Caramel Pecan Turtles Candy Recipe- Creations by Kara (2024)

by Kara Cook 41 Comments

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Homemade Turtle Candy . . . these decadent little clusters are a perfect combination of crunchy and chewy all rolled into one amazing candy. A simple homemade caramel makes this recipe the best!

Caramel Pecan Turtles Candy Recipe- Creations by Kara (1)

Turtles have always been one of my favorite candies. The crunchy pecans, the chewy caramel, the melt in your mouth chocolate. Simply incredible. I don’t know why I never thought to make a homemade version before now.

Caramel Pecan Turtles Candy Recipe- Creations by Kara (2)

Guys, this homemade turtle candy is amazing. Way better than any store bought turtles I’ve ever tried!

Caramel Pecan Turtles Candy Recipe- Creations by Kara (3)

HOW TO MAKE TURTLE CANDY

Don’t be intimidated about the candy making process, these turtles are really quite simple to make. You start by toasting your pecans. Toasting makes a huge difference in the flavor of the finished product, so don’t skip this step. Just place your pecans on a cookie sheet and bake at 350° for about 10 minutes. They will smell amazing!

Caramel Pecan Turtles Candy Recipe- Creations by Kara (4)

Arrange the pecans in clusters of 3-4 on baking sheets lined with silicone baking mats. If you don’t have them, you can use waxed or parchment paper sprayed with non-stick spray.

Caramel Pecan Turtles Candy Recipe- Creations by Kara (5)

As soon as your caramel is ready, immediately spoon the hot caramel on top of the clusters, making sure each pecan is covered with some caramel. Don’t worry about perfection, just work fast. If the caramel starts to set up, you can pop it back on the stove for a minute or two.

Caramel Pecan Turtles Candy Recipe- Creations by Kara (6)

You can wait for the caramel to set up, or just add the chocolate now. Just melt the chocolate and oil in a small glass bowl in the microwave at half power, stirring often. Then spoon a small amount of chocolate on top of each turtle. Use the back of your spoon to make a little swirl in the chocolate as you lift it.

Caramel Pecan Turtles Candy Recipe- Creations by Kara (7)

The hardest part about homemade turtle candy is waiting for the chocolate to set up. Be patient, it can take awhile. Mine weren’t totally set up for a couple of hours. Of course, you don’t have to wait that long to eat one! 🙂

Caramel Pecan Turtles Candy Recipe- Creations by Kara (8)

You can tell they are set up when the chocolate loses its shiny luster.

Now you can go ahead and dive right in. Mmmmm.

Caramel Pecan Turtles Candy Recipe- Creations by Kara (10)

For more treats perfect for the holidays, checkthese out:

  • Pistachio Bars
  • Italian Christmas Cookies
  • White Chocolate Puffcorn

MORE AMAZING CANDY RECIPES

  • Pecan Caramel Recipe
  • Brigadeiro Recipe
  • Saltine Toffee
  • Chocolate Mint Candy
  • Wedding Mints
  • Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Balls
  • Melted Snowman Bark
  • Homemade Toffee
  • Microwave Caramels

TURTLE CANDY RECIPE

Yield: 3-4 dozen clusters

Turtle Candy

Caramel Pecan Turtles Candy Recipe- Creations by Kara (11)

Homemade Turtles Candy recipe - Baked pecans covered in a delicious homemade caramel and topped with with melted chocolate! These treats make perfect neighbor gifts for the holidays!

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time30 minutes

Total Time35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 cups whole pecans
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup corn syrup
  • Dash of salt
  • 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp sweetened condensed milk (half of a 14oz can)
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate chips)
  • 1/2 tsp vegetable oil or shortening

Instructions

  1. Place pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for about 10 minutes or till lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool. Arrange in clusters of 3-4 on silicone liners or parchment paper.
  2. Combine butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt in a 6 quart pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla.
  3. Continue cooking and stirring till mixture reaches 235-240 degrees. I like to use the ice water test, it's more accurate. Drop a small spoonful of the hot caramel into a bowl of ice water. When you take it out, you should be able to roll it into a ball. Then it's done.
  4. Quickly spoon the caramel over the pecan clusters, making sure caramel is touching each of the pecans. Let sit to harden.
  5. Melt the chocolate chips and oil in the microwave at half power, stirring often till smooth. Spoon chocolate on top of each layer of caramel. Let sit for 1-2 hours, or till hardened.

Notes

-Recipe inspired by Jamie Cooks It Up!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

40

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 187Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 45mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 1gSugar: 19gProtein: 2g

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a comment below and pin the recipe to Pinterest!

