Homemade Turtles

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Homemade Chocolate Turtles — Fast, easy, no-bake and just 4 ingredients! Chewy, gooey, salty-and-sweet! Homemade always tastes better! Yum!!

Homemade Turtles - Fast, easy, no-bake and just 4 ingredients! Chewy, gooey, salty-and-sweet! Homemade always tastes better! Yum!!

Caramel Pecan Turtle Recipe 

I’ve always loved Turtles and decided to make my own. Everything tastes better when it’s homemade, even Turtles.

Lately I can’t get enough of the pecan-caramel-chocolate combination. Crunchy, chewy, salty-and-sweet.

First there was Salted Caramel and Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars, then The Best Turtle Brownies, and now these.

I first made Turtles in 2009. Holy antique photography but I don’t delete old posts because they remind me how far I’ve come and how far my daughter has come. She was in cloth diapers then and now she’s in glittery lip gloss.

Homemade Turtles - Fast, easy, no-bake and just 4 ingredients! Chewy, gooey, salty-and-sweet! Homemade always tastes better! Yum!!

These homemade turtles candies are no-bake, easy, ready in under a half hour, and you only need 4 ingredients.

Some Turtles in the photos below are coated with milk chocolate and others with dark. On some, I sprinkled sea salt to play up the salty-and-sweet aspect. On some I drizzled milk chocolate over a dark chocolate-coated Turtle and vice versa.

Between the salty-and-sweet component, the crunchy pecans, chewy and gooey caramel, and the rich chocolate, they’re hard to resist. Save this recipe for holiday candy-making, birthdays, or for a last-minute hostess gift.

Or just hoard them all for yourself.

Homemade Turtles - Fast, easy, no-bake and just 4 ingredients! Chewy, gooey, salty-and-sweet! Homemade always tastes better! Yum!!

Ingredients in Chocolate Turtles

To make these homemade caramel turtles, you’ll need the following: 

  • Pecan halves (I used Trader Joe’s roasted, salted pecan halves)
  • Caramel squares
  • Cream or half and half 
  • Chocolate 
  • Sea salt (optional) 

Homemade Turtles - Fast, easy, no-bake and just 4 ingredients! Chewy, gooey, salty-and-sweet! Homemade always tastes better! Yum!!

How to Make Chocolate Turtles 

Homemade turtle candy is simple to prepare and requires no baking! Here’s a look at how the chocolate turtles are made: 

  1. Make piles of about 5 pecans each and top each pile with caramel sauce.
  2. I melted 25 caramel squares with 1/4 cup cream in the microwave (or use the stove). Take your time and stop and stir frequently so you don’t burn the mixture and have to start over. The caramel sauce is runny and loose when you first take it out of the microwave, but firms up quite a bit as it cools.
  3. After topping each pecan pile with caramel, cover with melted chocolate. 

Homemade Turtles - Fast, easy, no-bake and just 4 ingredients! Chewy, gooey, salty-and-sweet! Homemade always tastes better! Yum!!

What’s the Best Type of Chocolate for Turtles? 

I used Trader Joe’s Pound Plus Bars because they melt smoother and easier than chocolate chips. You may use semi-sweet, milk, or dark chocolate. Pick your favorite! 

Can I Use Another Type of Nut?

Yes, but caramel turtles are traditionally made with pecan halves. However, roasted peanuts or almonds would also taste delicious here! 

Homemade Chocolate Turtles — Fast, easy, no-bake and just 4 ingredients! Chewy, gooey, salty-and-sweet! Homemade always tastes better! Yum!!

What Type of Caramels Should I Use? 

You want to buy soft, individually wrapped caramel candies (not hard caramels). I’ve made the chocolate turtles recipe with both Kraft brand caramels and Werther’s Baking Caramels and can recommend both. 

How to Store Homemade Turtles 

Store the pecan turtles at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks

Homemade Turtles - Fast, easy, no-bake and just 4 ingredients! Chewy, gooey, salty-and-sweet! Homemade always tastes better! Yum!!

Tips for Making Homemade Turtles Candy 

When making the pecan piles, I recommend overlapping some of the nuts so that the caramel doesn’t ooze straight through. 

Melting the caramel can be tricky, so I’ve given very detailed tips on how to melt it in the recipe card below. 

You’ll want to chop up chocolate bars for this recipe rather than use chocolate chips. Chocolate chips don’t melt as well and can seize up in the microwave. 

Homemade Turtles - Fast, easy, no-bake and just 4 ingredients! Chewy, gooey, salty-and-sweet! Homemade always tastes better! Yum!!

Homemade Chocolate Turtles — Fast, easy, no-bake and just 4 ingredients! Chewy, gooey, salty-and-sweet! Homemade always tastes better! Yum!!

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4.43 from 120 votes

Homemade Turtles

By Averie Sunshine
Fast, easy, no-bake and just 4 ingredients! Chewy, gooey, salty-and-sweet! Homemade always tastes better! Yum!!
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Additional Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 30
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Ingredients  

  • 8 ounces pecan halves, I used roasted, lightly salted
  • 25 caramel squares, unwrapped (about 1 heaping cup)
  • ¼ cup cream or half-and-half, divided
  • about 16 ounces roughly chopped chocolate, melted (I used 8 ounces dark and 8 ounces milk, both Trader Joe’s Pound Plus bars)
  • sea salt, optional for sprinkling

Instructions 

  • Line two baking sheets or large platters with parchment paper. It’s helpful if they will fit in either fridge or freezer.
  • Make small piles of pecans, using 5 to 6 pieces per pile. Overlap the pecans some to reduce gaps so the caramel doesn’t seep through.
  • In a medium microwave-safe bowl, add the caramels, half of the cream (reserve the remainder), and heat on high power to melt. It will probably take about 3 to 4 minutes total, but you must stop and stir the mixture every 30 seconds so you don’t burn it. Alternatively, you can melt caramels on the stove over low heat, using caution and stirring frequently. **(see notes below on melting the caramels)
  • Add about 1 tablespoon caramel to the top of each pecan pile; set aside.
  • In a medium microwave-safe bowl, add 8 ounces chocolate and heat to melt, about 1 minute on high power. Heat in 15-second increments until chocolate can be stirred smooth. I prefer working in smaller batches with chocolate and recommend doing the same and not heating all 16 ounces at once; melt additional chocolate as necessary.
  • Add about 2 tablespoons chocolate to the top of each pecan cluster by dolloping it on top and letting it fall down the sides.
  • Optionally add a pinch of sea salt to each Turtle.
  • Allow Turtles to firm up at room temp (will take many hours) or in the fridge or freezer (about 15 minutes) before serving.

Notes

**Notes on melting the caramel: The first few times, stirring is almost futile but eventually the caramels soften enough to be stirred smooth. Take your time, don’t overheat or heat too quickly, and keep stirring; it will come together. If the mixture seems thick and needs more cream, add the remaining amount. I used 1/4 cup total and have made the recipe with both Kraft brand caramels and Werther’s Baking Caramels, but caramels vary and you may need less cream than I did. The caramel is runny and loose when it first comes together, but firms up quite a bit as it cools. 
Storage: Turtles will keep airtight at room temperature for weeks, or in the fridge or freezer for many months. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 308kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 28mg, Sodium: 103mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 22g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

More Easy Holiday Desserts: 

ALL OF MY HOLIDAY RECIPES! 

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Christmas Crack - A highly addictive, salty-sweet, crunchy, EASY Christmas treat that's IRRESISTIBLE!! Great for gifts and cookie exchanges because it stays fresh and everyone LOVES IT!!

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Holiday Special K Bars — Super chewy, gooey, FAST, easy, no-bake cereal bars loaded with peanut butter, chocolate, and sprinkles!! Like scotcheroos but with Special K!

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About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
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  2. 4 stars
    They came out good, but I had to double the amount of caramels I used. So if you use the Werther’s Soft Caramels keep that in mind when making them :)

  3. 4 stars
    They came out good, but I had to double the amount of caramels I used. So if you use the Werther’s Soft Caramels keep that in mind when making them :)

    1. It can really vary depending on how many nuts you use, how “spread out” the nuts are, etc. but glad that they came out good!

  4. 4 stars
    I tried these out (I know they will taste delicious) but the only thing is, that the process was difficult. The caramel slid off the pecans (not the chocolate) so make sure the caramel is smooth and not runny. That was my mistake that made this difficult. Other than that, I applaud the recipe and the baker behind the recipe! Bravo!