Description
These irresistible turtle bars are layered with a buttery shortbread crust, gooey caramel, rich chocolate, and crunchy pecans. They’re easy to make, travel well, and are always a hit at holidays, bake sales, or whenever you’re craving a decadent treat.
Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup brown sugar, packed
1 (11 oz) bag caramel bits (or ~40 wrapped caramels, unwrapped)
⅓ cup heavy cream
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 ½ cups chopped pecans (toasted if desired)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
Beat softened butter and brown sugar until creamy. Mix in flour until crumbly. Press into pan to form crust.
Bake crust for 18 minutes, or until lightly golden around edges.
While crust bakes, melt caramel bits and heavy cream in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth.
Pour caramel evenly over hot crust. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top, then scatter pecans evenly.
Return to oven and bake 20–22 minutes, until caramel bubbles slightly at the edges.
Cool completely before cutting into bars.
Notes
For a salted caramel twist, sprinkle flaky sea salt on top before baking.
Store at room temperature for 3 days, in the fridge for 1 week, or freeze up to 3 months.
Substitute walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts if you don’t have pecans.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: ~260
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: Turtle bars, caramel chocolate pecan bars, easy dessert bars, holiday treats, layered dessert recipe
