These Pecan Turtle Bars are a sweet fluffy crust topped with a caramel layer than topped with toasted pecans and smooth chocolate. With a satisfying mix of textures — the soft caramel on top of a crunchy crust, and the melt-in-your-mouth layer of chocolate — these bars will be a go-to dessert for entertaining, holiday baking or just satisfying your sweet tooth. Fast to make and utterly irresistible, they have all the flavors of classic turtle candies but in a shareable bar form.
Why You’ll Love These Pecan Turtle Bars:
Rich Layers: Bite by bite, shortbread, caramel, pecans and chocolate come together on a plate for a well-structured dessert.
Good for Sharing: They’re simple to cut into squares and easy to haul around, so they’re perfect for parties, bake sales or gifting.
Good Texture: The buttery crust, the soft, chewie chocolate caramel and crunchy pecans turn into a satisfyingly textured treat.
Quick to Prepare: This recipe is made with such few ingredients and simple steps, it’s quick for anyone to make — there are no specialist baking skills required.
Key Ingredients:
All-Purpose Flour: Used to make the shortbread crust. Flour (sifted, for a light, tender crust)
Unsalted Butter: Use unsalted butter so you control the amount of salt in each layer. It should be softened so that it blends easily into the crust.
Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar in the crust makes it more fine than granulated sugar would, delivering that melt-in-your-mouth consistency.
Sweetened Condensed Milk: This is your secret ingredient for a creamy, rich caramel layer. Don’t substitute evaporated milk, as this won’t produce the same outcome.
Light Corn Syrup: Corn syrup helps keep the caramel from crystallizing, contributing to a smooth, pourable texture.
Chopped Pecans: Use coarsely chopped pecans for the chew and nutty flavor that goes so well with the caramel and chocolate.
Semisweet Chocolate Chips: Semisweet chocolate hits the perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness to keep the bars from being too sweet.
