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Home » Recipes » Desserts - Dolci

Turtle Caramel Pecan Bars

Published: Dec 16, 2022 · Modified: Feb 22, 2025 by Marisa Franca

Jump to Recipe
Pinterest image with title overlay for Turtle Caramel Pecan Bar cookie recipe.

If you’re a fan of classic turtle chocolates, then you’ll love these Turtle Caramel Bars! These dessert bars have a buttery shortbread cookie base, followed by homemade caramel layer, and topped with chopped pecans and gooey melted milk chocolate chips! 

With just a few pantry staples, you can make a mouth-watering holiday treat to serve over the festive season or gift these turtle caramel bars to friends and family. 

Turtle Pecan Bars with a milk chocolate topping on a white platter and surrounded by more caramel bars.
Caramel Pecan Turtle Bars are always the first one the cookie wish list from family and friends.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why I love this recipe
  • 🛒 Ingredients
  • 🗒 Instructions
  • 🔪 Equipment
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 Tips
  • 📚 Variations
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 📗 Related Recipes
  • 🍽 Serve with
  • 📞 Chiacchierata (chat)
  • 📝 Recipe Card
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why I love this recipe

  • They're a easy to make and a bite-sized dessert with classic chocolate turtle ingredients.
  • The whole family loves the cookie bar that's similar to the famous candy.
  • Turtle caramel bars make great party treats served on a holiday dessert platter alongside Christmas cookies and homemade candy.
  • Make these turtle caramel bars ahead of time and serve chilled or reheated.

Enjoy these homemade turtle dessert bars with whipped cream and ice cream, or gift them over the festive season to friends and family!

🛒 Ingredients

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Image of the ingredients needed for making the Turtle Caramel Pecan Bars.

Note: The full list of this Caramel Pecan Bar recipe ingredients and their amounts and options are in the recipe card below.

  • flour
  • granulated sugar
  • butter
  • brown sugar
  • pecans
  • milk chocolate chips

🗒 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.

Collage of first four steps to making the Caramel Pecan Bar Cookies.
  1. Whisk the flour and sugar in a mixing bowl and blend the butter with a fork until coarse crumbs form.
  2. Press the shortbread pastry into the bottom of a cake pan lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15 minutes at 350F.
  3. Combine brown sugar and butter in a pot over medium-low heat and bring it to a boil for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  4. Pour the mixture over the baked shortbread base.
Collage of last two steps to making the Shortbread Chocolate Pecan Bars.
  1. Sprinkle the nuts on top and bake for 15 minutes.
  2. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle the milk chocolate chips over the top so that they melt. Use the tip of a knife to swirl the chocolate gently. Allow to cool, and then slice to serve.
Caramel Pecan Bars sliced and on white parchment paper.
Who doesn't love chocolate and caramel together over a buttery shortbread crust?! These Turtle chocolates are ideal for the holidays and festive season.

🔪 Equipment

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

  • measuring cups
  • food processor
  • square pan 9X9-inch
  • parchment paper
  • saucepan

👩🏻‍🍳 Tips

  • You can either use a fork to blend the butter into the pastry mix or use a food processor. 
  • Lining the cake pan with parchment paper makes it easy to remove the turtle caramel bars for slicing. Allow enough parchment paper on both sides for makeshift handles. I’ve used parchment paper to line the baking dish, but you could use aluminum foil instead. 
  • Thaw frozen turtle caramel bars in the fridge. You can serve them chilled or reheat them in the oven. Just cover them with aluminum foil before heating.
  • You can refrigerate these turtle caramel bars once assembled to make the slicing of the bars easier. 
  • For firmer turtle caramel bars, let the baked dessert bars stand for 2 hours before serving.

📚 Variations

  • I’ve used a 9x9-inch baking dish for this dessert which creates a decent thickness to each turtle caramel bar. You could use a larger dish, but then you will end up with a slightly thinner slice, and you may also need to adjust the cooking time. 
  • Replace the chocolate chips with a chopped-up milk chocolate bar. 
  • Add cocoa powder to the buttery shortbread base for a rich chocolate turtle caramel bar recipe.
  • Double the number of slices by slicing smaller bars - great if you are serving at a party as a sweet appetizer. 

