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Easy Turtle Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 136 reviews

These Easy Turtle Bars are a luscious dessert featuring a buttery crust topped with crunchy pecans, rich caramel, and smooth melted chocolate. Perfect as a sweet treat for any occasion, they offer a delightful combination of textures and flavors that are simple to make and irresistibly delicious.

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

Toppings

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

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: 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 of the bars later.
  2. Make the Crust: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose 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. Work quickly to keep the butter cold for the best texture.
  3. Press Crust into Pan: Evenly press the crumbly mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking pan using the back of a spoon or your fingers, creating a compact and level crust layer.
  4. Add Pecans: Sprinkle the pecan halves evenly over the crust to form a crunchy base for the caramel topping.
  5. Prepare Caramel: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine butter and brown sugar. Stir constantly as the mixture heats and begins to bubble and change color.
  6. Cook Caramel: Once boiling, continue to cook and stir the caramel mixture for exactly one minute to ensure it reaches the perfect consistency and avoids burning.
  7. Pour Caramel over Pecans and Crust: Carefully pour the hot caramel evenly over the pecan layer and crust, using a spatula if necessary to spread it completely.
  8. Bake: Place the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake for 18-20 minutes until the topping is bubbly and golden brown, indicating the caramel is cooked through.
  9. Add Chocolate Chips: Remove the pan from the oven and immediately sprinkle the milk chocolate chips evenly across the hot bars. Allow the chips to sit for a few minutes so they soften.
  10. Spread Melted Chocolate: Once softened, use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the melted chocolate into an even layer over the bars, using the residual heat to melt and smooth the chocolate topping.

Notes

  • For extra flavor and texture, sprinkle extra chopped pecans on top after spreading the chocolate.
  • A light sprinkle of sea salt flakes enhances the sweetness and adds a gourmet touch.
  • Drizzle additional caramel sauce on top for an extra decadent finish.
  • Make sure the butter for the crust is very cold for a flaky, tender base.
  • Allow bars to cool completely before cutting to ensure clean slices.

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

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