Turtle Candy

This nostalgia-inspired recipe for turtle candy combines two favorite flavors for sweet tooths: chocolate and caramel, along with pecans for a bit of crunch.

Turtle chocolate candy dates back to 1918, when a DeMet’s Candy Company employee noted a particular piece of candy resembled a turtle. Another employee dipped it in chocolate, and boom! Turtle candy was formed. That company still holds the trademark for this beloved vintage chocolate treat.

To make this chocolate turtle recipe, all you need is 40 minutes of prep time followed by 10 minutes for the chocolate to chill, allowing it to harden into the crispy (then chewy) bite you want.

Ingredients for Turtle Candy

• Pecan halves: For this recipe, you’ll want to toast the pecans, so that they soften before adding the other ingredients. Toasting them also adds a nice flavor to the recipe.
• Sweetened condensed milk: A can of sweetened condensed milk is part of almost every chocolate recipe, and there’s a reason. It will add sweet, milky flavor without watering down the turtle candy recipe.
• Light corn syrup: Compared with dark corn syrup, light corn syrup does not alter the colors in your recipe or overpower other flavors.
• Sugar: The most commonly used sugar, granulated sugar’s uniformly sized crystals won’t make your chocolate too chunky.
• Brown sugar: By packing the brown sugar into a measuring cup, you’re eliminating air pockets while also exacting the proper amount.
• Butter: As with most baking recipes, unsalted butter (versus salted) is preferred. Butter that’s unsalted stays fresh longer, and topping the candy with flakes of sea salt satisfies a salt requirement anyway.
• Vanilla extract: While you won’t taste vanilla in this recipe, vanilla extract adds sweetness while also balancing out the other ingredients so you don’t end up with bitter-tasting candy.
• Milk chocolate candy coating: Sold at grocery stores in a shelf-stable bag or box, milk chocolate candy coating contains less butter than real chocolate, and it doesn’t overpower the recipe like real chocolate might.
• Flake sea salt (optional): Using flake sea salt instead of table salt makes the salt on top visible and also pronounces its flavor for a delightful combination of sweet and salty.

Directions

Step 1: Arrange the pecans

On waxed-paper-lined baking sheets, arrange the toasted pecans in small clusters of four to five pecans each.

Editor’s Tip: Save time by buying pecans that are already halved.

Step 2: Create the caramel

In a small saucepan, combine the milk, corn syrup, sugar and brown sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 238°F (the soft-ball stage). Remove the pan from the heat, then stir in the butter and vanilla.

Editor’s Tip: We recommend that you test your candy thermometer before each use by bringing water to a boil; the thermometer should read 212°. Adjust your recipe temperature up or down based on your test.

Step 3: Top the pecans with caramel

Working quickly, spoon the melted caramel onto the pecan clusters. Let them stand until set.

Step 4: Add the milk chocolate

In a microwave, melt the chopped candy coating, stirring until it’s smooth. Spoon the chocolate over the caramel. If desired, top with flake sea salt.

Step 5: Chill and serve

Chill the turtles for 10 minutes or until they’re set, then they’re ready to serve.

Turtle Candy Variations

• Swap in white chocolate for milk chocolate: Try swapping in white chocolate for the milk chocolate in this homemade candy recipe.
• Use ready-made caramel: If you don’t want to fuss about making homemade caramel, you can also use store-bought.
• Add some heat: If you like spice with your chocolate, add a teaspoon of cayenne-pepper spice to this recipe. The best way to retain its flavor is to use it as a topping along with the flake sea salt. In fact, you might get lucky and find spice-infused sea salt from a local grocer!

How to Store Turtle Candy

One of the things we like about this recipe is that turtles are made for storing. The turtle candies will stay fresh as long as you place them in an airtight container at room temperature.

Can you freeze turtle candy?

Yes, you can freeze homemade turtle candies for two to three months.

How long does turtle candy last?

Store these homemade turtle candies in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll last for about two weeks. Placing them in the refrigerator is one of the common mistakes to avoid when making caramel, since it can cause your candies to be tough and hard to chew.

Can you make turtle candy ahead of time?

Think of it this way: Once you’ve made the candy, you have a chocolate shop at home! One task you can do ahead of time is to roast the pecans, then store them in an airtight container at room temperature until you’re ready to make the candy, preferably within two weeks.

Turtle Candy Tips

Can I make these into mini turtle candies?

Yes, of course! Even the store-bought turtle candies are now sold in mini versions. All you have to do is reduce the size when assembling them on the baking sheet—just know you will now have more turtles candy. Alternatively, you can halve the recipe if you want the same number of candies in a smaller size.

What happens if I use dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate?

Traditionally, this recipe is made with milk chocolate, but if dark chocolate is your fancy, it’s okay to substitute that. Just be prepared for the chocolate to be less melty in your mouth.

What if I don’t have access to a microwave?

Don’t worry! All you have to do is melt the chocolate candy coating on low on the stovetop in a small- or medium-sized saucepan, stirring repeatedly until it’s smooth.