Name: Turtle Candy Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 4 min
Total time: 14 min
Ingredients: Round shaped pretzels; Individually wrapped caramels; Nuts such as cashews (walnuts, almonds, or pistachios); optional: crushed pistachios & coarsely ground sea salt for sprinkling

A Turtle Candy recipe that is simple to make and comes together quickly with just 4 ingredients. Following a few simple steps, you can make caramel turtles, pecan turtles, or even Rolo pretzels that your guests will rave about.

Today I’m sharing one of my favorite Christmas candies, Caramel Turtles.

The best part? This delicious Christmas candy recipe is really easy and it’s a fun project to make with your kids.

Don’t worry, if your kids are not into nuts -> head over and check out my M&M version Christmas Pretzel Treats for a similar, nut-free version!

Check out the how-to video or keep reading for step by step instructions!

How To Make Turtle Candy

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
Use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to line a large baking sheet.
Line pretzels into rows across the baking sheet, the amount depends on the size pan you use.
Place 1 caramel inside the pretzel round.
Bake for 4-5 minutes, or until the caramels are soft enough to push a nut into it. Don’t overbake or the caramels will get very hard after they reharden.
As soon as the caramels are melted enough, carefully place one nut (such as a walnut, almond, or pistachio) into the center of the caramel.
Sprinkle with crushed pistachios and coarsely ground sea salt.
Let cool and they are ready to serve or store in an airtight container.

Substitution Ideas

Use Rolos instead of caramels for Rolo Pretzels
Use Hershey Kiss’s or Hugs instead of caramels
Use M&M’s instead of nuts
Top with sea salt
Check out this list for 40 more Pretzel Treat ideas

To get started, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Kitchen Tip: Don’t use wax paper. If you do the baked caramels will stick to the wax part of the paper. If you do make this error, simply place the pan into the freezer for 30 minutes, then twist the caramels off of the paper.

Line the pretzels along the baking sheet in rows, or pack them on if you prefer to make a lot all at once.

Round pretzels work best for this easy dessert recipe. Most grocery stores carry them around the holidays. You can find them on Amazon otherwise.

Next, place an unwrapped caramel into the center of each pretzel. Place the pan into the oven preheated to 250 degrees. Bake for 4-5 minutes or until the caramel is soft enough to push in a nut.

Make sure not to over bake the caramels. They will get really hard once they cool if you do, and you don’t need to be chipping teeth.

As soon as the caramels or rolos are melted enough, work quickly pressing in a nut or candy of choice.

My favorites are pecan turtles, pistachio turtles, and almond turtles, but you can use whatever nut variety you’d like.

Let the caramel turtle candy cool then carefully remove and store in an airtight container. They can be stored for 2-3 weeks.

Interested in more holiday recipes? For another super simple Christmas candy recipe try Chocolate Bark, Easy Peanut Butter Fudge, or Chocolate Fudge. For tips on rolling out Christmas cookies click here.

If you’re needing a special entree, my whole Beef Tenderloin can’t be beaten and my make-ahead homemade whipped cream is a recipe to keep handy as well.

If you enjoyed this recipe, make sure to leave a comment and a star rating below! Then follow me on social media and tag #createkidsclub if you make the recipe. I love seeing what you come up with!

Turtle candy is a pretzel turtle with caramel turtles, rolo pretzels or pecan turtles

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