This turtle recipe is perfect for holiday gift giving, but seriously, homemade turtle candy with pecans and caramel is going to be well received any time of year!

ENJOY!!

Caramel Pecan Turtles Candy Recipe- Creations by Kara (2024)

FAQs

Why is caramel pecan called turtle? ›

Turtles are a candy made with pecans and caramel dipped in chocolate, with a shape resembling a turtle. The name is trademarked by DeMet's Candy Company.

Who made the original Turtles candy? ›

DeMet's started in 1898 as a candy store business and soda fountain shop by George DeMet of Chicago — subsequently creating Turtles candies in 1966.

Are pecan delights the same as turtles? ›

Both pecan delights and turtles are made up of chocolate, caramel, and pecans so they're very similar! What is this? You may just find them called different things depending on the brand that makes them. Turtles are pretty common while Russell Stover is known for their Pecan Delights.

What are turtle sweets? ›

Turtles are green turtles shaped sweets with a yellow belly that are a really popular sweet with the young and old.

What is another name for turtle candy? ›

Whether you call them chocolate turtles or bear claws, these decadent treats that combine chocolate, caramel, and pecans have delighted people of all ages for decades.

Are turtles sweet Georgia Browns? ›

Ever been enticed by the delightful fusion of caramel, nuts, and chocolate? At Purdys, we've given this classic treat our own twist, naming them Sweet Georgia Browns.

What nut is in a turtle? ›

Three ingredients that can perk up any palate or day, Turtles ® clusters are bursting with crunchy pecans, creamy caramel, and all wrapped up in luscious chocolate. The taste of the original caramel nut cluster is made to delight.

Are pixies and Turtles the same? ›

Yes, they are! “Clusters,” “turtles,” and even “pixies” are often used synonymously.

Why are they called turtle brownies? ›

The shape of them with a hump of caramel in the middle resembles a turtle shell, hence the name. I've turned one of my favorite fudgy cocoa brownie recipes into the ultimate decadent treat by adding pecans, chocolate chips and drizzles of salted caramel to deliver a nostalgic taste of that famous confection!

What ice cream has turtle in it? ›

Uniquely Mayfield®. We mix chocolate caramel turtles and chocolate-covered pecans with a caramel swirl for a crunchy, sweet taste that has become one of our most sought-after varieties.

What flavors of meat are in a turtle? ›

The flavor has often been compared to being incredibly meaty, beefy with a unique texture that can be roughly compared to squid or alligator. Others have compared the succulent flavoring of turtle meat to rich crab, salmon, decadent lobster with hints occasionally of bluefish, mackerel, trout, and even sturgeon.

What's the difference between praline and turtles? ›

What is the difference between Pralines and Turtles? The turtles contain pecans and chocolate, the pralines do not. Pralines use Almonds in the recipe, Homemade Turtle Candy with Pecans and Caramel, uses pecans.

Why are chocolate and caramel called turtles? ›

Developed in 1918 by DeMet's Candy Company, these delectable bites were made of pecan pieces that were coated in caramel and then enveloped inside a glob of gourmet chocolate. And why were they called turtles? Because they actually looked like turtles with a large, chocolate covered shell.

Why are desserts called turtles? ›

A turtle pie is a dessert pie, originating in the United States. The turtle pie got its name due to the caramel, chocolate and pecans that are used to top the pies, which are said to have a similarity in flavor to that of DeMet's Turtles, which use similar ingredients.

What do Haribo turtles taste like? ›

Gummy, green turtles with a soft yellow belly and with lots of delicious bubblegum flavour. Coming from sweetie giants, Haribo, you know they're gonna be good.

Why is the dessert called turtle? ›

A turtle pie is a dessert pie, originating in the United States. The turtle pie got its name due to the caramel, chocolate and pecans that are used to top the pies, which are said to have a similarity in flavor to that of DeMet's Turtles, which use similar ingredients.

Why is it called turtle flavor? ›

Why the peculiar name? The story goes that in 1916 Chicago candymaker George DeMet had the brilliant idea of adding caramel to chocolate-covered pecans. When it was pointed out that the shape of the cluster looked like a turtle, the name was born.

Why do they call it turtle ice cream? ›

Because it's the white chocolate version of a turtle candy! We know you'll go nuts for the Vanilla Ice Cream, Caramel and real Pecans that go into this classic Bruster's flavor.

Why is it called Green turtle? ›

The green sea turtle is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle. They are unique among sea turtles in that they are herbivores, eating mostly seagrasses and algae. This diet is what gives their fat a greenish color (not their shells), which is where their name comes from.

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