The Best Chocolate Turtles | A Healthy Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-free Recipe
Pecans, chocolate, and gooey caramel made from healthy ingredients to create a delicious and nostalgic treat!
When I was younger the only candy I ever remember my parents buying from chocolate shops was chocolate turtles. It was a rare treat, one I looked forward to very much! I wondered if there would be a healthier way for my family to enjoy this treat at home, and I started experimenting. Here’s what I came up with:
Ingredients needed for The Best Chocolate Turtles
- Whole pecans
- Coconut oil
- Real Maple Syrup
- A little Sunbutter (about a tablespoon)
- Salt
- Chocolate chips (you can use any kind you like!)
How to make Chocolate Turtles
First, you’re going to make your quick and healthy vegan version of caramel. Microwave the coconut oil and the maple syrup in a bowl for one minute. Then add the sun butter and whisk it around until it fully dissolves and becomes a caramel-like consistency. Now, you could just eat this with a spoon (yes it’s that good!) but we are going to use it to make adorable little turtle candies.
On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper lay out 6 whole pecans. This is the turtle’s body. Then to create the turtle’s legs, break the pecan in half long ways and then break it in half again and lay the pieces out like legs.
Put a little dollop of the caramel over the “turtles” to create the shell. Be sure to have it covered enough so that the legs and body will stick together. Place them in the freezer for about 10 minutes to harden, and in the meantime melt the chocolate.
Pour the chocolate chips into the bowl with the remaining caramel and microwave in 10-second increments until the chocolate is melted. Stir until the mixture is smooth and glossy.
Place a dollop of chocolate on top of the caramel to complete the shell. I like to sprinkle on a little bit of flaked sea salt but this step is optional.
Put the treats back into the freezer for 5-10 more minutes until hardened. Carefully remove the turtles from the parchment paper, I’ve found a spatula can be very helpful here, and enjoy!
These candies will keep for about a week in the fridge if they even last that long! 🙂
Printable Recipe Card
The Best Chocolate Turtles | A Healthy Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-free Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 whole pecans
- 1/8 cup coconut oil
- 1/8 cup real maple syrup
- 1 heaping Tbsp sunbutter
- pinch salt
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips any kind will do!
Instructions
For the caramel sauce
- Microwave the coconut oil and the maple syrup in a bowl for one minute.
- Then add the sun butter and whisk it around until it fully dissolves and becomes a caramel-like consistency.
- On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper lay out 6 whole pecans. This is the turtle’s body. Then to create the turtle’s legs, break the pecan in half long ways and then break it in half again and lay the pieces out like legs.
- Put a little dollop of the caramel over the “turtles” to create the shell. Be sure to have it covered enough so that the legs and body will stick together. Place them in the freezer for about 10 minutes to harden, and in the meantime melt the chocolate.
- Pour the chocolate chips into the bowl with the remaining caramel and microwave in 10-second increments until the chocolate is melted. Stir until the mixture is smooth and glossy.
- Place a dollop of chocolate on top of the caramel to complete the shell. I like to sprinkle on a little bit of flaked sea salt but this step is optional.
- Put the treats back into the freezer for 5-10 more minutes until hardened. Carefully remove the turtles from the parchment paper, I’ve found a spatula can be very helpful here, and enjoy!