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This Turtle Chocolate Candy is a decadent chocolate caramel pecan treat. Making these chocolates at home is easier than you think, and they look and taste like chocolate caramels from an expensive candy store.
Featured with this Recipe
Caramel Pecan Chocolates
I honestly can’t tell you which of these chocolates are my favorite, this Turtle Chocolate Candy, Oreo Truffles, or Homemade Almond Joys. I love every single one of them in a different way, so I made them all this week. Why not? This Turtle Chocolate Candy is so easy to make and each batch gets you a ton. If you can’t eat them all at once, just wrap them up in wax paper as you would Christmas Caramels.
When we made these, we ran out of the chocolate way before running out of caramel so of course we just cut up the caramel pieces and ate them as is with no chocolate. Such a sacrifice, right? 🙂
Ingredients In Turtle Chocolate Candy
- butter
- light brown sugar
- light corn syrup
- dash of salt
- sweetened condensed milk
- vanilla
- chopped pecan pieces
- milk chocolate – for dipping
The Gift of Chocolates for Special Occasions
Chocolate can be the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or even if you have a friend that just could use a pick-me-up after a hard week. Homemade chocolates like these Homemade Turtles are especially meaningful. It’s not often that someone receives a homemade candy!
Recipe Tips for Turtle Chocolates
- Keep in mind, you will need a candy thermometer for this recipe!
- For dipping chocolate: get a plastic fork and break off the two center prongs. This will make it easier to place the chocolates on the wax paper. To dip, place a chocolate ball gently on top of the prongs. Dip into the chocolate until the entire ball is covered in chocolate. Lift the ball out of the chocolate and lightly tap the fork on the side of the bowl, making any excess chocolate drip back into the bowl.
- Place dipped chocolate turtle candy on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper for easy clean up.
- Let the chocolate set up on the baking sheet at room temperature. Do not speed up the process by placing in the fridge or freezer. The humidity in the refrigerator will ruin the chocolate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, most candy/chocolate shops in the United States make homemade turtle candy.
If you are making the Turtle Chocolates as a gift make sure to pay attention to your packaging. Receiving chocolates in a cute heart-shaped box is much nicer than a ziplock bag! Plus, your chocolates will be protected from getting squished or melted when you package them correctly.
Most kitchen supply stores that carry chocolate in bulk will also have chocolate candy cups and candy boxes available for sale. I’ve found them at stores that carry cake decorating supplies and hobby stores. You can also find them on Amazon as well as a variety of candy gift boxes.
I like to use Ghirardelli baking chocolates when making this Turtle Chocolate Candy, but any milk chocolate squares or milk chocolate chips will work.
Traditional candy turtles are a small pile of nuts with a pile of caramel on top, then small scoop of chocolate over that. When finished it resembles a little chocolate turtle.
Homemade chocolate turtles originated in the early 1900s when a customer who visited a candy shop mentioned that the candies looked like the shape of a turtle. The term stuck and today the name is trademarked by DeMet’s Candy Company (Demet’s Turtles). Many candy shops intentionally make it look like real turtles by strategically placing the pecans to look like the feet and head of a turtle
READ NEXT: Valentine’s Day Dessert Ideas – all kinds of yummy recipes that are perfect for Valentines Day
More Candy Recipes
Be sure to check out some of our other favorite Candy Treats, they are the perfect gift for any candy or chocolate lover.
- Homemade Almond Joy
- See’s Fudge Recipe
- English Toffee
- Old Fashioned Chocolate Covered Cherries
- Marshmallow Rocky Road Fudge
- Homemade Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Swirl
- German Chocolate Fudge
- Homemade Caramel Recipe
How to Make Turtle Chocolate Candy
Turtle Chocolate Candy
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 2 1/2 cups light brown sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- dash of salt
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cup pecan pieces
- 2 pounds milk chocolate (I like the Ghirardelli baking chocolates)
Instructions
- In a medium sized sauce pan, put together butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt and bring to a boil. Add sweetened condensed milk, stir constantly to blend.
- Boil 15-20 min or so stirring every once in a while (and only stirring on the bottom, don't scrape the sides) until caramel reaches about 235-240 degrees.
- Remove from heat and add vanilla. Pour into a greased 9×13 glass baking dish and sprinkle pecans over the top.
- Cool for about 30 min, cover with plastic wrap, and then place in refrigerator until ready to roll and dip. When caramel is cooled and easy to handle, cut into ½ – 1" squares and roll into balls (should make about 60+ balls)
- Break chocolate into pieces and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt chocolate in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time at 30-40% power, stirring each time.
- Remove caramel balls from fridge and dip in melted chocolate.
- Place dipped chocolates on the wax paper and leave at room temperature until chocolate is set. (Do not refrigerate, it will ruin the chocolate).
- If you are not eating immediately, place set up chocolates in an airtight container lined with wax paper until ready to serve.
Notes
Recipe Tips:
- Keep in mind, you will need a candy thermometer for this recipe!
- For dipping chocolate: get a plastic fork and break off the two center prongs. This will make it easier to place the chocolates on the wax paper. To dip, place a chocolate ball gently on top of the prongs. Dip into the chocolate until the entire ball is covered in chocolate. Lift the ball out of the chocolate and lightly tap the fork on the side of the bowl, making any excess chocolate drip back into the bowl.
- Place dipped chocolate turtle candy on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper for easy clean up.
- Let the chocolate set up on the baking sheet at room temperature. Do not speed up the process by placing in the fridge or freezer. The humidity in the refrigerator will ruin the chocolate.
Nutrition Information
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Just what I need for the holiday party! What a delicious one-bite truffles.
These truffles turned out absolutely divine! My friends couldn’t believe how easy they were to make. Thank you!
These look like little bites of heaven! Perfect cure for my sweet tooth! Delish!
These were so good! Absolutely love anything caramel and the added pecans were so good!
These pecan truffles will make the most impressive and delicious teacher gifts for my girls this Christmas.