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Easy Chocolate Turtle Recipe

Sweet and salty with lots of crunch, these Homemade Chocolate Turtles are made with just a few easy ingredients and take little time to prepare! The buttery caramel, creamy chocolate, salty pretzel and toasted pecan in each bite makes these little candy turtles absolutely addictive!

chocolate turtle feature image.

These Chocolate Turtles are an excellent portion controlled treat to satisfy those sweet tooth cravings. The perfect recipe for holidays, special occasions, gifts, or just because! This is the kind of fun treat your kids can easily help with. Have fun decorating the tops of the turtles with a variety of sprinkles to celebrate the different holidays and occasions.

Why This Recipe Works?

  • Combination of sweet, salty, and crunchy!
  • Make Ahead recipe.
  • Readily available ingredients.
  • Kid Friendly.
  • Great for holidays, special occasions, or just when you feel like it.
  • Sprinkle topping lets you choose the ideal colors for the different holidays and seasons.
  • Perfect for homemade gifts.
  • Can be made gluten-free.
  • Bite size portions.
  • The Best Chocolate Turtles ever!!!
second feature image of chocolate turtles.

Main Ingredients

This recipe uses super easy ingredients that can be purchased from a local grocery store if they are not already in your kitchen. Read the Recipe Card for the measurements.

  • Toasted Pecans – Toasting the pecans will maximize the flavor and crunch of these tasty nuts.
  • Pretzel Twists – Are the crispy, salty base of this wonderful treat. We use mini twists specifically because of their shape and size. You may also use gluten-free pretzels to create a gluten-free treat.
  • Soft Caramels – We use soft, individually wrapped caramel candies. The caramel needs to be soft so that the melting process is easier.
  • Milk Chocolate Chips – These are melted down to create the delicious texture used in this Chocolate Turtle recipe. If you prefer, you can also use semi-sweet chocolate chips.
  • Spinkles/Sea Salt – Add some fun and a bit more texture – kids love them!
ingredients for chocolate turtles.

How To Make Easy Chocolate Turtles

Step 1: Prep It

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. 
  • Gather your ingredients.

Step 2: Toast It

  • In a separate sheet pan add pecan halves and toast in the preheated 350 degree oven for 5-7 minutes until lightly toasted. Once done, leave the oven on and set nuts aside to cool. 
toast the pecans.

Step 3: Soften the Caramel

  • On the prepared baking sheet lined with parchments, add pretzels and top each with an unwrapped caramel candy. 
melt the caramel onto the pretzels.
  • Bake in the preheated 350 degree oven for 3-4 minutes until the caramels are soft to the touch but not melting.
  • Remove sheet pan from the oven and gently press the pecan halves into the soft caramel. Set pan aside to cool. 
add the pecans to the melted caramel.

Step 4: Melt the chocolate

  • While the caramels are cooling, melt the chocolate in a double broiler. You will need a heatproof bowl and saucepan with a little water. The bowl should sit firmly over the saucepan to prevent any steam or drops of water from getting into the chocolate. An alternative method to melting the chocolate would be to pop it into the microwave in 30 second increments and stirring until melted. Using the double broiler method produces even melting throughout all of the chocolate whereas the microwave method may create hot spots, therefore leaving you with clumps. The microwave may be worth a try, if pressed for time.
  • To a medium saucepan over low heat, add water, about 1 cup (be sure the water does not touch the bowl once it starts to simmer).
  • Place a heatproof bowl that fits snugly over the saucepan and then add the chocolate to the bowl.
  • With a rubber spatula, stir until 3/4 of the chocolate has melted. Remove the pot from the heat and continue stirring until all of the chocolate has melted. When putting the turtles together, if the chocolate starts to cool and thicken, place the bowl snugly over the saucepan and bring the water back to a gently simmer.
melt the chocolate.

Step 5: Putting it Together

  • Remove the cooled caramel and pretzels from the sheet pan and set aside on a tray or plate.
  • Using the same sheet pan lined with parchment and a 1/2 tablespoon measuring utensil, spoon out 30 mounds of the melted chocolate onto the parchment.
  • Place the caramel and pretzels in the center of each chocolate mound. 
  • Drizzle any leftover chocolate on top of the turtles.
prepare the chocolate turtles for the sprinkle topping.
  • Top off with sprinkles or sea salt flakes (if using).
  • Allow the chocolate to set before serving (if you are eager to give these a try, pop them in the fridge for a few minutes).
time to enjoy your chocolate turtle.

Store at room temperature in an air tight container for 3-4 days.

Other desserts you may want to try are our amazing chocolate chip cookies and tender and flakey chocolate rugelach.

Easy Chocolate Turtle Recipe

Easy Chocolate Turtle Recipe

Yield: 30 Candy Turtles
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Sweet and Salty with lots of crunch, these Homemade Chocolate Turtles are made with just a few easy ingredients and take little time to prepare! The buttery caramel, creamy chocolate, salty pretzel and toasted pecan in each bite makes these little candy turtles absolutely addictive!

Ingredients

  • 30 pecan halves
  • 30 mini pretzels twists or waffle squares
  • 30 soft caramel candies, unwrapped
  • 11.5 oz bag milk chocolate chips, Nestle or Ghirardelli
  • 2 tablespoon sprinkles (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Gather your ingredients.
  2. In a separate sheet pan add pecan halves and toast in the preheated 350 degree oven for 5-7 minutes until lightly toasted. Once done, leave the oven on and set nuts aside to cool. 
  3. On the prepared baking sheet lined with parchments, add pretzels and top each with an unwrapped caramel candy. Bake in the preheated 350 degree oven for 3-4 minutes until the caramels are soft to the touch but not melting. Remove sheet pan from the oven and gently press the pecan halves into the soft caramel. Set pan aside to cool. 
  4. While the caramels are cooling, melt the chocolate in a double broiler. Place a heatproof bowl that fits snugly over the saucepan and then add the chocolate to the bowl. With a rubber spatula, stir until 3/4 of the chocolate has melted. Remove the pot from the heat and continue stirring until all of the chocolate has melted.
  5. Remove the cooled caramel and pretzels from the sheet pan and set aside on a tray or plate. Using the same sheet pan lined with parchment and a 1/2 tablespoon measuring utensil, spoon out 30 mounds of the melted chocolate onto the parchment. Place the caramel and pretzels in the center of each chocolate mound. Drizzle any leftover chocolate on top of the turtles.
  6. Top off with sprinkles or sea salt flakes (if using). Allow the chocolate to set before serving (if you are eager to give these a try, pop them in the fridge for a few minutes).

Notes

An alternative method to melting the chocolate would be to pop it into the microwave in 30 second increments and stirring until melted. Using the double broiler method produces even melting throughout all of the chocolate whereas the microwave method may create hot spots, therefore leaving you with clumps. The microwave may be worth a try, if pressed for time.

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