Description
Homemade Chocolate Turtles combine rich, gooey caramel with smooth chocolate and toasted nuts to create a classic, bite-sized candy that’s perfect for gifting, snacking, or special occasions. This easy-to-make treat delivers a perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors with a satisfying crunchy and chewy texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Chocolate
- 8 oz semisweet or milk chocolate, chopped or chips
Caramel
- 12 soft caramel squares or equivalent homemade caramel
- 2 tbsp butter (optional, to keep caramel soft)
- 2 tbsp sweetened condensed milk (optional, for homemade caramel creaminess)
Nuts
- 1 cup pecans (toasted) or choice of walnuts or almonds
Instructions
- Prepare the Nuts: Toast pecans or your choice of nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes, shaking frequently to avoid burning and to enhance their flavor.
- Arrange the Nuts on Parchment Paper: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place small clusters of the toasted nuts in loose, bite-sized groups evenly spaced on the sheet.
- Add the Caramel: Place one soft caramel square or a dollop of homemade caramel on each nut cluster, which will bind the nuts and form the gooey center.
- Melt the Chocolate: Gently melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl or double boiler, stirring frequently to ensure smooth and glossy chocolate without overheating or seizing.
- Coat the Turtles: Spoon the melted chocolate over each caramel and nut cluster, covering them completely and using the back of the spoon to shape them into classic turtle shapes.
- Chill and Set: Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator and allow the turtles to set for at least one hour until the chocolate hardens and the caramel firms up but remains chewy.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for smoother caramel and chocolate combination.
- Choose high-quality chocolate with a higher cocoa percentage for better flavor and melting.
- Work quickly after placing caramel to coat with chocolate before caramel cools.
- Line trays with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ease removal.
- Store in an airtight container to maintain freshness and softness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 30mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 7mg