This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This simple caramel turtle recipe has a baked pecan base smothered in chocolate and homemade caramel – a perfect treat for sharing!
A Favorite Flavor Combo
Caramel-covered turtle candy is a family favorite (our mom’s all-time favorite)! And how could it not be with chocolate, pecans and caramel all over?!
This turtle-shaped candy is often sold and made year-round but is especially popular during Thanksgiving and Christmas. We always include them on our treat plates for holiday gifting and love to add them to party plates and Charcuterie boards for family gatherings since we love them so much.
Our turtle recipe includes homemade caramel for melt-in-your-mouth perfection! If you love the flavor combo of turtles, you also need to try Turtle Thumbprint Cookies and Turtle Cheesecake.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- Flavor combination. The combination of crunchy pecans, chewy caramel, and chocolate is incredible.
- Homemade. This version is better than any turtle candy we have ever purchased. Plus, they’re less expensive to make than buy.
- Simple steps. Don’t be intimidated about the candy-making process, the steps are simple and there are plenty of tips!
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 10 minutes
COOK TIME: 15 minutes
REST TIME: 1 hour
- 3 cups pecan halves
- ½ cup butter – if using salted butter reduce the amount of added salt
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup corn syrup – light corn syrup
- dash salt
- 7 ounces sweetened condensed milk – (half of a 14-ounce can) Do not use evaporated milk.
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups chocolate chips – milk chocolate chips, or try semi-sweet, dark chocolate chips, or white chocolate chips
- ½ teaspoon vegetable oil – or shortening
- optional topping – sprinkle with flaky sea salt
Use Store-Bought 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.
If the caramels are a bit tough, add a little spoonful of half and half to yield a smoother result.
How to Make Our Turtle recipe
- PECANS. Place 3 cups pecan halves 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 (not wax paper).
- CARAMEL. Combine ½ cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, ½ cup corn syrup, and a dash of salt in a 6-quart pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Add 7 ounces sweetened condensed milk and ½ teaspoon vanilla.
- CORRECT TEMP. Continue cooking and stirring. Use a candy thermometer to ensure the caramel 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.
- ASSEMBLE. Quickly spoon the caramel over the pecan clusters, making sure the caramel is touching each of the pecans. Let sit to harden.
- CHOCOLATE. Melt 1½ cups chocolate chips and ½ teaspoon oil in the microwave at half power, stirring often till smooth. Spoon chocolate on top of each layer of caramel (sprinkle with salt if desired). Let sit for 1-2 hours, or till hardened.
PRO TIP: 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.
More Like This
Holiday Candy Recipes
Holiday Treats
Collections
Turtle Recipe
Equipment
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.
Video
Notes
- If the caramels are a bit tough, add a little spoonful of half and half to yield a smoother result.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Store chocolate turtle candy at room temperature in an airtight container or freeze it in a freezer-safe container for 4-6 weeks. Set them out on the counter to soften before eating.
Thanks for sharing this recipe with us Kara! For more amazingly delicious recipes by her, head over to Creations by Kara!!
no where did i see where you ad the carmel….or did i miss something
about how many turtles will a recipe make?
I would like to KNow too. I have a big event and need to make a shop list. Please reply asap
It will make close to 2 dozen 🙂
I made a single batch. Turned out great. would the recipe be the same for a double batch?
Should be 🙂 Glad you liked them!!
I have never made any candy befor but this is something I think I can do . Looking forward to more of your recipes .
This is super easy! That’s why I love it! I hope you do try it & love it!
I made these tonight to bring to out of state friends of ours this weekend as a thank you for hosting us! They look (and taste lol) absolutely amazing! They are also my moms favorite candy whose 88th birthday is next week! I feel another batch coming soon!! Thank you for the incredible recipe (I must say I was tempted to cheat and buy Kraft caramels but I wanted them perfect!)
You are so welcome!! Thank you for letting me know!! You’ll have to make some for your mom 🙂
I’m actually making this tonight… God help me, lol. But these just look tooo damn good!!!
The recipe for turtles never adds the Carmel to the corn syrup, brown sugar, etc…….
What ? ? ? ? ? ?
So I added Carmel chips anyway with the rest of the ingredients and it is almost to soft and so so so sugary you almost collapse from sugar. They are horrible unless i just can’t cook. But seeing how you screwed the recipe…….. and wasted my money. Send me a reimbursement of $30 please ! ! !
The recipe makes homemade caramel. I never add caramels. I’m sorry it did not turn out for you.
Your recipe didn’t tell her to add caramels pieces that’s what the sweeten condensed milk is for don’t be rude to lil Luna like you quoted u can’t cook don’t blame it on lil Luna.
why would you add caramel chips to a homemade caramel recipe?? lol
hi just going over this could you please let me know when you add the vanilla Thanks
Sorry, I noticed I left it out! I added it:) You’ll add it with the sweetened condensed milk 🙂
I might just be missing it but I don’t see where the 1/2 tsp vanilla is used in the recipe? Is it added into the caramel mixture before the sweetened condensed milk? These look amazing and much easier than I expected!
My MIL and aunt-in-law make turtles and other amazing chocolate treats every Christmastime and I thought it was a big secret and complicated recipe! WHAT. Now that I’m far from home state, I’ll have to make some up myself. 🙂
Yay..glad you don’t have to wait!! Thanks so much!!
I melt chocolate pieces & put small rounds on paper, then I add pecans, then caramel sauce then another dollup of chocolate & put in freezer about 20 minutes. I get chocolate melts at craft store. This way there is a chocolate base for pecans & caramel sauce.