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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original recipe is good and very tasty. I then did it my way. Used this recipe however, used whole egg in the dough, added the chopped pecans in with the dry ingredients. No egg white wash or rolling in pecans. Just scooped, indented, baked, indented, filled with caramel(used cream instead of water) then when cool drizzled with milk chocolate…..easy and excellent!
Looks delish can’t wait to make.
Very good cookies, caramel a nightmare to work with, can you give an easier way to work caramel? Seems that the caramel got hard after filling two cookies.
You might just need to add more liquid (water or milk) to the caramel mixture
These are good chocolate cookies but I couldn’t taste the carmel. Two other people had them and they too couldn’t taste it. That’s why I giving it a 2 star rating.
Well I tried making the turtle cookies and thought I’d be smart by buying the Smuckers caramel sauce. It never did harden and the caramel just dropped all over n was gooey. So I learn melt caramel bits!
These look so good. I can’t wait to make them. Happy Holidays to you and your Family. Thank you for Sharing. 🎄❄️🎅🏻🎄Susie
I have made these for last 5 Christmases. Every yr. People want their turtles. Has anyone ever tried to freeze the cookie part ? (Without the carmel). I haven’t tried. Hate to waste them if not. Lol
Also I use werthers soft carmels , then it stays soft. Easy to melt
Can u freeze them ?
Thank you
Sonia
You have two options for freezing these turtle cookies. The first option is to make the cookie dough, freeze it, and use it to make the cookies. The second option for freezing thumbprint cookies is to follow the recipe completely and make all cookies, allow them to cool completely, and then place them in a gallon freezer bag. When you are ready to eat them, allow them to come to room temperature on your counter top.
AMAZING!!!
Delish! Quick! Easy!
Made this for Christmas dinner with my u cle and everyone absolutely loved it! Very easy to make and super tasty!