The holidays are not all about the pies, these chocolate caramel pecan turtles are also a must! They are an easy Christmas dessert that you can make up with only a few ingredients.
Have you heard of the homemade turtle candy like our chocolate caramel pecan turtles? They are soo good, and great for any Christmas cookie exchange recipe that you have coming up.
These pecan turtles will wow anyone you decide to share these chocolate caramels with. What I like is that they don’t take up a bunch of room and ship wonderfully.
Chocolate caramel pecan turtles have become a Christmas dessert tradition in our house. Since it has only a few ingredients I love to make up the caramel and assemble it all together with the kids.
You can store them in a glass jar on the counter to have around as a treat or you can package them up in cute little tins as gifts.
Recipe Ingredient Notes
To make Chocolate Caramel Pecan Turtles, you will need the following ingredients:
- Pecan halves
- Butter
- Brown sugar
- Corn syrup
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Vanilla extract
- Milk chocolate chips
- Shortening
Equipment Needed
For this recipe, you only need a few simple kitchen tools. We recommend using the following equipment:
How To Make Chocolate Caramel Pecan Turtles
- Toast pecans at 300 degrees on a cookie sheet for 5 to 6 minutes until fragrant. Let cool.
- Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper and spray lightly with non stick cooking spray.
- Arrange the pecans on the sheet in small groups of 3.
- To make the caramel, melt butter in a medium sized sauce pan. Add brown sugar, corn syrup, 7 ounces sweetened condensed milk. Cook and stir over medium high heat until it reaches 235 degrees on your candy thermometer or the soft ball stage. (Clings together well when you drop ½ teaspoon of caramel in cold water).
- Then remove the caramel from heat and stir in vanilla. Carefully spoon caramel over each nut cluster covering all the nuts.
- For the chocolate topping melt the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl or big glass measuring cup. Heat for 30 seconds at a time stirring after each interval until all melted and smooth.
- Then add in 1/2 teaspoon shortening to the melted chocolate chips. Stir all together until its blended in.
- Spoon the melted chocolate over the caramel and spread around with the back of a spoon.
- Once they set up you can eat them or store them in an airtight container.
Storing and Other Tips
Keep the best chocolate turtles in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Why are Caramel and Chocolate Called Turtles?
The flavor of the caramel and chocolate combination came from a candy produced from the DeMet’s candy company that featured chocolate, caramel, and pecans.
According to Wikipedia, one of the dippers at a commissary back in the early 1900’s told the salesman that the candy looked like the shape of a turtle and the name stuck ever since.
And now most things that contain the caramel and chocolate use the term “turtle” to describe the dessert.
Will Dark Chocolate Work Instead?
For this recipe you can use dark chocolate, it will definitely taste good! However, it might be a little harder to get the dark chocolate to melt and become nice and smooth. You might have to up the amount of shortening just slightly to get the right consistency.
Enjoy More Delicious Caramel Recipes
Making homemade candy makes us feel less guilty about our sweet tooth. Check out our comprehensive collection of candy recipes here.
- Halloween Mickey Mouse Caramel Apples
- Homemade Caramels
- Homemade Chocolate Caramels with Sea Salt
- Homemade Microwave Caramels
Chocolate Caramel Pecan Turtles
Ingredients
- 3 cups pecan halves
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup corn syrup
- 7 ounces sweetened condensed milk, ½ can
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 12 ounces milk chocolate chips
- ½ teaspoon shortening
Instructions
- Toast pecans at 300 degrees on a cookie sheet for 5 to 6 minutes until fragrant. Let cool.
- Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper and spray lightly with non stick cooking spray.
- Arrange the pecans on the sheet in small groups of 3.
- To make the caramel, melt butter in a medium sized sauce pan. Add brown sugar, corn syrup, 7 ounces sweetened condensed milk. Cook and stir over medium high heat until it reaches 235 degrees on your candy thermometer or the soft ball stage. (Clings together well when you drop ½ teaspoon of caramel in cold water).
- Then remove the caramel from heat and stir in vanilla. Carefully spoon caramel over each nut cluster covering all the nuts.
- For the chocolate topping melt the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl or big glass measuring cup. Heat for 30 seconds at a time stirring after each interval until all melted and smooth.
- Then add in 1/2 teaspoon shortening to the melted chocolate chips. Stir all together until its blended in.
- Spoon the melted chocolate over the caramel and spread around with the back of a spoon.
- Once they set up you can eat them or store them in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.
Is the shortening the cream or liquid form
I saw a recipe for turtles but I didn´t recognize the author. I have been stung a few times and now I am very cautious. Then I found one by Six Sisters and I knew that was the ONE. You girls have given great and delicious recipes and I know if you post it then it´s a keeper. Just finished making your turtle recipe and they are great!!! Thanks again for another great recipe. Merry Christmas to you girls and your families. Looking forward to a New Year of your great recipes. B. Karr
Hi Barbara. Thanks so much for making our day by taking a minute and leaving this sweet comment. We are so glad you enjoyed the turtles. They are a favorite at Christmas. Have a very Merry Christmas!
Thank you for all your delicious recipes. Making your CHOCOLATE CARAMEL PECAN TURTLES recipe today. Once your caramel sauce has cooked, has anyone tried to add in chocolate chips combining sauce & chocolate and then nuts. I can drop spoonfuls of the turtle candy onto a baking sheet and cool. This will save me much needed time. It should taste the same but the look will be different, please advise.
Thank you, in advance for your kind attention and quick response.
Your candy is wonderful
These were amazing! Everyone loved them especially the kids! Thank you for sharing your recipe!
I think I’m missing something. All Step 4 says is to make the Carmel, add butter to pan. It doesn’t say anything about the other ingredients.
Thanks so much for catching that. We have edited the recipe and it’s all there now!
I used Donnas method and shortcut it and mixed all at once making sure the caramel had reached the correct stage. It turned out great. Thank you Donna and three susters