Ah, homemade turtle candy 🍫🐢 — a classic sweet treat made with pecans, caramel, and chocolate, named for its resemblance to a turtle shell. Here’s a step-by-step recipe for rich, chewy, and chocolatey turtles you can make at home:
Homemade Turtle Candy Recipe (Makes ~12–16 turtles)
Ingredients
- 1 cup pecan halves
- 1 cup soft caramel candies (or homemade caramel)
- 2–3 tbsp milk (if using soft caramels)
- 1 cup semisweet or milk chocolate chips
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- Sea salt for sprinkling (optional)
Instructions
1. Prep the pecans
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
- Arrange clusters of 3–4 pecan halves per turtle — these will form the “legs” and base of the turtle
2. Melt the caramel
- In a microwave-safe bowl or small saucepan:
- Add caramel candies + milk
- Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth
- Optional: stir in vanilla extract for extra flavor
3. Assemble turtles
- Spoon a dollop of caramel over each pecan cluster (~1–2 tsp per turtle)
- Let caramel slightly cool (~1–2 min) so it’s not too runny
4. Add chocolate
- Melt chocolate chips in microwave or double boiler until smooth
- Spoon chocolate over each caramel-pecan cluster, covering the caramel completely
- Optional: sprinkle a tiny pinch of sea salt on top for flavor contrast
5. Set the candies
- Let the turtles cool at room temperature for 1–2 hours, or refrigerate 15–20 minutes until chocolate hardens
- Store in an airtight container
Tips for Perfect Turtles
- Use fresh, high-quality pecans for best flavor
- Don’t overheat caramel — it can become too stiff
- For a fancier look, drizzle a little extra chocolate on top after the first layer hardens
- Makes a great gift or holiday treat
Variations
- Dark chocolate turtles: swap milk chocolate for dark chocolate
- Nut mix turtles: add almonds or walnuts to the cluster
- Sea salt caramel turtles: sprinkle lightly with sea salt for a gourmet twist
If you want, I can also give a “no-microwave, stovetop version” that produces soft, chewy caramel turtles with perfectly smooth chocolate — just like candy store quality.
Do you want me to do that?
