Turtle Candy Recipe With Pecans and Caramel

Written by
Elizabeth LaBau
A professional pastry chef, cookbook author and writer, Elizabeth LaBau has published more than 600 articles on baking and candy-making.
Learn about our editorial process
Elizabeth LaBau
Sweet Book of Candy Making Elizabeth LaBau
Published on 06/05/19 by Elizabeth LaBau
A professional pastry chef, cookbook author and writer, Elizabeth LaBau has published more than 600 articles on baking and candy-making.
Learn about The Spruce Eats's Editorial Process

Updated 06/05/19

Turtle Candy Recipe With Pecans and Caramel
The Spruce
  • Total: 30 mins
  • Prep: 30 mins
  • Cook: 0 mins
  • Yield: 24 turtles (24 servings)
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
159 Calories
10g Fat
16g Carbs
2g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 24 turtles (24 servings)
Amount per serving
Calories 159
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 1mg 0%
Sodium 37mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 16g 6%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Protein 2g
Calcium 31mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Turtle Candies are a chocolate shop classic that are surprisingly easy to make at home. You just need three ingredients to recreate the familiar pecan, caramel, and chocolate treats. There are a lot of different ways to make them—some folks form them into patties, while others like to make a more literal turtle shape. Ultimately, the way you make them is up to you. The important part ​and the thing that makes them a turtle is the combination of chocolate, pecans, and caramel.

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Ingredients

  • 12 ounces soft caramels (homemade or store-bought)
  • 6 ounces pecans (halves, toasted)
  • 8 ounces chocolate (semi-sweet, chips are fine)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Prepare a cookie sheet by covering it with aluminum foil or parchment, and spraying the foil or parchment with nonstick cooking spray.

    Tray for candy-making.
     The Spruce

  3. Arrange the pecans in clusters of 4 with each pecan pointing in a different direction (like turtle legs). Alternately, you can just drop them in small clusters on the baking sheet.

    Pecans for turtle candy.
     The Spruce

  4. Unwrap the caramels if wrapped and place them in a microwave-safe bowl. If they are very stiff, add a spoonful of water so the final product will be softer. Microwave them until melted, stirring after every 30 seconds.

    Caramels for turtle candy.
     The Spruce

  5. Allow the caramel to cool slightly, so it's not piping-hot, then use a spoon or a small candy scoop to drop a spoonful of caramel each pecan cluster. They are meant to be a rustic candy, so don't worry about keeping the turtles round or about having some of the pecans poking through.

    Caramel on pecans for turtle candy.
     The Spruce

  6. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave or over a double boiler.

    Melted chocolate.
     The Spruce

  7. Spoon the melted chocolate over the caramel layer, letting some drip down the sides, and nudging it around so it covers the top of the caramel completely.

    Chocolate melted on turtle candy.
     The Spruce

  8. Place the baking sheet of candies in the refrigerator to fully set the chocolate and caramel, for at least 30 minutes.

    Set turtle candies.
     The Spruce

  9. For the best taste and texture, serve the turtles at room temperature. Extras can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or at cool room temperature for up to two weeks. 

    Homemade turtle candy.
     The Spruce

  10. Enjoy!

Tip

  • When it comes to the caramel, store-bought is going to be fastest and easiest, but as far as taste, we always prefer homemade whenever possible. We won't usually make a new batch of caramel just for turtles, but if we've made caramel and have some left over, turtles are the perfect use for it! Try this recipe for soft caramels and see if it doesn't take your turtles over the top!