Homemade Chocolate Turtles — 😋🙌 Fast, easy, no-bake and just 4 ingredients! Chewy, gooey, salty-and-sweet! Homemade always tastes better! Yum!!
Table of Contents
Easy Homemade Turtle Candy
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.
Ingredients in Chocolate Turtles
To make these homemade turtle candies, you’ll need the following:
- Pecan halves – I used Trader Joe’s roasted, salted pecan halves
- Caramel squares – I recommend Kraft or Werther’s brand baking caramels
- Heavy cream – or half and half
- Chocolate – milk or dark
- Sea salt – optional
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Chocolate Turtles From Scratch
Chocolate pecan turtles are simple to prepare and requires no baking! Here’s a look at how the chocolate turtles are made:
- Make piles of about 5 pecans each and top each pile with caramel sauce.
- Melt 25 caramel squares with 1/4 cup cream in the microwave (or use the stove).
- After topping each pecan pile with caramel, cover with melted chocolate.
- Optionally sprinkle with sea salt, then let rest until firm.
Tip for Melting Caramel Squares
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.
Recipe FAQs
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!
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.
Yes, but caramel turtles are traditionally made with pecan halves. However, roasted peanuts or almonds would also taste delicious here!
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.
No! Caramel sauce will never firm up like the melted caramel squares do. Caramel sauce will remain runny and the turtles will fall apart as soon as you try to pick them up.
Store the pecan turtles at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.
I adore this recipe and have made it several times at the holidays. Thanks for sharing! — Kim
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Homemade Turtles
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
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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More No-Bake Christmas Desserts:
The Easiest Foolproof Fudge Recipe — Look no further than this recipe for the EASIEST and most FOOLPROOF fudge that takes less than 3 minutes to make!! Customize it with your favorite add-ins like cranberries and walnuts!
Reindeer Chow — A holiday twist on classic Muddy Buddies that’s EASY, ready in 15 minutes, and perfect for hostess gifts or cookie exchanges!!
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!
Holiday White Chocolate Fudge — This EASY foolproof white chocolate fudge recipe is perfect for Christmas and holiday parties!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls — EASY, NO-BAKE chocolate peanut butter balls that are a holiday favorite!! They have it all: Salty, sweet, crunchy, with chocolate and peanut butter! Great for cookie exchanges or impromptu parties!!
Glittery lip gloss? Oh goodness — your daughter is MUCH trendier than me! I’m lucky if I make it out of my PJs… And it’s a miracle if I remember to put on mascara. I need lessons from her! Plus it’d give me an excuse to sample some of your baking… ;) These turtles look way better than any store-bought ones I’ve had before. Love all of that caramel & chocolate!
She’s only 7, going on 17, but I let her do what she wants with makeup. She makes videos of herself applying it with her iPad. One day those videos will be so priceless :)
Woah this looks delicious.
These will be a perfect holiday treat to hand out to family and friends! A definite must-make. :)
I have one word…YUM! Turtle cheesecake has always been a weakness of mine, but this looks like a delicious way to bypass all the effort of making a cheesecake when you don’t have that much time. I’m pinning this and now I have an excuse to go to Trader Joe’s! Thanks!!
Thanks for pinning & enjoy your shopping trip :)
Hello,
you just made my mouth run…………
Very delicius Turtles:-)
I must try them later to day.
I always find inspiration in Blogland.
Homemade is totally always better and these turtles are no exception!!! They look so gooey and crunchy and just….mmm! I feel like I’d be unable to stop eating them!
Hoooooly smokes. This is the best thing my little eyes have seen in awhile. Homemade Turtles — what’s not to love? And four ingredients? Done and done. LOVE the extra special addition of sea salt, too!
These would be great for the holiday! Do you need to worry about tempering the chocolate?
I didn’t worry about it and they came out great for me!
your right about everything tasting better when its home made! my chocolate cravings have definitely kicked in after seeing these delicious turtles..
Holy crap Averie! This is beautiful! I’d totally double fist this into my mouth. I love turtles!
As soon as I saw this post I felt the need to quote the kid from that ancient viral video – “I like turtles… O_O” Because I really do like turtles! :) I’ve never made them myself, but I think I have to now that I’m craving them!
oh my gawd, Averie! Chocolate turtles are the BEST! I love these. . these would be perfect for holiday gifts!!! Pinned and your photos are so beautiful!
Thanks for the photo compliments and the tweet! You’re awesome, Alice!
I seriously love homemade turtles! These pictures are gorgeous!
Thanks for the compliments and you know I ALWAYS love all your pictures..like so much!! :)
These look absolutely fabulous. I love the combination of all those flavors and textures too! So addictive. All that gooey caramel and dark chocolate looks so good! I would totally eat these for lunch right now. :)
OMG ~ love these turtles Averie, pinned to a few boards :)
Thanks for the pin love! :)
I love those pound half bars too from Trader Joe’s! They are my go-to when baking, so much better than chocolate chips if you ask me.
These look perfect Averie! Love a good classic dessert like this.
Those bars are THE BEST. For any melted chocolate needs and/or chopped chocolate chunks, I always use them. Have dark, milk, and 72% always on hand :)