Description
Indulgent chocolate pecan turtle clusters bring rich, caramel-kissed memories of southern dessert traditions. Sweet pecans nestled in smooth chocolate create an irresistible treat you’ll savor with pure delight.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup pecan halves
- 1 cup semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips (or a mix of both)
- 1 cup soft caramel candies, unwrapped
Liquid Ingredient:
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
Garnish:
- Sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare a workspace by laying out parchment paper or a silicone mat on a baking sheet to create a non-stick surface for crafting the clusters.
- Construct pecan foundations by positioning 3-4 pecan halves together, ensuring they slightly overlap and connect at the center of the prepared surface.
- Create a luxurious caramel sauce by combining caramel candies and heavy cream in a microwave-safe container, heating in short bursts and stirring until achieving a smooth, glossy consistency.
- Carefully drizzle the warm caramel directly over the center of each pecan cluster, allowing it to cascade and bind the nuts together while creating a gooey central core.
- Allow the caramel layer to partially solidify for a few minutes, creating a stable base for the chocolate coating.
- Transform chocolate chips into a silky molten state using precise microwave intervals, stirring between each heating cycle to ensure a uniform, glossy finish.
- Generously coat each caramel-covered pecan cluster with the melted chocolate, using gentle spooning motions to create an even, professional-looking surface.
- For an elevated flavor profile, sprinkle a delicate pinch of sea salt across the wet chocolate surface, enhancing the sweet and nutty characteristics.
- Permit the clusters to set at ambient temperature for approximately one hour, or accelerate the process by chilling in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes until the chocolate becomes firm and glossy.
- Gently detach the completed turtle clusters from the parchment paper, ready to be savored as an indulgent personal treat or an elegant homemade gift.
Notes
- Selecting high-quality caramel candies ensures a smoother, richer flavor that elevates the entire dessert experience.
- Toasting pecans briefly before assembling clusters intensifies their nutty essence and provides a deeper, more complex taste profile.
- Tempering chocolate by using low, controlled heat prevents seizing and creates a glossy, professional-looking finish that snaps beautifully when broken.
- Using flaky sea salt as a final touch balances the sweetness, adds elegant texture, and transforms these clusters into a gourmet-style treat that looks and tastes sophisticated.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 40 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg