Chocolate Caramel Turtle Cookies are themed after one of my late grandfather's many favorites, Turtle Candies. Turtle Candies are blobs of caramel topped with chocolate and studded with 4 whole pecans which jut out of the sides like turtle arms and legs. They're so popular they’ve become the namesake for many desserts with a combo of caramel, pecans and chocolate. This is one of them, and it’s from my friend Jannine who calls them Turtle Treasures.
Dulce de Leche Turtle Cookies
These cookies stand out from other Chocolate Turtle Cookies because instead of plain caramel, they have a filling of dulce de leche which is piped out through a star tip and sits in the middle of the pecan coated cookies. Then, the cookies are drizzled with milk chocolate. Nothing's missing here! Well, except decorating skills. Here's my cookie compared to Jannine's. I'll get there.
For the dulce de leche you can make your own or just pick up some La Lechera which is usually pretty easy to find here in the USA.
You can also just use melted caramel (follow the directions for melting on the back of the bag) and spoon it into the middle of the cookie. That's for when you are at your beach house and don't have your collection of star tips.
Here's my version of the recipe sans star tip (and beach house). Note: There is no baking soda or baking powder in this recipe so the cookies are dense. If you'd like more spread, you can add a little baking soda.
Chocolate Caramel Turtle Cookies
½ cup softened butter (salted)
⅔ cup sugar
1 large egg
2 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
⅓ cup Dutch process cocoa
¼ tsp. salt
1 cup very finely chopped pecans
1 can (13.4 oz.) Dulce de leche milk caramel (such as Nestle’s La Lechera)
16 toasted pecan halves
4 ounces milk chocolate
2 Tbsp. light cream
Cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
Separate egg. Reserve the white, then add yolk, milk and vanilla to the butter and sugar mixture. Beat well.
Combine the flour, cocoa and salt. Add to the wet mixture and mix until combined. Cover and refrigerate dough for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove dough from refrigerator and shape into 1 – inch balls. Dip each ball in the reserved egg white, then roll in the finely chopped pecans. Place on greased baking sheets. Using your thumb, make a deep indentation in the center of each ball. Bake for 10 – 12 minutes or until set.
Place the Dulce de leche milk caramel in a pastry bag with a star tip and fill the center of each cookie. Place a toasted pecan half on top of each cookie and move to a wire rack to cool. In a small microwave safe bowl, microwave the milk chocolate and light cream on high for 30 – 60 seconds or until melted. Drizzle over the top of each cookie and let rest until chocolate is set.
Makes 18 cookies.
Recipe
Chocolate Caramel Turtle Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup softened butter (salted (114 grams)
- ⅔ cup sugar (130 grams)
- 1 large egg
- 2 Tbsp. milk
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 cup flour (130 grams)
- ⅓ cup Dutch process cocoa (35 grams)
- ¼ tsp. salt (increase to ½ if using unsalted butter)
- 1 cup very finely chopped pecans
- 1 can La Lecheria or use your favorite dulce de leche
- 18 nice looking toasted pecan halves
- 4 ounces milk chocolate
- 2 Tbsp. light cream
Instructions
- Cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
- Separate egg. Reserve the white, then add yolk, milk and vanilla to the butter and sugar mixture. Beat well.
- Combine the flour, cocoa and salt. Add to the wet mixture and mix until combined. Cover and refrigerate dough for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove dough from refrigerator and shape into 1 – inch balls. Dip each ball in the reserved egg white, then roll in the finely chopped pecans. Place on greased baking sheets. Using your thumb, make a deep indentation in the center of each ball. Bake for 10 – 12 minutes or until set.
- Place the Dulce de leche milk caramel in a pastry bag with a star tip and fill the center of each cookie. Place a toasted pecan half on top of each cookie and move to a wire rack to cool. In a small microwave safe bowl, microwave the milk chocolate and light cream on high for 30 – 60 seconds or until melted. Drizzle over the top of each cookie and let rest until chocolate is set.
Anna says
Thanks Louise! That link is perfect. No need to fax.
I'll go ahead and reference that above.
Louise says
Gourmet and Epicurious don't seem to have it on their websites, but I still have the original copy of the magazine. Gourmet had an article "We Asked For It Holiday Cookies". The recipe was submitted by Sue Morris of Oshawa, Ontario. If you look at the bottom of this recipe, you'll see it referenced. http://www.wchstv.com/gmarecipes/chocolatecarmeltreasures.shtml I can't do it right now, but I'd be happy to fax you a copy from the article.
Anna says
Hi Louise,
Do you happen to have a link to the original? If it's the same recipe, then Gourmet should get credit too.
Joypup says
This looks amazing! Making your own caramel isn't tough -- there are tons of recipes out there... and usually it is wonderfully soft and ready to go ;^)* The boiling the can of sweetened condensed milk sounds awesome, but for those afraid of a can exploding (me) the making of caramels is a fun thing. (And they are great... but lots of butter ;^)*
Cristine says
Saw the picture, now must have the cookie!!! Looks AMAZING!
Therese B. says
Anna:
Yum-a-luma-ding-dong. These look sooooo good.
I will have to add that canned dulce de leche to my Christmas Scavanger List.
Thanks for another great recipe fer sure..fer sure!
Natalie says
Those look so decadent! YUMMY!
Sue says
Anna, your cookies are beautiful and no doubt delicious. Chocolate, caramel, and nuts. What could be better!?
For those of you looking for dulce de leche. Canned dulce de leche can sometimes be found in the hispanic section of the grocery store. Oddly enough we can even get it up here in most of the stores.
thebrunettebaker says
HOMEMADE DULCE DE LECHE
1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
Remove label from can. DO NOT OPEN CAN! Poke a few holes in the top with a clean nail or bottle opener. Place in saucepan with enough water so that 2/3 of the can is covered by the water. Boil for 3-4 hrs. Watch the water so it maintains that level. Remove from water & carefully remove lid. Stir until smooth.
I haven't tried this yet but will one day, along with those delish cookies 🙂
Kathy says
Anna, Thanks for a great way to use Nestle's LaLechera. The cookies look delicious!
Daisy Doodles says
OH My these look delicious! My husband has been begging me to make pralines, maybe these will tide him over 🙂
Anna, I am definately going to try that recipe you emailed me after the holidays. I am thinking of trying to convert it into some sort of shrimp appetizer of sorts. I'll let you know how that goes.
Jules says
Here is the easiest recipe ever to make your own dulce de leche: Take the label off of a can of sweetened condensed milk. Put in in your empty slow cooker. Fill the slow cooker with water making sure to completely cover the pan. Put the lid on the slow cooker. Turn it on low. Walk away for 10 hours. I do it overnight. Turn off the slow cooker. Let the water and can cool. Gorge yourself on amazing, sweet, caramely dulce de leche.
You can also easily do two cans.
johngl says
I don't do a lot of cookie baking, but I may just have to give these a shot. My most glorious spousal unit is a caramel junkie (she is chewing one right now -- I'm not making this up).
Besides, I like turtles. 🙂
FFichiban says
wooww looks so rich but so gooodd!
Barbara Hahn says
Anna, those look incredibly great! I just read about your pecan pie being in the freezer, so I'm going to make your recipe tomorrow and freeze it. I hate leaving everything to Wednesday or Thanksgiving day to cook.
Anna says
Joanna, the pecan pie is done. It's in the freezer. Fuzz is going to make the pumpkin pie and I have a feeling I'll make a last minute chocolate cake.
Joanna says
wow these sound soo delectable! i think both versions look equally delicious and sinful. do you know what treats you're making for thanksgiving yet?
Pearl says
oh my gosh! SO adorable!
Katrina says
Goodness! Those look really yummy!
I don't know why, but I keep finding things at Target (super center) that I keep hearing everyone talk about not being able to find--such as the pumpkin spice Kisses (gone now), cinnamon chips, and dulce de leche. If you can't find something, just a suggestion to try Target if you have one nearby and haven't looked there for obscure items!
bakingblonde says
These look so great, the perfect addition to a holiday cookie tray!
VeggieGirl says
OH. MY. GOODNESS. GRACIOUS.
JEP says
MMmm...amazing looking cookie! Caramel...perfect for the holidays! Thanks for the extra tips for success.
Lisa says
I am drooling right now. I have not found the dulce de leche so thanks for the alternate way.