Homemade turtle candy is straight-up chef’s kiss and better than any you can find in your local candy shop boos! This no-bake treat is crazy easy to whip up and absolutely irresistible. With gooey caramel, buttery pecans, and silky milk chocolate, these little turtle candies are the ultimate salty-sweet flex. Perfect for gifting or sharing with the fam—if you don’t eat ’em all first!
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They’re Lovin’ It! Here’s what They’re Sayin’:
“Can’t stop eating them…. totally addictive!”
—ALISA
The Lowdown of This Turtle Candy recipe
Crunchy, buttery, salty and sweet, Turtle Candies are my go-to homemade confection! Y’all, I could eat about a dozen of these in one sitting. Soon enough, you’ll be in the same boat.
These days, things haven’t changed much. I still don’t eat much candy, unless there are Turtles around.
Ingredients you’ll need to make turtles candy
- Caramels: Smooth and chewy, I love using store-bought caramels like Werther’s chewy caramels for that nice sticky-sweet bite!
- Evaporated Milk: This milk is thickened and concentrated by the evaporation of water content. It adds body and richness to our caramel while also offering up a bit of extra sweetness.
- Pecan Halves: These nuts bring that traditional crunch and a nutty flavor that perfectly complements the sweetness in the candy.
- Milk Chocolate Chips: To have the ultimate creamy, chocolatey goodness, make sure you grab high quality.
- Flaky Sea Salt (Optional): I like to finish off Turtles with a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Not only does sea salt look fancy but, dang y’all, that salty bite is crazy good!
How to Make Turtle Candy
What to serve with old school turtle chocolate candy
- Pair with a cozy drink: Make a nice hot chocolate bar with my fave French hot chocolate or white hot chocolate.
- With ice cream: Crush some on top of classic vanilla ice cream, mocha ice cream or even coffee ice cream.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Swap out the Pecans: You can totally be made using cashew, peanuts or even almonds!
- Toast your pecans: Taking this extra step adds a deep, roasted flavor that can’t be beat. Just place the pecans on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. Allow to completely cool before adding to the recipe.
- Swap Evaporated Milk: Use heavy cream if you want a super rich, creamy consistency in the mix boos.
- Spice it Up: Add a little apple pie spice or even a bit of cinnamon to the mix to warm it up.
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Expert Tips and Tricks for making turtle candy recipe
- Go High Quality: I love using Guittard Milk Chocolate Chunks for the ultimate creamy, chocolatey goodness. Lindt, Ghiradelli and Baker’s are also great options!
- Microwave to Save Time: Add the caramel and milk to a microwave safe bowl and microwave in 20-30 second intervals (stirring after each interval) if you don’t have time for the double boiler method.
- Skip the blooming: Temper by reserving a little chocolate to stir in after melting. This is gonna help stabilize it and prevents the white streaks (bloom) that sometimes pop up as chocolate cools.
How to store turtle candies
Room Temperature: Got your candies wrapped up in a love affair with wax or parchment paper? Perfect, they’re ready for a short stint at room temperature. Place them in an airtight container, making sure they’re in single layers separated by parchment paper to avoid a sticky situation. They’ll be good for about a week in a cool, dark place. No need to refrigerate if you’re planning on devouring them soon!
Refrigerate: If your house runs warm or you’re a fan of a firmer bite, pop your container of Turtle Candies into the fridge. They’ll stay fresh and fabulous for up to 3 weeks. Just give them some time to warm up a bit at room temperature before serving – nobody wants a tooth-chilling bite!
Freeze: Long-term candy hoarders, we’ve got you! Freeze your Turtle Candies by placing them in freezer bags or airtight containers with parchment paper between layers. These sweet treasures will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer. Remember to thaw them in the refrigerator and then bring them to room temperature before serving for the best flavor experience.
Pro Tip: Stay Dry, Stay Fresh Humidity is the nemesis of Turtle Candy. Keep ’em dry, and you’ll avoid a soggy catastrophe. Always ensure your storage containers are air-tight, whether you’re using bags or bins.
Frequently asked questions
Just stir in a little more milk to soften it back up.
Make sure you grab the chewy kind. Don’t get the hard type at the grocery store.
Using a super small cookie scoop is the best way to make sure the portions of the caramel and chocolate are the same.
Best Candy Inspired recipes
- Chocolate Turtle Cake
- Divinity Candy
- Pumpkin Cupcakes with Candy Corn Buttercream
- Peanut Brittle
- Candied Pecans
- Bourbon Balls
- Turtle Brownies
- Turtle Cookies
- Pralines!
Turtle Candy
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Ingredients
- 1/2 lb chewy caramels Werther's chewy caramels
- 2 tbsp evaporated milk
- 1 cup pecan halves
- 6 oz milk chocolate chips (basically half of a 11.5 oz package)
Instructions
- Melt caramels and milk together in a double boiler over hot water and continue to stir until combined (about 10 minutes).
- Place nuts on wax or parchment paper paper in groupings of 3. Spoon the completed caramel over the nuts, leaving the nut tips exposed. Let set for 30 minutes.
- Next melt chocolate over hot water as well or in the microwave then cool until room temperature. Spread over caramels and let set.
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Can’t stop eating them…. totally addictive!
These are so cute! I’ve been on a bit of a pecan kick lately so I’ll definitely have to give these a try!
One of our all time favorite candies! Love that they are so easy to make at home!
Pretty sure I’ve found my new favorite turtle candy recipe, right here 🙂 Easy to make with beautiful presentation. Thanks for sharing!
The kids loved these turtle candies! So delicious and easy to make. Definitely making again.