Indulge in the irresistible combination of crunchy pecans, gooey caramel, and rich chocolate with these easy-to-make turtle clusters. Perfect for holiday treats, gifts, or a sweet snack anytime!
Ingredients:
- For the Caramel:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- For the Clusters:
- 4 cups pecan halves
- 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips (or your favorite chocolate)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Pecans:
- Spread the pecan halves in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Toast the pecans in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 8-10 minutes, or until fragrant. Be careful not to burn them.
- Let the pecans cool.
- Make the Caramel:
- In a medium-sized heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add the granulated sugar, light corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk.
- Stir constantly until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture begins to boil.
- Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the saucepan.
- Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture reaches 245°F (118°C), which is the firm-ball stage.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt.
- Be very careful, caramel is extremely hot.
- Assemble the Clusters:
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Place small clusters of toasted pecans (about 5-7 halves) onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Spoon a generous amount of caramel over each pecan cluster, covering them well.
- Melt the Chocolate:
- Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler or in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth.
- Coat the Clusters:
- Drizzle the melted chocolate over the caramel-covered pecan clusters, ensuring they are well coated.
- Alternatively, you can dip the entire caramel pecan cluster into the melted chocolate.
- Set and Serve:
- Allow the chocolate pecan turtle clusters to cool and set completely at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
- Once set, you can store them in an airtight container.
Tips and Variations:
- For a salted caramel version, sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over the caramel before it sets.
- Use dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate instead of semi-sweet chocolate.
- Add a sprinkle of chopped nuts or sea salt on top of the chocolate before it sets for added texture and flavor.
- For smaller clusters, use less pecans per cluster.
- Make sure to use a heavy bottomed pot for the caramel, to avoid scorching.
- A candy thermometer is highly recommended for accurate caramel cooking.
Enjoy your homemade Chocolate Pecan Turtle Clusters!