Salted Caramel Pecan Turtles are delicious candy that is so much easier to make than it looks. You’ll need ten minutes. And no candy thermometer and no boiling sugary syrups. Use store bought caramel candy (or block caramel), toasted pecans and dark chocolate disks for a quick and easy gourmet treat to gift to your loved ones at the holidays!
Ever strolled by the homemade candy or fudge shop when they’re making the pralines? GAH!!! Just that sweet, buttery aroma wafting out to the sidewalk is enough to send me over the edge. There are other delights behind the glass case, and I happen to love homemade Salted Caramel Pecan Turtles.
So there’s a big white elephant in the room and let’s just get it out of the way now.
How do you say pecan?
PE-can? Or pe-KAHN. Growing up in the north I always heard it PE-can. But then I lived in the south for years and there it was always pe-KAHN. So now I live back in the north again. In a state of utter confusion. Ha.
No matter how you say it, Salted Caramel Pecan Turtles make such a beautiful presentation. (And they don’t taste half bad either.) Perfect in a candy box or on the dessert table.
The toasted pecans and sweet caramel complement each other perfectly. Top with bittersweet chocolate and it’s oh-my-word over the top. Sprinkle on a few sea salt flakes for a sophisticated palette. Or not. Either way, divine!
So have you ever made Salted Caramel Pecan Turtles at home? Honestly, they’re one of the easiest candies ever to make. And beloved by all. No candy thermometer. No stirring. No mixing.
These are the perfect little homemade Valentine’s Day or Christmas stocking treat for all the special people in your life: teachers, co-workers, friends and family. So quick and easily made ahead.
The recipe I’m sharing today makes two dozen turtle candies. You can easily halve or double the recipe as needed.
How to make Salted Caramel Pecan Turtles:
- Lightly toast the broken pecan halves on a parchment lined baking sheet in the oven.
- Then arrange toasted pecans in separate little piles of about 2 teaspoons each.
- Top each pecan pile with a flattened caramel candy (or block caramel cut in pieces and flattened) and bake for 2-3 minutes at 325° until caramel melts.
- Remove from oven and turn it off.
- Press one bittersweet chocolate disk on top of each pecan caramel cluster.
- Return to oven.
- Close oven door and let sit for about 30 seconds until chocolate melts.
- Quickly remove from oven.
- Garnish with a few flakes of sea salt if desired.
- Let sit at room temperature for several hours until caramel and chocolate harden.
Note: I used bittersweet chocolate disks I purchased from King Arthur Flour. Also block caramel I purchased from King Arthur Flour.
See this post for more information about King Arthur Flour in Norwich, VT. I love the King Arthur Flour Store and will use any excuse I can drum up to run up to Norwich.
They have a lovely cafe with homemade soups, breads and every kind of scrumptious pastry imaginable. Delish!
The bittersweet chocolate disks and block caramel I used for this recipe may also be available at your local grocery store, craft or candy making store.
Salted Caramel Pecan Turtles Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups roughly broken pecan halves
- 24 soft caramel candies or 6-ounce block caramel cut into 24 equal pieces
- 24 bittersweet chocolate disks
- sea salt flakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°.
- Lightly toast broken pecan halves on parchment lined baking sheet for 5 minutes.
- Remove from oven and reduce oven temperature to 325°.
- Arrange pecans into 24 piles (about 2 teaspoons each) on parchment lined baking sheets.
- Shape caramel candies into flattened circles. (about the size of a half dollar)
- Top each pile of pecans with a flattened caramel disk.
- Bake in the oven for 3-4 minutes until caramel melts.
- Remove from the oven and turn oven off.
- Top each caramel covered nut cluster with a bittersweet chocolate disk, pressing in firmly.
- Return pan to warm oven for about 30 seconds until chocolate is nearly melted.
- Remove from oven
- Garnish with a few flakes of sea salt if desired.
- Let candies cool and harden for several hours at room temperature to set.
- Store in an airtight container.
You may also like: Sugared Pecans
Megan marlowe says
Allie! These look delicious! I love Pe-kahn turtles!
kushi says
Drooling. Looks super delicious. Wish I could grab some right now.
Kellie says
These look so sweet 😉 We were debating at Thanksgiving what the correct pronunciation of Pecan is! so this made me chuckle. I also LOVE the pic of all you gals. What a fun trip that must have been. I am going to go check that post out next!
Melissa says
Allie – I think I could seriously sit down and eat a whole tray of these turtles. So yummy!
Kristen Chidsey says
Call me crazy, but turtles are not my favorite thing. However, they are my mother-in-laws and she would love for me to send her a box of these homemade goodies–which I just may do 🙂
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
I have a definite weakness for turtles! They are too hard to resist…I just need to give in and make these, eat a few, and then give the rest away as gifts. These look amazing!
Tracy says
Oh Allie what have you done? Pe- Kahn turtles are my absolute favorite! I even look for turtle ice cream when we go out for a cone. Not easy to find let me tell you. My boys even made me turtle ice cream for a Christmas present one year! And now I can actually make them myself. I never knew they were that easy. I will really have to be careful with this knowledge! Ha!! You are right….what fabulous gifts they would make. I’m so excited can you tell? Thank you Allie. Or…. Thanks A LOT Allie….. Wink, wink
Aunt Pinkie says
They look absolutely fabulous! My favorite sweet! Can’t wait to try ’em!
Karen @ On the Banks of Salt Creek says
Pe-KAHN for this girl.
I love candy shops. Especially the ones that give you a free piece of candy to try.
These look scrumptious.
Thanx for the recipe
Take care,
Karen
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
I say pe-KAHN… but I’m from the south. Sooo? 😉 I loooove walking by candy or fudge shops, the smell makes my tummy do a happy dance. And I LOOOOVE these turtles, Allie!! Salted caramel and pe-KAHN is a fabulous combination! I am digging how easy these are to make… almost as easy as they are to eat! 🙂 Can’t wait to give these a try! Cheers, sweets! xoxo
nancy mcmahan says
Pe Kahn here. These look devine. Thanks for the easy recipe.
Christina | Christina's Cucina says
What’s not to love about this combination!? My only issue is my daughter’s nut allergy, but since she’s gone I’ve actually broken out the nuts! I could go for one (or three) of these right now! 🙂
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
At the mall where my daughter works, there’s a branch of Savannah’s River Street Sweets and they always seem to be making pralines when I walk by and that smell is indeed intoxicating! Allie, while I’ve never made a salted caramel pe-KAHN turtle before – I think I could polish off this batch easy! Yesterday, my daughter introduced me to these new snacks that are a little packet with herhey chocolate, pretzels, some sound salty thing and another chocolate type ball of sorts and oh good gawsh – the combo of sweet and salty is so insanely good – isn’t it!
Barbara Child says
Yum! A favorite of mine, and so easy with your recipe! Thanks so much!
Lauren @ Hall Nesting says
My husband is notorious for asking the candy makers for them right after they are finished making them! He’ll love knowing I’ve found a recipe!
mandi Korn says
OMG, these look sooooo good, I may have to make them soon, my Boo would go crazy and she can help me, which would also make her happy. Thanks for sharing
Michelle Nahom says
What a yummy treat, Allie! They would disappear in about two minutes here!
Carina says
Wow. Those look amazing. Around here most people say PE- cans (including me). But pe-KAHNS is kind of fun to say and it has that aahh sound built into it, which I am guessing is the sound most people make when they eat this dessert… As in, “Aahhh… I have discovered the best dessert ever”. I am impressed that you were able to take pictures before they were gone!! 😉
Louise Achor says
Still look great!
Kathy says
These look awesome, Allie, Thank you so much for sharing!! I’m bookmarking them for later. Great picture of you! Oh, and I say pe–KAHN. 🙂
Allie says
Thank you Kathy! I hope you enjoy these. Wishing you and Evan and Mac and Hobbs a very Merry Christmas! XO
Luci's Morsels says
Love the ease of such a gorgeous dessert! A perfect candy for the holiday season!
Luci’s Morsels | fashion. food. frivolity.
puja says
My mouth is watering Allie. I am going to make this recipe on this Saturday. Thanks for sharing dear!!!
Ranjan says
Really so delicious when I made this. Thanks for such a nice recipe.
Boo says
Thanks for the recipe. Fixing to make this!
I grew up in South Georgia and always said “pee can”! Sixty years ago + I picked up new crop pecans to make enough money ($5-6) for the county fair.
Allie says
You’re welcome Boo! I have a good friend in Alabama whose daddy has pecan trees. Sometimes I buy pecans by the lb. from him. Fun to think about you making money for the county fair picking pecans. Hard work, and $5-6 was quite a bit of money for a kid. Good for you. I bet you enjoyed the fair even more because you earned it! Hope you had a Merry Christmas and have a New Year filled with joy and health!!! Thanks for dropping by.
geometry dash says
Thank you for your great recipes. Great!
Denise says
Seriously the worst thing I ever made. I followed the recipe exactly and bought the exact same ingredients.