🥫 Storage

You can store the whole Turtle Caramel Bars in the baking dish. Just cover it with plastic wrap. If you prefer, wrap each bar in plastic wrap. Then, place them in an airtight container. You can keep them in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days. If you want to store them longer, they can go in the freezer for up to 6 months.

A stack of turtle caramel pecan cookie bars with a bite taken from the top cookie.
We have to make two batches of this easy and popular caramel pecan bar recipe. The treats go fast.

📗 Related Recipes

Homemade dessert bars are great if you want a bite-sized sweet treat and are easy to make. Try these other recipes if you’re a fan of dessert bars:

  • Homemade Brookies - Brookies are a perfect combination of brownies and cookies. Guaranteed to satisfy those sweet-tooth cravings!
  • Gooey S'mores Bake - This recipe allows you to enjoy gooey S’mores any time of the year without needing a campfire!
  • Caramel Apple Pie Bars - Turn a classic apple pie into these delectable apple pie bars with caramel for added decadence.
  • Frosted Chewy Sugar Cookie Bars—These easy-to-make bars, topped with dreamy pink frosting and garnished with pink pearl sugar crystals, make the ultimate treat for any occasion.
  • Neiman Marcus Ooey Gooey Bars - If you want a treat that tastes like a million dollars and is easy to make, then this is it.

🍽 Serve with

Enjoy a turtle caramel bar with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. An Irish Coffee or Affogato would also be delicious with this fabulous pecan bar cookie.

📞 Chiacchierata (chat)

These Turtle Pecan Bars take classic holiday turtle chocolates and turn them into delicious dessert bars with shortbread cookie bases. I like to use this recipe at cookie exchange parties or for hosting parties over the festive season. Always a huge hit with kids and adults alike. 

This recipe uses pantry staples and is extremely simple to make!

Tutti a tavolo, è pronto!

Overhead view of milk chocolate covered turtle caramel pecan bars on a white plate.
This delicious turtle pecan bar recipe is so buttery good that it practically melts in your mouth.

What's new? Check out my All Our Way Store on Amazon. We'll be adding more items we love and use or wish we had to make cooking fun and easy.

📝 Recipe Card

Turtle Caramel bars have shortbread base and homemade caramel layer with a chopped pecans and melted chocolate chips topping! Serve this cookie version of the candy turtle treats at holiday parties or gift them to friends and family. 

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

📖 Recipe

Turtle Caramel Pecan Bars on a white marble counter.

The Best Turtle Caramel Pecan Bars

These Turtle Carmel Bars are made with lots of chocolate, a simple caramel filling layer and a delicious shortbread base. These buttery bar cookies rival the famous chocolate pecan turtle candy and are a family favorite during the year and the holidays.
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes minutes
Servings: 16 bars
Calories: 354kcal
Author: Marisa Franca @ All Our Way
As An Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

Shortbread base:

  • 1 ½ cups flour 195 grams
  • ½ cup granulated sugar 100 grams
  • ¾ cups butter softened (169 grams)

Topping:

  • ½ cup brown sugar packed 110 grams
  • ⅔ cup butter 150 grams
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans 150 grams
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips 180 grams
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350℉.

Shortbread base:

  • In a medium bowl whisk together the flour and sugar, with a pastry blender or fork mix in butter until it resembles coarse crumbs. (A food processor works well for this).
    Press onto the bottom of an ungreased 9 inch (23cm) square cake pan. (Line the pan with parchment paper for easy removal).
  • Bake for approximately 15 minutes.

Topping:

  • In a medium pot, combine the brown sugar and butter, over medium/low heat, bring it to a boil, stirring constantly continue to boil for approximately 1-2 minutes, be sure not to let it burn, remove from the heat then pour over baked shortbread basses, sprinkle the nuts on top then bake for approximately 13-15 minutes or until bubbly.
  • Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle with milk chocolate chips, let stand for about 3 minutes then with the tip of a knife, gently swirl the chocolate.
  • Let cook completely, then cut into small squares. Enjoy!

Notes

NOTES: For easier cutting, refrigerate the cooled bars for about 30 minutes, then slice.

Nutrition

Calories: 354kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 131mg | Potassium: 94mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 506IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg

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    I’m Marisa Franca, a home chef, food writer, and photographer who believes that you can make gourmet quality food at home with simple seasonal ingredients. I’m passionate about family, food, friends, everything Italian, and happy endings.

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