If you love rich, buttery caramel, crunchy pecans, and smooth chocolate, this Homemade Chocolate Caramel Pecan Turtles recipe will quickly become your new favorite treat. These bite-sized candies taste just like the classic chocolate turtles you find in artisan shops — but they’re incredibly easy to make right at home.
With only three simple ingredients and no baking required, this recipe is perfect for holidays, gift baskets, parties, or whenever you need a sweet treat that’s guaranteed to impress. In this article, we’ll walk through how to make chocolate turtles step-by-step, plus provide expert tips, storage instructions, and variations.
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
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No baking required — ready in minutes!
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Only 3 main ingredients: pecans, caramel, chocolate.
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Budget-friendly compared to store-bought gourmet turtles.
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Perfect for the holidays, gift-giving, and entertaining.
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Customizable — add sea salt, dark chocolate, or nuts of your choice.
🧾 Ingredients for Homemade Chocolate Caramel Pecan Turtles
For 20–24 turtles:
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1½ cups whole pecan halves
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24 soft caramel squares (like Kraft caramels)
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1–1½ cups milk chocolate chips (or dark chocolate)
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1 tablespoon heavy cream or milk (optional – helps soften caramel)
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Sea salt flakes (optional, for garnish)
🍫 How to Make Chocolate Caramel Pecan Turtles (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Prepare the base
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Arrange the pecan halves into small clusters of 3–4 pecans each. These will form the crunchy base of your turtles.
Step 2: Melt the caramel
Place caramel candies in a microwave-safe bowl with 1 tablespoon heavy cream.
Heat in 20–30 second intervals, stirring each time, until smooth and pourable.
Spoon a small amount of melted caramel over each pecan cluster, pressing slightly so the caramel sticks to the nuts.
Let the caramel cool and harden for 10–15 minutes.
