0 from 504 votes
Turtle Recipe
This simple caramel turtle recipe has a baked pecan base smothered in chocolate and homemade caramel - a perfect treat for sharing!
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Rest
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 25 mins
Servings: 36
Calories: 172 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 3 cups pecan halves
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup corn syrup
- dash salt
- 7 ounces sweetened condensed milk, half of a 14-ounce can
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups chocolate chips, I used milk chocolate chips
- ½ teaspoon Vegetable oil, or shortening
Instructions
- Place pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes or till lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool. Arrange in clusters of 3-4 on silicone liners or parchment paper.
- Combine butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt in a 6-quart pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla.
- Continue cooking and stirring till the mixture reaches 235-240°F.
- I use the ice water test, it's more accurate. Drop a small spoonful of the hot caramel into a bowl of ice water. When you take it out, you should be able to roll it into a ball. Then it's done.
- Quickly spoon the caramel over the pecan clusters, making sure the caramel is touching each of the pecans. Let sit to harden.
- Melt the chocolate chips and oil in the microwave at half power, stirring often till smooth. Spoon chocolate on top of each layer of caramel. Let sit for 1-2 hours or till hardened.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Storebought caramel. Use 25-30 soft store-bought Kraft caramels or a bag of caramel bits. Melt them in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between.
- High elevation. In general, subtract 2° from the stated temperature for every 1,000 feet above sea level. For example, if you are 4,000 feet above sea level, subtract 8° from the stated recipe making it 227-232°F.
- Store. Store chocolate turtle candy at room temperature in an airtight container so the caramel stays soft. To freeze, place in a freezer-safe container and freeze for 4-6 weeks. Set them out on the counter to soften.
- tore chocolate turtle candy at room temperature in an airtight container so the caramel stays soft. To freeze, p
- If the caramels are a bit tough, add a little spoonful of half and half to yield a smoother result.
Nutrition Information
Serving
36g
Calories
172kcal
(9%)
Carbohydrates
19g
(6%)
Protein
2g
(4%)
Fat
11g
(17%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
4g
Trans Fat
0.1g
Cholesterol
10mg
(3%)
Sodium
37mg
(2%)
Potassium
63mg
(2%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
18g
(36%)
Vitamin A
115IU
(2%)
Vitamin C
0.3mg
(0%)
Calcium
37mg
(4%)
Iron
0.4mg
(2%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 36Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 172
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 36g | |
| Calories | 172kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 19g | 6% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 11g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 10mg | 3% |
| Sodium | 37mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 63mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 18g | 36% |
| Vitamin A | 115IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 0.3mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 37mg | 4% |
| Iron | 0.4mg | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.