Easy Chocolate Turtles

I have to admit I am not a huge fan of chocolate turtles. If I had a choice between turtles or something else, I would almost always pick the other thing. However, I have friends who absolutely love them. So I figure making batch of the chewy goodness would be a win-win situation for everyone. I get a post without the concern of gaining weight and my friends get to reap the benefits of having a food blogger friend.

A friend of mine was hosting a dinner party over the holiday weekend and asked if I wanted to make something to share with the group. While I didn’t want to bring the usual sweet holiday cookies or rich fudge, I thought these would be a unique treat to pass around. Plus, I had some extra time to catch a quick cat nap before the party because the recipe was so easy to make.

Overall the turtles were well received at the party. It was cute to see people sneak past the dessert table to swipe one from the beautifully arranged platter. They were definitely the perfect size to quickly grab with one hand while holding a delicious beverage in the other.

Easy Chocolate Turtles
1 – 1 ½ lbs. whole unsalted pecans
1 lb. milk chocolate
36 – 40 cubes caramel candies, unwrapped

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and lightly coat the paper with cooking spray. Create small clusters of 3 – 4 pecans along the cookie sheet. Gently place a cube of caramel in the center of each pecan cluster. Bake the clusters at 350 degrees for 4 – 6 minutes or until the caramel has softened.

Melt the chocolate in the microwave. This should take about 1 – 2 minutes. Spoon the melted chocolate over each cluster to completely cover the caramel. Make sure to keep the ends of the pecans exposed for color and interest.

Chill the clusters in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to allow the chocolate to set. Serve at room temperature. Makes 36 – 40 turtles.

Authors Note: It’s important to bring the turtles to room temperature before serving. I learned the caramel becomes hard as a rock when they are cold. The last thing you want is someone breaking a tooth.

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