Easy Homemade Turtles Candy

If you love the combination of caramel, chocolate, and pecans, have I got an easy treat for you! These classic Turtles are a no-bake recipe. In fact, they’re easy that the kids can help you!

Candy Making Traditions

I don’t know about you but in my family we have some specific candy-making traditions that have stood the test of time. For instance, my grandmother passed down a recipe for hard candy that we made together every Christmas.

My mother was known for very specific candies, too–peanut brittle and turtles being high on the list. I’ve already posted the recipe for her luscious peanut brittle but today I decide to make her turtle recipe.

Only, I didn’t want to do it alone. It was important to me that I include some of my local grandkids. So, after church I picked up the ingredients from Walmart–pecans, caramel bits, and chocolate chips–then headed to my daughter’s house for a couple hours of fun with the kids.

There’s something so special about candy-making with loved ones. The process is so fun when the laughter of children fills the room. Sure, it’s a little messy–especially with all of that melted caramel and chocolate–but who cares? We had a blast working together and so will you!

And the finished product? Well, judge for yourself! Messy or not, these turtles were very much like my Mama’s. And we talked about her a l-o-t while we made them, which was lovely.

A little bittersweet, since she’s been in heaven for five years now, but lovely to remember how much she loved us. . .enough to fill our tummies every Christmas season with lots of homemade goodies.

I want my kiddos to know I love them, too. That’s one reason I bake for them. Offering sweet treats is one of the ways I show love to friends and family.

Now that I’ve taken you for a little trip down memory lane, let me give you the recipe for these delicious candies. You’re going to be shocked at how easy they are!

Homemade Turtles Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here’s a quick peek at what you’ll need. You might need to make a quick run to the grocery store to grab a couple of these items but they’re easy to find.

• milk chocolate chips
• vegetable oil (or coconut oil)
• caramel bits
• heavy cream
• pecan halves

That’s it!

How to Make Easy Homemade Turtle Candies

These came together so easily! Best of all, you don’t need to heat up the oven or even use a saucepan. No candy thermometer necessary! You just need a couple of microwave-safe bowls, some waxed paper, (or parchment paper) and a bit of patience.

This recipe should make about 40 turtles. You don’t want to prep all of your caramel and chocolate in advance. I’m going to show you how to do it in two batches.

Start by placing waxed paper down on your workspace. If you like, you can place the pieces of waxed paper on cookie sheets so they’re easier to transfer later.

Arrange 4-5 pecan halves in clusters on the waxed paper. Start with 20 pecan clusters, since you’re working on a half batch at a time.

Put a full bag of caramel bits into a small bowl. Add 1 – 2 tablespoons of heavy cream. Heat in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between each round, until smooth and creamy. Get rid of any lumps! Set aside to cool for a couple of minutes while you work on your chocolate. You don’t want to allow it to get to room temperature. “Slightly warm” is best.

Place half of the chocolate chips in a small microwave-safe bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of vegetable (or coconut) oil. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each round, until smooth and creamy. Stir away all lumps. Set aside to cool.

Place a spoonful of caramel on top of each cluster.

After the caramel starts to firm up, add a spoonful of melted chocolate on top of each cluster.

If your waxed paper is already on a cookie sheet, go ahead and set it in the refrigerator for 20 – 30 minutes to solidify. If it’s not, gently slide the waxed paper and candies onto a large baking sheet before placing in the fridge.

While your first batch is solidifying it’s time to melt your leftover caramel and chocolate for round two. Basically, just repeat the process until all of your candies are made.

Remove candies from refrigerator and allow to continue to firm up. Store in an airtight container. They will stay good up to four weeks. You can freeze them up to two months.

What to Expect from These Candies

First of all. . .yum! They are every bit as good as I remembered and as luscious as any you would find in a candy shop. The crunch of the pecans, the gooey, chewy caramel, the sweet rich chocolate on top of the caramel. . .perfection!

You can also expect a bit of a mess, especially if you’re working with kids. We ended up with waxed paper covered in ribbons of chocolate and strings of sticky caramel.

