Homemade Turtle Candy with Pecans and Caramels

As a kid, I loved baking with my grandma or any elder and feeling important enough to be allowed in the kitchen when the fun was happening—finally reaching the age where I was trusted with mixing ingredients and making some delicious treats. We all remember those times.

Traditionally, we highlight simple and delicious savory meals for your family or when a party is coming up, but today, we wanted to give you sweet tooth’s out there something to add to your must-make recipe list. 

Homemade Turtle Candy with Pecans and Caramels is such a SIMPLE snack to make, and the flavors never get old. You get the perfect combination of sweet and salty flavors from pecans, caramel, and chocolate. 

What is Turtle Candy?

This delectable dessert is when you use nuts or pretzels for your base and then use melted caramel and chocolate to form a shell-like covering over your nuts or pretzels. These bite-sized treats are usually frozen or chilled to ensure the chocolate and caramel don’t melt. 

This recipe makes about 16 pieces of candy, so if you know the family will devour your first batch, line up a second! Another bonus for making these candies is it only takes about 15 minutes! So go through your candy drawer and grab the few ingredients needed to put together your Homemade Turtle Candy with Pecans and Caramels. 

Can I use other types of nuts?

Most of the ingredients, aka the other two components, you probably have on hand if you are even a basic level baker. But the pecans could be that one item you must run to the grocery store for. Instead of doing that, let’s see if these other nuts are hanging around for you to use. Remember, we want something large enough to hold the caramel and chocolate topping, so small peanuts will not work. If you have almonds, cashews, or macadamia nuts will do just fine! Almonds and macadamia nuts are sweeter, whereas cashews have more of a bitter taste. Don’t worry; the chocolate and caramel will balance it out!

Ingredients:

64 Pecan halves

11 oz. Baking/cooking caramels

1 Bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

Parchment paper or a silicone baking mat

Instructions:

Place the pecan halves flat side down on a parchment or silicone baking mat lined baking sheet. Separate them into sets of four, and form them into cross or “x” shapes. Leave some room between each set of four pecan halves. These will be the base for your turtle candies. 

Unwrap the caramels and place them into a microwave-safe bowl. Add a tablespoon of water to the bowl, and microwave for 30 seconds at a time until completely melted and smooth. 

Use a spoon to spoon the caramel mixture over the center of each group of pecan halves on your baking sheet. You can use a generous helping for each one. 

Add the chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl, and heat for 30 seconds at a time until completely melted and smooth. 

Spoon the chocolate mixture over the caramel mixture in the center of each candy. 

Place the turtle candies into the freezer to set for at least half an hour before serving.

How many of these Homemade Turtle Candy with Pecans and Caramels are you eating?

Let us know what you think of these in the comment section below!

Enjoy!

Homemade Turtle Candy with Pecans and Caramels

Candy is made with love and ease. A beautiful marriage of sweet and salty flavors combines for the ultimate grab-and-go snack.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 minutes mins

Total Time 3 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Servings 16

Ingredients

  

• 64 Pecan halves
• 11 oz. Baking/cooking caramels
• 1 Bag semi sweet chocolate chips
• Parchment paper or a silicone baking mat

Instructions

 

• Place the pecan halves flat side down on a parchment or silicone baking mat lined baking sheet. Separate them into sets of four, and form them into cross or “x” shapes. Leave some room between each set of four pecan halves. These will be the base for your turtle candies. 
• Unwrap the caramels and place them into a microwave safe bowl. Add a tablespoon of water to the bowl, and microwave for 30 seconds at a time until completely melted and smooth. 
• Use a spoon to spoon the caramel mixture over the center of each group of pecan halves on your baking sheet. You can use a generous helping for each one. 
• Add the chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl, and heat for 30 seconds at a time until completely melted and smooth. 
• Spoon the chocolate mixture over the caramel mixture in the center of each candy. 
• Place the turtle candies into the freezer to set for at least half an hour before serving.