Description
Chocolate lovers will swoon over these irresistible turtle bars, where rich caramel, toasted pecans, and smooth chocolate create a heavenly dessert experience. Crisp cookie base and silky layers invite you to savor each decadent bite of pure indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (250 g / 8.8 oz) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (450 g / 16 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 g / 7 oz) packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup (100 g / 3.5 oz) granulated sugar
Sweet and Nut Toppings:
- 1 ½ cups (150 g / 5.3 oz) chopped pecans
- 1 cup (180 g / 6.3 oz) semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
Cream and Oil:
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil (optional, for easier drizzling)
Instructions
- Craft the foundational layer by blending flour, sugar, and softened butter into a crumbly texture. Press this mixture firmly into a parchment-lined baking pan, creating an even base. Bake at 350F until the crust develops a delicate golden hue, approximately 15 minutes.
- Generate a rich caramel sauce by combining brown sugar, butter, and cream in a saucepan. Heat the mixture, stirring continuously until it reaches a rolling boil. Simmer briefly, then fold in chopped pecans, ensuring a thorough coating of the nutty fragments.
- Cascade the caramel-pecan mixture over the pre-baked crust, spreading carefully to achieve complete coverage. Return the pan to the oven, allowing the caramel to transform into a bubbling, glossy layer that signals perfect doneness.
- Transform chocolate chips into a silky drizzle by melting them gently, incorporating a touch of vegetable oil to enhance fluidity. Create an artistic zigzag pattern across the caramel surface, allowing the chocolate to flow gracefully.
- Permit the bars to stabilize at room temperature, giving the layers time to set and harmonize. Once firm, slice into precise squares, revealing the intricate layers of buttery crust, nutty caramel, and chocolate elegance.
Notes
- Achieve a perfectly crumbly crust by using cold butter and mixing just until the ingredients come together, preventing a tough texture.
- Prevent caramel from burning by stirring constantly and using a heavy-bottomed saucepan to distribute heat evenly during cooking.
- Make the bars gluten-free by substituting all-purpose flour with almond flour or a gluten-free flour blend in the crust.
- Customize the recipe by swapping pecans with other nuts like almonds or walnuts for a different flavor profile and crunch.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 20
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg