🍫 Homemade Turtle Candy with Pecans and Caramel
Ingredients
-
2 cups pecan halves (toasted)
-
1 bag (11–12 oz) semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate)
-
1/2 cup heavy cream
-
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
-
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
-
1/4 cup light corn syrup
-
Pinch of salt
-
1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
-
Toast pecans: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread pecans on a baking sheet and toast 6–8 minutes until fragrant. Cool slightly.
-
Arrange pecans: On a parchment-lined baking sheet, place 3–4 pecans in little clusters (like “legs” of a turtle).
-
Make caramel:
-
In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup, salt, and cream.
-
Cook while stirring until mixture reaches 240°F (soft ball stage) on a candy thermometer.
-
Remove from heat, stir in vanilla.
-
-
Caramel topping: Drop a spoonful of caramel over each pecan cluster (enough to hold them together). Let cool and set for 20–30 minutes.
-
Chocolate coating: Melt chocolate in the microwave (30-second intervals, stirring) or over a double boiler. Spoon or drizzle chocolate over each caramel-pecan cluster.
-
Set & serve: Let candies firm up at room temp, or refrigerate for quicker setting. Store in an airtight container.
✨ Variations:
-
Use dark chocolate for a richer flavor.
-
Sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt on top before the chocolate sets for salted turtles.
Would you like me to also give you a 5-minute shortcut version (using soft caramels and store-bought chocolate) for when you don’t want to make caramel from scratch?