Homemade Turtle Desserts

Homemade Turtles

 

[wc_image attachment_id=”1684″ size=”medium” title=”” alt=”” caption=”” link_to=”post” url=”” align=”right” flag=”” left=”” top=”” right=”0″ bottom=”20″ text_color=”” background_color=”” font_size=””][/wc_image]Making homemade turtles is easy as soon as you catch the hang of making homemade caramel. I showed you guys how to do that earlier this week, so let’s get going on the whole dessert 😉

You Need:

10 bag pecan halves
I batch caramel (recipe here)
2 cups chocolate chips of your choice
1 Tbsp shortening, room temp solid (may not be necessary, but I tend to have to use it)

The first step to making these amazing desserts is laying out your pecans. If you happen to be more of a fan of cashews, you could substitute, but I happen to be a purist pecan girl for these.

I used wax paper to create this dessert on, but I am sure parchment will also do fine. I had my daughter help me build these little pecan teepees. I found that laying them like bricks, so that one layer went north/south, the next layer went east/west worked best. But however you can get the little pile to sit still, do so. Just make sure that the pecans are sitting so that the caramel will touch them all as the joining agent. You can spray the foil or wax paper before piling up the pecans to help with sticking after.

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Next, after making your homemade caramel, you will want it to cool for at least 5 minutes before spooning over your pecans.

A great tip here when spooning caramel over the pecans: spray your spoon with cooking spray. This will keep the hot caramel from sticking. The caramel is ready when it is not running off your spoon, but more of a ribbon effect.

[wc_image attachment_id=”1696″ size=”large” title=”” alt=”” caption=”The caramel comes off the spoon like a ribbon and will be easier to swirl onto the pecans.” link_to=”none” url=”” align=”center” flag=”” left=”” top=”” right=”0″ bottom=”20″ text_color=”” background_color=”” font_size=””][/wc_image]

You can see how some of the super hot caramel just ran off the pecans and melded itself to the wax paper. If you find the caramel isn’t staying on the pecans, stir it for a couple  more minutes before spooning more.

[wc_image attachment_id=”1686″ size=”large” title=”” alt=”” caption=”See how the caramel can run all over if you spoon it too hot?” link_to=”none” url=”” align=”center” flag=”” left=”” top=”” right=”0″ bottom=”20″ text_color=”” background_color=”” font_size=””][/wc_image] 

As the caramel cools, it thickens, and will be easier to maneuver over the pecan piles. I also ended up doing 2 rounds of caramel so that the caramel to pecan ratio would be where I prefer it. This would be a personal preference.

These pecan caramel goodies need to fully cool before adding the chocolate topping. I placed my baking sheets of wax paper and goodies in the fridge for 15 minutes.

Only when your caramel is set do you move to the chocolate phase. You must use low heat and if you need a melting agent, use shortening one tablespoon at a time. If you use oil, or anything that is LIQUID at room temperature, your chocolate won’t set correctly. Remember this if you need melted chocolate to stay gooey at room temperature 😉

[wc_image attachment_id=”1698″ size=”large” title=”” alt=”” caption=”Just 2 cups of chocolate chips melted over very low heat.” link_to=”none” url=”” align=”center” flag=”” left=”” top=”” right=”0″ bottom=”20″ text_color=”” background_color=”” font_size=””][/wc_image]

I don’t have the luck that some do with melting chocolate and doing fine with just that, so I end up using 1 tablespoon of shortening with my 2 cups of chocolate. If your chocolate gets cakey and dry looking, the heat is too high!

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I melt my chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly. Then I spoon the chocolate over the caramel mound as slowly as I did the caramel. Go for several layers to cover them to your preference.If the chocolate is also wanting to run off the turtle mound, then allow a minute or two to cool and thicken back up before resuming the drizzling.

I would also recommend doing small batches of melted chocolate. This way if something gets messed up, you have only ruined a small amount. Also, smaller batches are easier to manage as you melt, stir and drizzle over the turtles.

[wc_image attachment_id=”1701″ size=”large” title=”” alt=”” caption=”You may need to spread the chocolate around the turtle  after dropping a dollop on the top.” link_to=”none” url=”” align=”center” flag=”” left=”” top=”” right=”0″ bottom=”20″ text_color=”” background_color=”” font_size=””][/wc_image]

If you want to do a bottom layer of chocolate, then you will need to place the sheets back in the freezer so that you can safely flip the turtles over to spoon chocolate over that side.

[wc_image attachment_id=”1705″ size=”large” title=”” alt=”” caption=”I make sure the cookie sheet fits in the fridge so that I can set the turtles in there to solidify.” link_to=”none” url=”” align=”center” flag=”” left=”” top=”” right=”0″ bottom=”20″ text_color=”” background_color=”” font_size=””][/wc_image]

My first time making this dessert was not pretty. I melted the wax paper to the caramel because I started spooning while it was just too hot. It also ran all over the wax paper and didn’t stay on my pecans. So the second time I attempted this dessert, I chose to make a turtle pie, and loved it!!

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[wc_image attachment_id=”1687″ size=”wcsquare” title=”” alt=”” caption=”Make sure all the pecans can be touched by the caramel.” link_to=”none” url=”” align=”center” flag=”” left=”” top=”” right=”0″ bottom=”20″ text_color=”” background_color=”” font_size=””][/wc_image]

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[wc_image attachment_id=”1689″ size=”wcsquare” title=”” alt=”” caption=”The caramel still needs to cool a little bit, but there is less dunnage this way.” link_to=”none” url=”” align=”center” flag=”” left=”” top=”” right=”0″ bottom=”20″ text_color=”” background_color=”” font_size=””][/wc_image]

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[wc_image attachment_id=”1703″ size=”wcsquare” title=”” alt=”” caption=”Push the chocolate all over the turtle pie to evenly coat.” link_to=”none” url=”” align=”center” flag=”” left=”” top=”” right=”0″ bottom=”20″ text_color=”” background_color=”” font_size=””][/wc_image]

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Once this cooled, I simply broke off a handful of turtle whenever I needed the pick-me-up. And there you have it. Turtle desserts made lovingly by you, and inhaled (hopefully by you)! You could also wrap this is plastic wrap and give it as a gift!