Homemade Pretzel Turtles are one of the easiest pretzel treats to make and are the perfect combination of sweet and salty!! Salty pretzel topped with soft caramel, milk chocolate and toasted pecans. The ultimate crunchy, chewy, sweet and salty no-bake candy!
Homemade candy like Peanut Butter Buckeyes, Homemade Reese’s Bars and Chocolate Nutella Truffles is such a guilty pleasure of mine and when you combine salty and sweet, there is nothing better. That’s why these Homemade Pretzel Turtles are my new favorite no-bake treat.
Let’s talk a minute about time management and holiday baking.
I am currently in the middle of a ridiculous Christmas cookie baking marathon and I as I look around the dumpster fire that is my kitchen right now (there is flour ON the dog!), it occurs to me that I have lots of holiday baked goods and nada when it comes to no-bake holiday cookies.
Are Pretzel Turtles technically no-bake Christmas cookies? No.
Do we care? Also, No.
Homemade Turtles are the bomb!!!! We are talking a sweet, chewy, salty, crunchy pop-them-in-your-mouth bite full of chocolate happiness with just FOUR ingredients.
WHY YOU NEED THESE PRETZEL TURTLES IN YOUR LIFE
When it comes to easy no-bake desserts, these Pretzel Turtles win hands down. You are combining salty pretzels with soft, chewy caramel, milk chocolate and then top them off with toasted pecans. Life gets no better!
- Pretzel Turtles are the perfect combination of salty and sweet and made using only four ingredients!
- This no-bake pretzel treat candy is perfect for snacking, gift giving and sharing.
- These Homemade Turtles are made using everyday ingredients and this recipe is completely approachable regardless how skilled (or unskilled!) you may be in the kitchen.
- This is a great easy candy recipe perfect to get the kids involved in the kitchen. Be prepared for half of your inventory to be eaten during the process 🙂
- When it comes to the holidays, these are a great gift and you can make a huge amount all at once, cross everyone off your list and never even have to change out of your Cookie Monster jammie bottoms.
To make these Homemade Pretzel Turtles, you will need:
- Mini pretzels
- Soft caramels (I use Werther’s Original Soft Caramels)
- Good quality milk chocolate chips
- Whole shelled pecans
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE PRETZEL TURTLES
Start by preheating your oven to 325 degrees, lining a large baking pan with parchment paper and spreading your pecans evenly out on your pan. Toast your pecans for about five minutes, then remove your pecans to a bowl and set aside.
Lay out your pretzels on that same pan and then add a soft caramel on top of each pretzel.
Bake for about 3-4 minutes. You want them soft but not completely melted.
Then grab your bowl of toasted pecans and gently press a pecan down into the soft caramel so that it melts down into the pretzel. Repeat until all of your pretzels are topped with a pecan.
Set your pan aside while your melt the chocolate. Add your chocolate chips to a work bowl on top of a double boiler. I use a standard cook pot and place a glass or stainless bowl so that it sits on top.
Add 1 cup of water in the bottom pan of the double boiler and simmer on medium. As the top bowl warms from the steam of the hot water below it, stir the melting chocolate until it is smooth. Remove the melted chocolate from the stove.
Remove your pretzel turtles from the pan.. or move them all to one end if you are using a jelly roll pan.
Pour a small spoonful (about 1/2 tablespoon) of chocolate on your parchment paper.
Immediately place one of you pretzel turtles on top and lightly press your turtle into your chocolate.
Once all of your Pretzel Turtles are set in chocolate, move your pan to your refrigerator for 30 minutes to let your homemade candy set up.
DO I NEED TO USE SOFT CARAMELS?
My short answer is No, you do not need to use soft caramels for these Pretzel Turtles. However, I find regular ‘old-school’ caramels to be too hard to bite into and the soft caramels start off already soft so they are perfect for homemade turtle candy. You can also use caramel sauce but I find that to be too runny and messy for my taste.
HOW TO KEEP PRETZEL TURTLES
You can store these turtles at room temperature in an airtight container for 2-3 weeks. If your house is warm and you see that your chocolate is starting to melt, move them to the refrigerator.
CAN YOU FREEZE HOMEMADE TURTLES?
You can definitely freeze these homemade turtle candies. I like to layer them in an airtight container with parchment paper or wax paper, which prevents them from sticking together. Freeze for 2-3 months, then defrost at room temperature.
TIPS FOR MAKING THIS TURTLE CANDY RECIPE
- Add a teaspoon of espresso powder to the melted chocolate for a bit of extra flavor
- You can make this easy candy recipe with dark chocolate, milk chocolate or white chocolate.
- Toast your pecans by spreading them out on a baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes at 350 degrees F. You can also add them to a hot non-stick skillet, stirring constantly for about 5 minutes.
- Get your ingredients organized before assembling. Unwrap your caramels and have them ready instead of unwrapping them each as you go.
- Once all of your Pretzel Turtles are set in chocolate, move your pan to your refrigerator for 30 minutes to let your homemade candy set up.
MORE EASY NO BAKE TREATS YOU WILL LOVE
- Pumpkin Pudding Parfaits
- Chocolate Covered Halloween Pretzels
- Halloween Candy Bark
- Chocolate Peppermint Fudge
- Buckeye Dip
Enjoy!
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Homemade Pretzel Turtles
Ingredients
- 24 Mini Pretzels
- 24 Individually wrapped Werther's Original Soft Caramels unwrapped
- 8 ounces Milk chocolate chips
- 24 Whole Pecans
Instructions
- Start by preheating your oven to 325 degrees, lining a large baking pan with parchment paper and spreading your pecans evenly out on your pan. Toast your pecans for about five minutes, then remove your pecans to a bowl and set aside.
- Lay out your pretzels on that same pan and then add a soft caramel on top of each pretzel. Bake for about 3-4 minutes. You want them soft but not completely melted.
- Then grab your bowl of toasted pecans and gently press a pecan down into the soft caramel so that it melts down into the pretzel. Repeat until all of your pretzels are topped with a pecan.
- Set your pan aside while your melt the chocolate. Add your chocolate chips to a work bowl on top of a double boiler. I use a standard cook pot and place a glass or stainless bowl so that it sits on top.
- Add 1 cup of water in the bottom pan of the double boiler and simmer on medium. As the top bowl warms from the steam of the hot water below it, stir the melting chocolate until it is smooth. Remove the melted chocolate from the stove.
- Remove your pretzel turtles from the pan.. or move them all to one end if you are using a jelly roll pan. Pour a small spoonful (about 1/2 tablespoon) of chocolate on your parchment paper and then immediately place one of you pretzel turtles on top and lightly press your turtle into your chocolate.
- Once all of your Pretzel Turtles are set in chocolate, move your pan to your refrigerator for 30 minutes to let your homemade candy to set up.
Notes
TIPS FOR MAKING THIS TURTLE CANDY RECIPE
- Add a teaspoon of espresso powder to the melted chocolate for a bit of extra flavor
- You can make this easy candy recipe with dark chocolate, milk chocolate or white chocolate.
- Toast your pecans by spreading them out on a baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes at 350 degrees F. You can also add them to a hot non-stick skillet, stirring constantly for about 5 minutes.
- Get your ingredients organized before assembling. Unwrap your caramels and have them ready instead of unwrapping them each as you go.
- Once all of your Pretzel Turtles are set in chocolate, move your pan to your refrigerator for 30 minutes to let your homemade candy set up.
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