinner today, and Im so glad I did, they were such a hit! Tastes change and seriously mine have been the past year or so! For the best of both worlds, you can also make turtle thumbprint cookies which have all the same flavors as these candies. I tried one and it was delicious. 1. Thats my guess. Thank you for sharing. I was wondering if you had any suggestions for me that I could do to get the caramel firm enough to get them out of the pan and into gift buckets that Im making for friends and family? Crunchy, chewy, salty-and-sweet. Easy, no bake, thats what summer is for, right! I am really writing you just say how sweet you are to have commented on everyones comments. It was a much easier clean up as well. They are my go-to when baking, so much better than chocolate chips if you ask me. Lift the cluster up with a fork, and tap it several times to allow excess chocolate to fall through the tines of the fork, into the bowl. I measured both caramel and chocolate more like how I thought they should look & topped them off with Maldons Sea salt flakes.. they look perfect & everyone loved them. Store turtles in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for 2-3 weeks. you just made my mouth run peanut butter comfort Thanks for pinning and I never forget about chocolate, funny how that works. Chocolate chips dont melt as well and can seize up in the microwave. Along with every other recipe of yours I just scrolled through Im totally drooling over them all! The walnut chews, the pecan cluster thing-eys that look like these Turtles, oh boy. Save the recipe for holiday candy-making, birthdays, or for a last-minute hostess gift. I LOVE THAT STUFF :). Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto a parchment lined baking sheet to create individual mounds of caramel candy. As soon as I saw this post I felt the need to quote the kid from that ancient viral video I like turtles O_O Because I really do like turtles! Gorgeous! http://theluxelion.blogspot.com. I mean, I can believe it, but wow! This is a recipe that you could mix up as well with different ingredients which is great. Im so glad you love the site! The second batch I decided to make a double batch so I put 50 carmels and used 1/2 cup of half & half. Drop a cluster into the melted chocolate and use a fork to coat it all over. Tag @TastesBetterFromScratch on Instagram with #TastesBetterFromScratch! Pour the carmel on top of the nuts in circles the size you want your turtles to be and then cool (I cooled mine outside). This is the best thing my little eyes have seen in awhile. Allow to come to room temperature before serving. I love turtles and these look delicious! Place dipped clusters on the parchment paper to set up. You can also freeze chocolate turtles for 2-3 months. Definitely pinning these for later! I prefer working in smaller batches with chocolate and recommend doing the same and not heating all 16 ounces at once; melt additionalchocolate as necessary. As soon as your caramel is ready, quickly spoon the hot caramel on top of the clusters, making sure each pecan is covered with some caramel. I had a craving earlier today for chocolate and caramel(big surprise there!) I know this is probably a dumb question, but when you say square caramels are you talking the Kraft kind or something else? Cool until set, about 20 minutes. I love these. Im the mom of six stinkin cute kids and the wife to my smokin hot hubby, Lo. I have one wordYUM! :), OMG ~ love these turtles Averie, pinned to a few boards :). Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave in a heat proof bowl, stirring every 20 seconds until melted and smooth. Reindeer Chow A holiday twist on classic Muddy Buddies thats EASY, ready in 15 minutes, and perfect for hostess gifts or cookie exchanges!! I must try them later to day. Yes Bakers Chocolate is fine. my chocolate cravings have definitely kicked in after seeing these delicious turtles.. Holy crap Averie! Get New Recipes and Creative Ideas Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Like scotcheroos but with Special K! Drop caramel pecan clusters onto parchment paper. Thanks!! Ive always loved Turtles and decided to make my own. And unfortunately it sounds like this was the case for you here. What a difference to eat turtles with fresh ingredients! HOLY HECK!!! Did yours pop out or did you have to loosen them abit? Unconstructive and bitter. I melted 25 caramel squares with 1/4 cup cream in the microwave (or use the stove). Its a good thing for me to know I can I love those pound half bars too from Trader Joes! Customize it with your favorite add-ins like cranberries and walnuts! Pin it now to remember it later! This recipe really is easy. Dont they realize that generalizations are a very unhealthy way to perceive the world? But I think my recipe that Ive posted is about as straightforward as Ive found for liquid caramel sauce (although this recipe for Turtles uses caramel squares; have to for consistency/texture). CARAMEL. I left them out on the porch to firm up, but even after a few hours out there, the caramel is still pretty gooey/sticky. I had the Homemade Turtles in my freezer for 1.5 hours (I forgot to take them out after 15 mins.). If I had time Id make some for our office party todayIm going with the 3 cheese baked salsa dip so Ill report back later! Thanks, Lori, they were super easy to pop, one after the next :). I'm Kara from Creations by Kara, and I'm addicted to creating pretty and yummy things. I made five dozen for a swap, trying to decide if its ok to give to others in cupcake holders (because of stickiness) or if I should scrap these and start over? Mine, like some of the others, is not setting up when prepared as directed. I love this recipe. he pecans covered in caramel and chocolate look like little turtles. oh my gawd, Averie! and these would have been perfect! The flavor combination of nuts caramel and chocolate is always a winner! Everyone loves these adorably festive Rice Krispie Easter Nests! Done and done. Id totally double fist this into my mouth. Drop a small spoonful of the hot caramel into a bowl of ice water. I need lessons from her! I only used about 1 or 2 tbsp of cream for 1/2 a bag of caramels at a time and that was enough to make it runny when hot and it firmed up really well but was still chewy. The crunchy pecans, the chewy caramel, the chocolate that melts in your mouth. No matter the season :). However, roasted peanuts or almonds would also taste delicious here! And yes, the Turtles are a little too easy :). Of course, you dont have to wait that long to eat one! It was one of his favorite candies and still is. Overall a very unsatisfactory review. Stir vanilla into hot caramel. Feel free to check out my baking blog as well, For the Love of Baking! 