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Turtle Cookies

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These Turtle Cookies feature a fudgy chocolate cookie base, gooey caramel center, and crunchy pecans for the ultimate chocolate caramel treat. Perfect for holidays, parties, or whenever you crave a decadent, crowd-pleasing dessert.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks/226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups (280g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup (45g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 36 soft caramel candies (like Kraft or Werther’s), unwrapped
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 cups (170g) pecan halves, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup (170g) semisweet chocolate chips or chunks
  • Optional: 1/2 cup (85g) chocolate chips for drizzling

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
  2. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then mix in vanilla extract until smooth.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
  4. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, mixing on low until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Cover the bowl and chill the dough for at least 30 minutes.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  7. Using a 1.5-inch cookie scoop or about 2 tablespoons, scoop dough and roll into balls. Place on baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.
  8. Press your thumb gently into the center of each dough ball to create a shallow well. Place one unwrapped caramel candy into each well and gently pinch the dough to mostly cover the caramel.
  9. Press a few chopped pecans and a couple of chocolate chips onto the tops and sides of each cookie.
  10. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until edges are set but centers look just slightly underbaked.
  11. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  12. Optional: Melt 1/2 cup chocolate chips and drizzle over cooled cookies. Let set before serving.

Notes

Chill the dough for thick, chewy cookies. Use good-quality caramels for the best gooey centers. Toast pecans for extra flavor. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For nut-free, omit pecans or substitute with pretzels or sunflower seeds. Cookies can be frozen before or after baking.

Nutrition

Keywords: turtle cookies, chocolate caramel cookies, pecan cookies, holiday cookies, easy cookie recipe, caramel stuffed cookies, Christmas cookies, chocolate cookies, turtle dessert

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