Turtle Candies

Homemade turtle candies with only 3 ingredients and using your microwave! These homemade chocolate turtle candies  are an easy Christmas treat to make. With chewy caramel, whole pecans, and sweet chocolate – these delicious turtles are just like your favorite treat from a candy shop but a whole lot cheaper!

Dessert could seriously not get easier and let’s face it cuter then with these 3 ingredient chocolate turtles.

If you unfamiliar with turtles- they are pecans, caramel drizzled over them, and the chocolate over that. You use 5 pecan halves to make the candies look like turtles in the end.  So basically, adorable and scrumptious.

And the best part to these clusters? They are made in the microwave. Yup, microwave. No oven required. No fancy caramel sauce on the stove. Although you totally could go that route if you are feeling that way. However, I use soft caramel candies that I microwaved beautifully in my microwave. So we’re talking dessert in 10 minutes flat. I’m all about that.

Crunchy Pecans. Gooey caramel. Rich chocolate. These homemade chocolate turtles is an easy dessert recipe that is going to be a big hit for the holiday season!

Ingredients Needed

For the full recipe please scroll to the bottom of the post!

• Pecans – You want to use pecan halves. I like to toast the pecans first before hand to bring out their flavor. Instead of pecan halves, chop the pecans and pile in small clusters before adding the spoonful of caramel and chocolate.
• Caramel– I used soft caramels that I melted in the microwave but you can also use homemade caramel or caramel bits
• Chocolate – You can use milk or dark chocolate or a combination of chocolate! Buy a quality chocolate you wouldn’t mind snacking on. I used Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips. But you could semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate too.

Related: You might also like the rest of these 5 Ingredient Desserts

How To Make Homemade Turtles – Step By Step

Step 1: Arrange your pecan halves

I like to toast the pecan halves first to bring out their flavor. Toast pecan halves on a large baking sheet then cool. You can keep them whole after roasting, or chop them finally to make these homemade chocolate turtles. 

 

If keeping whole, arrange your pecan halves- 5 for each turtle- on a cookie sheet lined with either parchment paper, wax paper, or a silicone baking mat. 

I find the silicone baking mats are best when making candy. You won’t have an issue with sticking if you do. Just make sure your silicone baking mat is clean. You can learn how to clean your silicone baking mat here.

You could also assemble these in a muffin tin and make in a cupcake liner.

Step 2: Caramel

Melt the caramels in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring in between interval until melted. This took about 1 and 1/2 minutes in my microwave but every microwave is different. Spoon about a tablespoon of the melted caramel on top of each turtle.

You can also melt the caramel in a double boiler.

Step 3: Add chocolate

Melt the chocolate chips. You can also use chopped chocolate. Use milk chocolate, semisweet, or dark chocolate. Melt in your microwave or in a double boiler.

Spoon about a tablespoon of melted chocolate on top of the caramel.

You can also cover them entirely in chocolate. Dip the entire caramel pecan cluster in chocolate! You will just need more chocolate.

Top with a sprinkle of sea salt or fleur de sel if you desire. Let the turtles set up and the chocolate and caramel set before enjoying! I like to place in the fridge or freeze until the caramel gets firm and is no longer sticky.

More Recipes To Try

If you’re looking for another easy dessert recipe try this Rolo pretzel turtle version! I love making these for the holidays!

Of course it’s another turtle dessert you’re looking for these caramel turtle brownies or this turtle cheesecake can’t be beat!