2nd time the caramel wasnt hard enough even though I could make a ball from the water bath. Home Dessert Candy & Treats Homemade Turtles. Thanks for trying the recipe. Allow to set up in the fridge. They came out good, but I had to double the amount of caramels I used. Now Im thinking Ill make these instead, Thats like saying should I make cookies or go to the dentist. You just need to melt them in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between them. Be patient, it can take awhile. Umm, yeah, chocolate trumps paint :). Yes although in baked goods, if its chocolate, like brownies or fudgy-like bars, I have been liking them lately. Turtles are my husbands faves. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); These are a favorite every year! look no further! I like to use a candy thermometer to ensure it gets to the right temperature. And, Im glad you put your caramel at the end of this post, Ive got to check out your tips, I attempted caramel last night and it was a dud :(. Just place your pecans on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 for about 10 minutes. Thanks for sharing what you did for the candy. My guys are happy. These soft and chewy Chocolate Turtles are so EASY to make and include clusters of homemade microwave caramel and toasted pecans, dipped in chocolate. When I went to pull the turtles off they stuck to the paper. I feel like Id be unable to stop eating them! . Very disappointing. These would make an awesome addition to a cookie plate if youre the type that makes plates of treats for the neighbors during the holidays. Chewy, gooey, salty-and-sweet! The caramel didnt really get nice and soft. Before you start making your caramel, you want to arrange your pecans into little clusters. **Notes on melting the caramel: The first few times, stirring is almost futile but eventually the caramels soften enough to be stirred smooth. Overlap the pecans some to reduce gaps so the caramel doesnt seep through. Thank you for a keeper recipe. Because once upon a time that post meant something so hey, I leave it up :), I was supposed to paint my bathroom today. One day those videos will be so priceless :), These will be a perfect holiday treat to hand out to family and friends! She makes videos of herself applying it with her iPad. If the caramel starts to set up, you can pop it back on the stove for a minute or two. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info. You'll find fast and easy recipes from dinners to desserts that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Case closed. These look amazing! Ill have to try them. There has to be a more sure proof way of knowing. We crave them. Instead of making the Homemade Turtles on parchment paper I decided to make them in my mini cupcake pan that makes 48 at once. Youre awesome, Alice! Allow Turtles to firm up at room temp (will take many hours) or in the fridge or freezer (about 15 minutes) before serving. Very delicius Turtles:-) Was great for a fathers day gift. Hi! I immediately push the tops of the chocolate back down and headed to my freezer to stick the Homemade Turtles back in the freezer. And four ingredients? I love that huge stack of turtles!! . . Once youve already put the caramel on them, its not possible to change the structure of the caramel and make it thicker. Love all of that caramel & chocolate! I cannot even buy the Sees Nuts & Chews unless I have time for extra cardio because I love those things SO MUCH. I think the 1/4 cup of cream is too much. Store turtles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. Bravo! 2. Place butter in a large microwave safe bowl and heat in microwave until melted. Definitely add the cream to the caramel a bit at a time. Completely missed an opportunity to provide insight or help in any way whatsoever. I love turtles too, Averie! Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes or till lightly browned and fragrant. Target temp for the caramel is 235-240 degrees. You can use soft store-bought caramels. PECANS. These would be great for the holiday! Pinned and your photos are so beautiful! These dont look like turtles. Is this expected? Add about 1 tablespoon caramel to the top of each pecan pile; set aside. Add about 2 tablespoons chocolate to the top of each pecan cluster by dolloping it on top and letting it fall down the sides. I could eat about 17 of these! I made half the batch with milk chocolate and half with white chocolate (my fav). Its been over 6 hours since I stuck them into the freezer. I also add a sprinkling of sea salt on top. If the caramels are a bit tough I would add a little spoonful of water to yield a smoother end result. // This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 6. Your email address will not be published. They look so gooey and crunchy and just.mmm! 1/4 of what? Use the oven or a skillet to toast the pecans. My favorite chocolate chips are the Guittard ones! **(see notes below on melting the caramels). When you are ready, just melt the chocolate and oil in a small glass bowl in the microwave at half power, stirring often. Melting the caramel can be tricky, so Ive given very detailed tips on how to melt it in the recipe card below. Didnt use the microwave other than to melt the chocolate. You can use soft store-bought caramels. At first glance, these bite sized treats look just like, Cute and simple Easter Rice Krispies, topped with creamy frosting and Easter egg candies, made to look like a nest. Dont you know thats extremely unhealthy? Thanks for this great recipe & mine set up in no time without putting them in the cold. Your email address will not be published. Line two bakingsheets or large platters with parchment paper. If you are looking for a candy recipe to WOW for the holidays (without any sweat equity on your part!) Use hot pads to carefully remove the bowl from the microwave. Turtle cheesecake has always been a weakness of mine, but this looks like a delicious way to bypass all the effort of making a cheesecake when you dont have that much time. I made a couple of changes to your recipe, like I used rough-chopped macadamia nuts because I had some that needed to be eaten (theyre really bland when plain! Now all you have to do is wait for the chocolate to set up. Subscribe now to learn the secret copycat recipes the restaurants don't want you to know about! American Recipes Candy Christmas Desserts Holidays Recipes. Top with sea salt to give more contrast in flavors, Regardless of whether youre making these to give to neighbors, or just keeping a stash handy for yourself, .