In the end it didn’t matter one bit! Once those delicious turtles firmed up, that waxed paper got tossed in the trash.

These pecan turtles make great gifts! They would also be a lovely addition to a cookie exchange tray. No matter who you give them to, they are going to be enjoyed and appreciated!

Variations on this Recipe

I asked my grandkids for ideas and here are a few we came up with:

Stir pecans into caramel and drop by spoonful on waxed paper. Add melted chocolate on top.

Place the melted caramel and chocolate into piping bags and apply to pecans that way. (It might be less messy than spooning it, to be honest.) This method was used in my Twix cookies and it worked beautifully.

Not a fan of pecans? Use macadamia nuts instead of pecans and sprinkle the turtles with sweetened coconut flakes before the chocolate firms up.

Another option would be almonds and coconut. (Much like an Almond Joy but with the addition of caramel. Delicious!)

Experiment with different types of chocolate. We used milk chocolate but you might prefer semi-sweet or dark chocolate. You can even purchase Espresso chocolate chips if you like coffee flavor.

Sea Salt: If you like, you can sprinkle the caramel with a bit of sea salt before adding the chocolate.

Other Caramel Favorites from Out of the Box Baking

Love caramel? (Me too!) Here are some of my favorite caramel-infused recipes:

• Easy Twix Cookies from Scratch: If you love a good shortbread crust and you’re also a huge fan of caramel and chocolate, have I got a treat for you! These easy Twix cookies come together quickly and require very few ingredients!
• Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies: If you enjoy the combination of salted caramel and chocolate, you’re going to love this amazing new recipe. It’s rich and decadent, loaded with sweetness and an added pinch of salt. It’s also soft and gooey, coated with sticky deliciousness!
• Butter Pecan Bundt Cake (with praline topping): If you’re crazy about brown butter and pecans you’re going to love this easy cake. It’s topped with a crunchy praline topping and rich with flavor. Best of all, it starts with a boxed mix! Easy-breezy!
• Easy Pecan Pie Cookies: In this post I’m going to show you how to make a simple pecan pie cookie, perfect for a quick treat! This recipe will be particularly exciting during the holiday season.
• Crumbl Copycat Turtle Candies: If you love the rich flavors of chocolate, caramel, and pecans, this is the recipe for you! These Crumbl Copycat Turtles are absolutely delicious and fun to make! 
• Pecan Toffee Cookies with Salted Caramel: If you’re looking for an amazing brown sugar cookie loaded with crunch and depth of flavor, this is the recipe for you! These delicious pecan toffee cookies are packed full of brown sugar, toffee bits, and pecans and they’re drizzled with salted caramel. 

Other Homemade Candy Recipes from Out of the Box Baking

Nothing tops homemade candy and we’ve got some great recipes here at Out of the Box. Here are some of my personal favorites:

Easy 3-Ingredient Fudge: This is the perfect easy fudge recipe, only calling for three ingredients: chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and Oreos! What a wonderful holiday treat!

Easy Peanut Butter Snowballs: If you’re looking for the perfect Christmas candy, one rich with flavor, you’re going to love these delicious snowballs!

Old-Fashioned Divinity: If you love the light, sweet texture and flavor of divinity but you’ve been scared to make it because you think it’s too difficult, think again! This easy recipe comes together with ease. . .and tastes amazing. You’re going to love this southern confection!

Easy Peanut Brittle: If you love the crisp sweet flavor of brittle with the yummy crunch of peanuts, this is the recipe for you. This brittle is a family recipe, passed down over multiple generations. It’s easy, and definitely one you’ll pass on to your friends and loved ones.

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That’s it for this post, y’all! I hope you’ve enjoy this mergence of chocolate and caramel in this homemade turtle candy recipe. There’s a reason you’ll find these two ingredients listed together so frequently. It’s a luscious combination!

See this recipe at

Full Plate Thursday 

Weekend Potluck

Busy Monday

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About the Author

Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 150 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.