Caramel Pecan Turtles 2004 Recipes

HOMEMADE CARAMEL AND PECAN TURTLES

Steps:

• First make the caramel in a medium sized pot. Start by adding the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk to the pot and bring to a boil. Try not to stir it, just swish it around with the pot handle. Stirring can make the caramel crystallize.
• Heat the caramel till it reaches 245 degrees on your candy thermometer, or use the cold water test for the soft ball stage. Take off the heat and cool slightly.
• Arrange the pecans on some parchment paper and then when the caramel has thickened slightly, spoon the caramel over top the pecans. Cool completely.
• Melt the chocolate over a small pot of simmering water. Put chocolate in a bowl and place over the pot and stir till the chocolate has melted.
• Spoon over the caramel. Sprinkle with some sea salt and let the chocolate harden.
• Enjoy!

CARAMEL AND PECAN TURTLES - THANK YOU, MARY BETH!

Steps:

• Melt the chocolate while preparing the cups. A Wilton Chocolate Melter was used for this recipe. If you melt the chocolate on the stove it's best to use a double boiler.
• Shape the chunk of caramel into a rectangular shape for slicing.
• Cut slices of caramel off the block using a plastic spatula.
• Cut the slices into squares 1" X ⅛ " thick. Work the squares in your hands and flatten.
• You can even shape into circles if you like.
• Place 3 pecan halves in the bottom of the cups. In my post, you can see that some of the halves were large and 2 filled the bottom.
• Place a piece of caramel on top of the pecans.
• When the chocolate is melted, add approximately 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil per pound of chocolate. This thins the chocolate and makes for easy pouring. It will not affect the taste or the hardening process You want it thin enough to run over the caramel.
• Pour a heaping teaspoon plus of chocolate on top of the caramel and smooth the top. You might need to spread the chocolate to the sides helping it run down into the cups.
• If you like you can sprinkle some type of sea salt on top while the chocolate is still soft.
• The chocolate will harden just under an hour.
• Store in an airtight container.
• Wasn't that easy? This is a fun recipe to make with a friend.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL PECAN TURTLES

Steps:

• Toast pecans at 300 degrees on a cookie sheet for 5 to 6 minutes until fragrant. Let cool.
• Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper and spray lightly with non stick cooking spray.
• Arrange the pecans on the sheet in small groups of 3.
• To make the caramel, melt butter in a medium sized sauce pan.
• Add brown sugar, corn syrup, 7 ounces sweetened condensed milk.
• Cook and stir over medium high heat until it reaches 235 degrees on your candy thermometer or the soft ball stage. (Clings together well when you drop 1/2 teaspoon of caramel in cold water).
• Then remove the caramel from heat and stir in vanilla. Carefully spoon caramel over each nut cluster covering all the nuts.
• For the chocolate topping melt the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl or big glass measuring cup. Heat for 30 seconds at a time stirring after each interval until all melted and smooth.
• Then add in 1/2 teaspoon shortening to the melted chocolate chips. Stir all together until its blended in.
• Spoon the melted chocolate over the caramel and spread around with the back of a spoon.
• Once they set up you can eat them or store them in an airtight container.
• Great for gift giving and holiday parties.

CHRISTMAS TURTLES® CANDIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Cover cookies sheet with aluminum foil, shiny side exposed. Lightly grease foil with vegetable oil spray.
• Place 3 pecan halves in a Y shape on the foil. Place 1 caramel candy in the center of each Y. Bake just until caramel is melted, about 9 to 10 minutes.
• Heat shortening and chocolate chips over low heat just until chocolate is melted. Spread over candies and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

CARAMEL PECAN TURTLE CHOCOLATE CANDIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325.
• Grease a large cookie sheet well.
• Arrange 4 pecan halves in a cluster, flat side down on cookie sheet.
• Repeat with the rest of the pecan halves.
• Place one caramel on top of each cluster.
• Heat in oven until caramels are softened, about 4-6 minutes.
• Press caramels flat with the bottom of a buttered spatula (you may have to butter the spatula after every 2 or 3 caramels, or it will get very sticky).
• Remove caramels evenly onto waxed paper.
• Melt chocolate in double boiler, or in microwave on medium high, stirring every 25 seconds until just melted.
• Spoon over caramel-pecan clusters.
• Let cool a few hours.
• Makes 26.

CARAMEL PECAN TURTLE COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream Butter Flavor CRISCO® and sugars together. Add milk. Beat in eggs one at a time; add vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Mix into creamed mixture. Chill for one hour.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Roll out 1/3 of the dough at a time, to about 1/4-inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut out with 2 1/4-inch cookie cutters. Place 2 inches apart on un-greased baking sheet.
• Bake for 5-6 minutes, or until edges are slightly golden. Remove immediately to cooling rack.
• Combine caramels and milk in microwave-safe bowl. Cover with waxed paper. Microwave at 50% (MEDIUM)for 1 minute. Stir. Repeat until smooth (or melt on rangetop in small saucepan on very low heat). Drop rounded teaspoonfuls on top of each cookie. Place 3 pecan halves around edge of caramel to resemble turtle.
• Place chocolate chips in microwave-safe cup. Microwave at 50% (MEDIUM) for 1 minute. Stir. Repeat until smooth (or melt on rangetop in small saucepan on very low heat). Spread rounded teaspoonfuls over top of caramel. Do not cover the pecans. Cool completely.

CHOCOLATE, PECAN, AND CARAMEL TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Blend crackers and 2 tablespoons sugar in processor until fine crumbs form. Add melted butter; process until moist clumps form. Press mixture firmly over bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Bake crust until golden and firm, about 7 minutes. Cool completely on rack.
• Stir bittersweet chocolate in top of double boiler set over simmering water until melted and smooth. Pour chocolate into tart crust. Using small metal spatula, spread over bottom of crust. Arrange 1 1/2 cups pecans in single layer over chocolate.
• Mix 1/4 cup water and 1 cup sugar in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium-high; boil without stirring until syrup is deep amber color, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Add 3/4 cup cream and 2 tablespoons butter (mixture will bubble vigorously). Set over low heat; stir until caramel is smooth, about 1 minute. Pour over pecans atop chocolate in crust. Chill until set, about 45 minutes. Stir milk chocolate and 1/4 cup cream in heavy saucepan over low heat until smooth. Pour over caramel; spread evenly. Arrange 1/2 cup pecans around edge of tart. Chill at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.