Turtle Recipe

4.94 from 168 votes

This simple caramel turtle recipe has a baked pecan base smothered in chocolate and homemade caramel - a perfect treat for sharing!

Prep Time10

Cook Time15

Rest1

Total Time1 25

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Author: Lil' Luna

Equipment

candy and deep fry thermometer

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

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.

If the caramels are a bit tough, add a little spoonful of half and half to yield a smoother result.

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.

Nutrition