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+ servings
Turtle Cookies

Decadent Turtle Cookies That Will Melt Your Heart

These Turtle Cookies feature a rich, fudgy chocolate base topped with pecans and caramel for a delightful treat.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Cookies
Cuisine: American
Calories: 150

Ingredients
  

For the Cookie Base
  • 1 cup Granulated Sugar Consider using brown sugar for added moisture.
  • 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter At room temperature.
  • 1 1/4 cups All-Purpose Flour Can use gluten-free flour.
  • 1/2 cup Dutch Process Cocoa Powder Natural cocoa powder can be substituted.
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1 teaspoon Espresso Powder Optional.
  • 2 large Eggs At room temperature.
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract Almond extract can be used as an alternative.
For the Filling and Topping
  • 1/2 cup Heavy Cream Milk can be a substitute but results may vary.
  • 1/4 teaspoon Kosher Salt Balances sweetness.
  • 1 cup Dark Chocolate Chips Can use semi-sweet or milk chocolate.
  • 2 large Egg Whites
  • 1 cup Pecans (chopped finely) Can substitute with walnuts or almonds.
For the Caramel Sauce
  • 1 cup Granulated Sugar Watch to avoid crystallization.

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl
  • Stand mixer
  • Medium Pot
  • Baking sheet
  • Cookie scoop

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions for Turtle Cookies
  1. Heat 1 cup of granulated sugar in a medium pot over low heat, stirring occasionally until melted and amber colored, about 10-15 minutes.
  2. Whisk in 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter, 1/2 cup of heavy cream, and a pinch of kosher salt until smooth and glossy. Set aside to cool.
  3. In a bowl, whisk together 1 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup of Dutch process cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt.
  4. In a stand mixer, combine 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, and 1/2 cup of brown sugar. Beat for 3-4 minutes until fluffy.
  5. Add 2 large eggs and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mix on low speed until just combined.
  6. Gradually add the dry mixture into the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Fold in 1 cup of dark chocolate chips gently.
  7. Using a scoop, portion out 2 ½ oz of dough onto a lined baking sheet. Flatten slightly and make imprints for caramel.
  8. Whisk 2 egg whites until frothy, dip cookies, and coat in chopped pecans.
  9. Chill cookie tray in the freezer for at least 1 hour. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
  10. Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes until edges are firm but centers remain soft. Cool for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
  11. Allow cookies to cool completely on a wire rack to firm up.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookieCalories: 150kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 2gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 80mgPotassium: 75mgFiber: 1gSugar: 10gCalcium: 2mgIron: 4mg

Notes

Chilling the dough is essential to prevent excessive spreading when baking.

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