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Easy Turtle Bars Recipe

★★★★★

4.7 from 122 reviews
  • Author: Gabriel
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 12 bars 1x

Description

Easy Turtle Bars are a decadent dessert featuring a buttery crust topped with pecans, a rich homemade caramel layer, and melted milk chocolate chips. Finished with extra pecans, sea salt flakes, and a drizzle of caramel sauce, these bars combine sweet, salty, and nutty flavors for a irresistible treat perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust:

  • 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 1 cup pecan halves

Caramel Layer:

  • 2/3 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

Topping:

  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • Extra chopped pecans
  • Sea salt flakes
  • Drizzled caramel sauce

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing the paper to hang over the edges for easy removal.
  2. Make the Crust: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour and brown sugar. Use a pastry blender or two knives to cut in the cold, cubed butter until the mixture resembles coarse, sandy crumbs, working quickly to keep butter cold.
  3. Press Crust: Press the crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan using the back of a spoon or your fingers to create a compact and even layer.
  4. Add Pecans: Sprinkle the pecan halves evenly over the crust to form the base for the caramel layer.
  5. Prepare Caramel: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter and brown sugar. Stir constantly until the mixture begins to bubble and change color.
  6. Cook Caramel: Continue cooking and stirring the bubbling mixture for exactly one minute to achieve the perfect caramel consistency without burning.
  7. Add Caramel Layer: Carefully pour the hot caramel mixture evenly over the pecans and crust, using a spatula if needed to ensure full coverage.
  8. Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, until the topping is bubbly and golden brown.
  9. Add Chocolate: Immediately after removing from the oven, sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the hot bars and let them sit for a few minutes to soften.
  10. Spread Chocolate: Once softened, use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the melted chocolate into an even layer, letting residual heat smooth it out.
  11. Finishing Touches: Sprinkle extra chopped pecans and sea salt flakes over the chocolate layer and drizzle with caramel sauce for added flavor and decoration.

Notes

  • Use cold butter for the crust to achieve a crumbly, tender texture.
  • Make sure to stir the caramel constantly to avoid burning.
  • Let the bars cool completely before cutting for cleaner slices.
  • You can customize the topping by adding your favorite nuts or using dark chocolate chips instead.
  • Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Turtle Bars, caramel pecan bars, chocolate caramel dessert, easy dessert recipe, holiday bars, pecan bars

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Find it online: https://gabriellangdon.com/easy-turtle-bars-recipe/