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.
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Just made these for the first time and they’re a hit! Based on the size of cookie and depth of the caramel well, I needed more caramel and nuts than the recipe called for but obviously this will vary depending on technique and size.
I made this recipe today and was very disappointed. No flavor, not sweet, very bland. Looks good but not worth the work.
Made according to instructions. The Carmel is hard! I had them from a bakery and the Carmel was soft and creamy. This was little to no difference than the Kraft Carmel’s I in wrapped. One cup of chopped pecans wasn’t near enough. I used double that.
Hi. These cookies look so good! My daughter & I don’t care too much for chocolate, so I was wondering if I could omit the cocoa powder to have a non chocolate version? If not, do you have any other suggestions for a non chocolate cookie base?
use a sugar cookie or short bread recipe for a non-chocolate recipe
I added these to my christmas cookie list last year and they were amazing! They did take me a while to make but totally worth it. They will be in my cookie tins this year as well. Thanks!
This is a old Betty Crocker Holliday cookbook that my grandmother had! I have been making these for 20 + years . Everybody who has had them, LOVES them!!?
What kind of chocalate to drizzle over. Can you use morsels
Any chocolate that melts well. If using chocolate chips, just make sure it’s a high quality brand that will melt 🙂
How do you drizzle the chocolate? I tried several objects, but nothing worked. The good thing was, they are delicious without the chocolate too.
The caramel hardened a lot. Is it ok to microwave them before serving to get it a bit softer? I put them in the freezer as suggested for 15 mins and now they are really hard.
This sounds like the caramel was heated too much and that’s why it was so hard. I would not heat them in the microwave!
I made these as my first cookie recipe ever, and they turned out great!!! I suggest buying caramel from Chick-Fil-A to use on the cookies! They come with the catering food trays but you can buy some for only $2 and it makes the cookie heavenly!
My husband is all about his cookies and he said these are Thē BEST cookies he has ever had. I had to make extra so he could had everyone at work try them. Thanks for sharing!!!!!
My 9 yr old daughter found this recipe, originally to make for 4-H baking project. It’s now a family favorite and have been making this for 4 years now!