Description
Chocolate Turtle Cookies combine rich chocolate, buttery caramel, and crunchy nuts into soft, chewy cookies with gooey caramel pockets and toasted nuts, delivering a classic turtle candy flavor in a homemade treat perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add-ins
- 1 cup caramels or caramel bits, chopped if necessary
- 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (toasted for best flavor)
- 1 cup chocolate chips or chunks
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Gather all ingredients, chop nuts if needed, and soften butter to room temperature to ensure easy blending with sugars and other ingredients.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: Using a mixer, beat together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy to create the base for soft, chewy cookies.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Mix in eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla extract, blending until fully incorporated for rich flavor and proper dough consistency.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute leavening agents.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing just until combined to avoid tough cookies.
- Fold in Caramels, Nuts, and Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in chopped caramels or caramel bits, nuts, and chocolate chips to ensure even distribution and classic turtle candy texture.
- Shape and Bake: Drop rounded spoonfuls of dough onto lined baking sheets and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes, until edges are golden and centers appear set but soft.
- Cool and Enjoy: Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely, allowing caramel pockets to firm up perfectly.
Notes
- Use room temperature butter for even mixing and a tender crumb.
- Don’t overmix the dough to keep cookies soft and chewy.
- Freeze dough balls for 15-20 minutes before baking to prevent spreading.
- Lightly toast nuts before adding to enhance their flavor.
- Watch baking time closely; remove cookies when still soft to avoid dryness.
- Use quality chocolate and fresh caramel bits to elevate flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 10-12 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 115mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg