Turtle Bark combines all the best parts of turtle candy—toasted pecans, chocolate, and caramel! It’s easy to make, super tasty, and perfect for the holidays.
Turtle Bark
Peppermint bark and turtles are two of my all-time favorite holiday treats, and it’s just not Christmas without a bowl of them to snack on.
My neighbors know they’ll always get some assortment of these goodies. So, this year, I decided to combine the two into Turtle Bark, and wow—it exceeded all my expectations!
The mix of nuts, chocolate, and caramel might just be the best combo ever. I’ll be making this on repeat all season long!
Ingredients
- Caramel: Use soft, fresh caramels like Werther’s Soft® for the best results.
- Chocolate: Choose high-quality chocolate for smooth melting and better flavor.
- Toasted Pecans: Toasting enhances their flavor, so don’t skip this step!
- Pretzels: Break into small pieces for even layering.
Quick Tip
Add some Maldon® sea salt flakes if you love salty-sweet treats! It’s like a salted caramel turtle candy!
Turtle Bark Tips
- Line the pan: Use parchment, wax paper, or foil to make it simple to take out the bark. A 9×13-inch pan works best for a 1/4-inch-thick base.
- Melt chocolate chips: Use strong glass bowls safe for the microwave. Heat for 30 seconds at a time, stirring for 20-25 seconds between to keep it from burning. The chocolate keeps melting after it’s out of the microwave, so go slow.
- Melt caramels: Be patient! Melt slowly, stirring often to avoid hard or brittle caramel.
Toasting Pecans for Turtle Bark
Toasting the pecans makes them taste better and adds a nice texture, but it’s optional. Here’s how you can toast them:
- In the oven: Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 6-10 minutes, stirring halfway. Keep an eye on them so they don’t burn. Let them cool completely before chopping.
- On the stovetop: Put the pecans in a single layer in a big skillet over medium heat. Stir them often for 3-4 minutes until they smell good. Take them off the heat and let them cool, stirring now and then, before adding to the chocolate.
How To Make Turtle Bark
- Melt chocolate then spread it on a sheet of parchment paper.
- Add toasted pecans by sprinkling them evenly over the melted chocolate.
- Drizzle caramel sauce on top of the pecans and chocolate.
- Let it harden at room temperature or in the fridge.
- Break it into pieces with your hands and enjoy!
Variations
You can easily replace the milk chocolate with semi-sweet or dark chocolate for a less sweet treat.
Storage
Leftovers?
Keep leftover turtle bark in a sealed container at room temperature for a week or in the fridge for two weeks.
Use parchment paper between layers so it doesn’t stick.
More Christmas Treats
- Mason Jar Christmas Cookies with a free printable recipe card
- Christmas Cookie Truffles decorated five different ways
- Peppermint Rice Krispie Treats with candy cane chocolate candies
- Hot Chocolate Snack Mix with white chocolate marshmallows
- Peppermint Bark Cookies brownie cookies with peppermint bark
Turtle Bark
Turtle Bark combines toasted pecans, chocolate, and caramel for a simple, delicious treat. Easy to make and perfect for the holidays!
Equipment
- Sheet pan (15″ x 10″) 9 x 13-inch
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mat or aluminum foil
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup pecan halves see note 1
- 1-3/4 + 1/3 cups milk chocolate chips divided
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 15 soft caramels 1/2 cup
- 1/2 tablespoon heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Flaky sea salt optional
Instructions
- Line a 9×13-inch sheet pan with parchment paper (or silicone liner or foil) and set aside. Toast pecans, let cool, and coarsely chop in small pieces (see note 1).
- Melt 1 and 3/4 cups milk chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl for 30-second intervals, stirring between each burst for 15–20 seconds, until chocolate is smooth and melted. Stir the coarsely chopped pecans into the melted chocolate. Use a spatula to transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and smooth it into an even layer about 1/4th inch thick.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the unwrapped caramels and heavy cream. Microwave in 10-second intervals, stirring between each burst, for 20 seconds or until caramels are melted and smooth. (Be careful to not rush this process or the caramels will harden and become brittle.) Once melted, stir in vanilla, then transfer to a resealable plastic bag (Have someone help you here—it is sticky and thick!), and cut off one corner. Drizzle evenly and generously over the chocolate and pecan mixture.
- Melt remaining 1/3 cup milk chocolate chips in the microwave. Pour melted chocolate into a small resealable plastic bag and cut off the tip. Pipe melted chocolate over the caramel layer in stripes. If desired, top with sea salt flakes.
- Allow bark to harden in the fridge, then cut into pieces with a very sharp knife.
Recipe Notes
Note 1: I recommend toasting the nuts before starting. This is optional but adds a nice flavor and is pretty easy to do! Here are the two options:
- In the oven: Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F until golden brown, stirring about halfway through. Generally, nuts take 6–10 minutes to toast. Watch them carefully; nuts can go from toasted to burned very quickly. Make sure to let them cool completely before chopping and adding to the melted chocolate.
- On the stovetop: Spread the pecans in an even layer in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Let stand for about 10 seconds, then stir. Keep stirring for about 3–4 minutes or until nuts become very fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool in the pan, stirring occasionally. Watch carefully to keep the nuts from burning, and let them cool fully before adding to the melted chocolate.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 243kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 46mg | Potassium: 131mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 34IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This looks So Yummy! Have you ever tried using chopped up small pretzel pieces along with the pecans? I may try that when making this recipe… will add to comment if I do! But as written, I’m sure this is a Winner!
I haven’t! Sounds delicious though!
Can you use the original Caramel candy instead of the soft Chewy
The turtle bark looks incredible! I am all about anything that is caramel and chocolate, so this is just right up my alley.
Can I use dark chocolate instead of the milk chocolate?? 🙂 🙂
Yes of course! 🙂
This bark looks so yummy and I love that it is easy to make.