Pecan Turtles
Toasted pecan halves set in soft, buttery caramel and topped with melted chocolate and sea salt. The American candy that looks like a small turtle.
Pecan turtles are a favourite American sweet, and they are named for the way they look. Three pecan halves are laid out on a tray so that their tips meet in the middle, like the head and two legs of a turtle, and a spoonful of soft caramel is set in the centre to form the shell, then covered with chocolate. Each one is a mouthful of toasted nuts, chewy, buttery caramel and smooth chocolate, and a few flakes of sea salt on top make it even better, since they cut the sweetness of the caramel. It is a favourite treat at Christmas, and it is one of the sweets that is sold in old-fashioned candy shops and in boxes of chocolates all over the United States, where the pecan is a native nut and is grown in the southern states. Making the candy at home needs only a little care, and the caramel is the part that needs it. It is made by boiling brown sugar, butter, cream and syrup to 118°C, the firm-ball stage, at which it sets to a soft, chewy texture that holds its shape but does not crack a tooth. A sugar thermometer is the best way of judging this. Toasting the nuts first makes a great difference, bringing out their flavour and keeping them crisp under the caramel. Make the caramel in a heavy pan, and do not stir it after it boils, to stop crystals forming.
What People Ask
How long does Pecan Turtles take to make?
About 55 minutes in total — 30 minutes of preparation and 25 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 24.
What are the key tips for making Pecan Turtles?
Use a thermometer and take the caramel off the heat at 118°C. A few degrees less makes it runny, and a few more gives a caramel that sets like a stone. Work fast once the caramel is ready. It thickens as it cools, and if it stiffens in the pan, warm it very gently for a minute. Toast the pecans before you use them. Raw ones taste flat and turn soft under the caramel.
What should I serve with Pecan Turtles?
Coffee; Hot chocolate; Vanilla ice cream.
Can Pecan Turtles be made ahead or frozen?
Keep in an airtight container in a cool place for up to 2 weeks, with parchment between the layers. They freeze for 3 months.
Is Pecan Turtles suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free and low-carb. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Pecan Turtles?
About 150 kcal per serving, with 1 g protein, 14 g carbohydrate and 10 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
How to Make Pecan Turtles
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Heat the oven to 175°C / 350°F (155°C / 310°F fan). Spread the pecans on a tray and toast for 8 minutes, until fragrant. Cool. Line 2 trays with baking parchment.
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Arrange the pecans in 24 clusters of 3 halves each, with the tips meeting in the centre, about 5 cm apart.
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Put the brown sugar, butter, cream, golden syrup and fine salt in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved, then boil without stirring until the caramel reaches 118°C / 245°F on a sugar thermometer, about 8 minutes. Take it off the heat and stir in the vanilla.
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Working quickly, spoon about a tablespoon of caramel over the centre of each cluster, leaving the tips of the pecans showing. Leave to set for 20 minutes.
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Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Spoon a teaspoon over each caramel and sprinkle with a few flakes of sea salt. Leave to set for 30 minutes.
Worth Getting Right
- Use a thermometer and take the caramel off the heat at 118°C. A few degrees less makes it runny, and a few more gives a caramel that sets like a stone.
- Work fast once the caramel is ready. It thickens as it cools, and if it stiffens in the pan, warm it very gently for a minute.
- Toast the pecans before you use them. Raw ones taste flat and turn soft under the caramel.
Swaps and Variations
- Double cream won't whip if you swap it, but for the cooking itself, full-fat crème fraîche or a lower-fat single cream works in its place.
Pairs Well With
Coffee · Hot chocolate · Vanilla ice cream
Storage
Keep in an airtight container in a cool place for up to 2 weeks, with parchment between the layers. They freeze for 3 months.
Pecan Turtles Nutrition Facts
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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