Homemade Turtles Recipe

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Posted October 7, 2023 by: Admin #Kitchen

Introducing a delightful and nutritious homemade turtles recipe that not only brings joy to the kitchen but also satisfies the taste buds of the entire family! Turtles used to hold a special place in my heart, gifted by my dad on Valentine’s Day or tucked into my Christmas stocking. However, as time has passed, my palate has evolved, and I no longer reach for these treats as I once did.

Yet, my love for the delectable combination of ooey-gooey caramel, salty pecan crunch, and velvety chocolate remains unwavering. These flavors are simply irresistible. Worry not, as I’ve discovered a blend that perfectly satiates those sweet, salty, and chocolatey cravings.

If you haven’t yet experienced the delight of dates, allow me to introduce you to their wonders. Firstly, it’s time to broaden your horizons! (Don’t worry; it’s all love here.) Secondly, you’re missing out on something extraordinary. While you might associate dates with aiding digestion, they possess a rich history of being one of the oldest cultivated fruits, known for their healing properties. Today, you can find dates, both fresh and dried, in grocery stores.

Homemade Turtles

They offer a natural sweetness and a satisfyingly chewy texture. Dried dates are often used in baking recipes as a natural sweetener, as seen in my Trail Mix Bites. Moreover, they make for a delightful standalone snack. Although there are various date varieties, Medjool dates are the sweetest and, when fresh, taste remarkably like toffee! Yes, you read that correctly, TOFFEE! Not only are they incredibly delicious, but they also provide fiber, vitamins, and trace minerals while not causing the same blood sugar spikes as refined sugar. Hence, they serve as an excellent natural sweetener.

Homemade Turtle Candy

So, if you haven’t yet indulged in the delightful flavor of Medjool dates, this is your golden opportunity. I assure you that their toffee-like taste and chewy texture, paired with crunchy pecans and rich dark chocolate, create the perfect caramel center for these wholesome homemade turtles.

Homemade Turtles

You can craft this wholesome homemade turtles recipe using your preferred variety of dates, but Medjool dates are recommended for achieving a soft and gooey texture.

Ingredients

12 Medjool dates
1 cup chocolate chips, dark or semi-sweet
48 pecan halves
Sea salt (optional)

Instructions

Begin by removing the pits from the Medjool dates using your fingers or a knife if necessary.
After removing the pits, flatten each date into a round shape with your hands. Fresher dates will make this process easier. The goal is to shape them into a ball-like structure; the more you shape them, the chewier they will become. (Optional: You can also blend the dates in a food processor to create a date paste and then form it into 12 disc-shaped pieces.)
Once you’ve shaped each date into a circle, press four pecan halves into the base of each date. These pecans will serve as the “feet” of your turtles. Afterward, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, ensuring that the feet are facing upwards.
Using a double boiler or microwave, gently melt the chocolate at low heat to maintain its smoothness. Stir the chocolate periodically.
After melting the chocolate, add approximately one teaspoon of melted chocolate to the bottom of each turtle to adhere the pecans to the date. Once complete, transfer the baking sheet to the freezer for a few minutes until the chocolate has solidified.
Once the chocolate has solidified, remove the baking sheet from the freezer. Working one turtle at a time, dip each date into the melted chocolate, ensuring the feet are facing up, until the entire date is coated. You can use a spoon to assist in coating and removing the date from the chocolate.
After coating, return each turtle to the baking sheet, this time with the feet facing down. Sprinkle a small pinch of sea salt on top of each turtle (this step is optional but enhances the chocolate’s flavor).
Allow all turtles to set in the fridge for 20-30 minutes until the chocolate has completely solidified.
Once the chocolate has set, you can enjoy the turtles immediately or store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days or freeze them for up to three months.