This homemade Turtle Cookies recipe starts with delicious chocolate cookies rolled in pecans and baked, then filled with melted caramel. They're as delicious as they are beautiful.
Turtle Cookies
Turtle CookiesLet me tell you, these turtle thumbprint cookies have been the star of many Christmas Cookie Exchanges because they have the “wow” factor in appearance but tastes amazing too. And the best part, is they're EASY to make, and they even freeze well too.
I first shared this recipe back in 2013, after making it when I saw it on Pinterest from The Kitchen is My Playground. It's been a favorite every since–a chewy, brownie-like cookie coated in pecans and a chewy caramel center. YUM!
Here you can browse all of my Christmas recipes, and don't miss my Homemade Caramels, Peppermint Brownies, Gingerbread Cake, Grasshopper Pie, and Cranberry Fluff Salad.
How to make Turtle Cookies:
Make Cookie Dough: Combine flour, cocoa, and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the egg yolk, milk, and vanilla then stir in the flour mixture, just until combined. Cover and chill cookie dough in the fridge for one hour.
Roll In Pecans: Whisk egg whites in a small bowl until frothy. Pour chopped pecans in another shallow bowl. Roll cookie dough into small balls (I made 20 cookies), roll in the frothy egg whites, then press in the chopped pecans. Place on baking sheet.
Bake: Use a small measuring spoon and make an indentation in the center of each cookie dough ball. Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes, or just until set. Be careful not to over bake since they will harden as they cool. When they come out of the oven, gently re-press the indentation with a small spoon.
Add Caramel: Microwave caramel and water at 30-second intervals, stirring after each one. Repeat until caramel is melted (1-2 minutes). Pour small spoonfuls of caramel into each indent on the cookies. Optional: Drizzle these pecan turtle cookies with melted chocolate and/or sprinkle with sea salt.
Freezing Instructions:
To Freeze: You can make the cookie dough and freeze it for later, or you can freeze baked turtle cookies in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
More Holiday Cookies:
- Gingerbread Cookies
- Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies
- Super Soft Sugar Cookies
- Red Velvet Cookies
- Reindeer Cookies
- Ginger Molasses Cookies
- Pecan Sandies
- Christmas Cornflake Wreaths
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Recipe
Turtle Cookies
Equipment
- Hand mixer (optional)
- Stand Mixer (optional)
Ingredients
Chocolate Cookies:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (125 grams)
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (28 grams)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter (113 grams)
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar (134 grams)
- 1 large egg , separated
- 2 Tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup pecans , finely chopped
Caramel:
- 2/3 cup Kraft Caramel Bits or regular caramels, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon water
Optional Melted chocolate drizzle:
- 2 oz Semi-sweet chocolate
Instructions
- Cookie dough: Combine flour, cocoa and salt. In a separate bowl mix butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Mix in the egg yolk, milk, and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture, just until combined.
- Chill dough in the refrigerator for one hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Pecan coating: Whisk egg white in a bowl until frothy. Place finely chopped pecans in another shallow bowl. Remove cookie dough from fridge and roll into 20 small balls. Roll each dough ball in the frothy egg whites, and then roll and press in the chopped pecans. Place on baking sheet.
- Indent: Use the back of a small measuring spoon to make an indentation in the center of each dough ball.
- Bake at 350 Degrees F for about 10-12 minutes, or just until set. Don't over-bake (cookies will harden as they cool). As the cookies come out of the oven, gently re-press the indentations with a small spoon.
- Caramel: In a microwavable bowl, mix the caramel bits and water. Microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until caramel is melted (1-2 minutes). Pour small spoonfuls of caramel into the indented cookies.
- Optional Chocolate Drizzle: Melt chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave until smooth. Drizzle cookies with melted chocolate. Sprinkle with flake salt, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe December 2013. I updated in November 2017 and December 2024.
Recipe originally adapted from adapted from The Kitchen is My Playground.
This post contains affiliate links.
Turtle thumbprint cookies, I just baked, are fantastic thanks for sharing recipe. I put them in a cookie tin . How long will they last? Other than the loved ones eating them all up. Will they last a week?, should they be in fridge? Can they be frozen. Just its my first time baking ahead for Christmas , I’m making these for our cousin cookie exchange. Testing them out before hand and they are outstanding!
Thanking you in advance.
Sandy
North of Toronto .
Hi Sandy, I would stick them in the freezer on a baking sheet for about 20 minutes (called flash freezing them). Then put them in a container and put wax paper between each layer. Stick them back in the freezer until the day you want to serve them. On the day you want to serve them, take them out of the fridge, unstack them, and let them come to room temperature
I also LOVE cookie exchanges! My friends and I started doing it a few years ago and now fight over how gets to host 🙂 And my husband LOVES turtle-anything so I may just have to make these along with other cookies to give away. Thanks for the idea!
Can I use nut crunch instead of pecans?
Hi Leah, I’m not sure what nut crunch is, but I”m sure you could substitute it without a problem!
I have made these before and they taste great. However, I had a hard time storing them gifting them because you cannot stack them. The caramel sticks to even wax paper. Any ideas or solution to this? Thanks!
Hi Natalie, Have you tried flash freezing them before storing them? Stick them in the freezer (uncovered) for 15-20 minutes. Then put wax paper in between the layers, cover them and freeze. That should work! To defrost them, take them out of the layers while they’re frozen, and then let them come to room temperature.
These look great, I was wondering when did you add the pecans? Before or after the caramel sauce? Thanks!
You roll the cookie dough in egg whites, and then roll them in the crushed pecans. Then you bake them. Then you add the caramel sauce at the end, after the cookies are baked!
Does the caramel harden back up or stay liquid?
The caramel firms up a little to make it soft enough to eat easily. It’s only liquid when you poor it into the cookie hole and then it firms up perfectly!
I need some of these right now!!! yum
Oh man, these look incredible! I have to make some. I wonder if I have any caramel bits. Yum!
Thanks Kathleen! You could also use regular caramels or even make your own caramel sauce!
Looks SOOOOOOO yummy! Pinned and sharing on our FB page! Thanks ladies!
Thanks Pam 🙂 You’re the best!
Hi Lauren…I made these cookies over the weekend for friends. They completely enjoyed them. However, I do have a question. Do you any tips on how to stop the cookie from spreading so much? I had to reshape them when they came out of the oven and indent them, as suggested, a little before putting the caramel in. GREAT recipe! Thanks…Jada
Yum!