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Home / Recipes
30 minutes
4.55 from 11 votes
16 Comments

Pretzel Turtles

Jump to RecipePrint Recipe
  • 138
by: Joanna Cismaru
11.27.20

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pin for pretzel turtles.

These Pretzel Turtles are the perfect combination of sweet and salty! Made with just 4 ingredients, these are ideal little treats to serve for the holidays! A little crunchy, a little chocolate, a little caramel – to die for.

closeup shot of homemade pretzel turtles.

Salty, sweet and incredibly delicious, these homemade Pretzel Turtles are the perfect combination of flavors! Turtles are a classic found at most chocolate stores, but they’re so easy to make at home.

All you need are 4 ingredients, 5 if you count the salt, to make this yummy treat! Impressive enough to serve for the holidays, yet easy enough to make when you’ve got a late night hankering for something sweet.

Why Make These Pretzel Turtles

  • Super Easy To Make
  • Delicious Salty and Sweet Combination
  • Uses Just 4 Ingredients
  • Perfect For the Holidays
  • Make For Awesome Gifts!
  • Fun To Make With Kids

Let me tell you about these Pretzel Turtles! This is such a simple treat to make and they are so good. They will be popular with everyone, from kid to adult, everyone will love you and look at you like a God…or Goddess. These pretzel turtles are the perfect holiday treat!

Ingredient Notes

overhead shot of all the ingredients needed to make pretzel turtles.
  • Pecan Halves – I like to buy the big bags of Pecans from Costco, and I usually buy a few during the holidays, since I use them a lot.
  • Pretzels – These come in many different shapes and sizes, so use the smaller pretzels or the square ones.
  • Caramels – Individually wrapped caramels, so this is where you’ll be spending most of the time, just removing the wrappers.
  • Chocolate – I went with semi-sweet chocolate chips but use your favorite.
  • Fleur De Sel – This is an optional ingredients, but if you like sweet and salty, you’ll want to add a few flakes of this salt on each pretzel turtle.

How to Make Pretzel Turtles

process shots showing how to make pretzel turtles.
  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F.
  2. Roast Pecans: Roast the pecan halves for about 5 minutes or until they become aromatic.
  3. Assemble: Next, lay the pretzels on a baking sheet lined with silpat or parchment paper, and then set a caramel on top of each pretzel. I did 7 rows of 5 pretzels on each row.
  4. Melt Caramel: Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake for about 5 to 6 minutes until the caramels soften, but make sure they do not melt. Next press pecan halves on top of the caramels.
  5. Add Chocolate: Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 seconds intervals. Stir after every 30 seconds until smooth and melted. Remove the pretzels from the baking sheet. Use a measuring spoon to spoon small dollops, about half a tbsp of chocolate over the baking silpat. Take the pretzels and gently press on top of the chocolate. Continue until finished. If you have some leftover chocolate, drizzle some on top of the pretzels and sprinkle with fleur de sel.
  6. Cool & Serve: Allow them to cool completely before serving. To speed this up you can pop them in the fridge for about half hour.
freshly made pretzel turtles on a baking sheet.

FAQs & Expert Tips

FAQs

Why Are They Called Turtles?

They get their cute name based on their shape, which look like little turtles with a chocolate shell.

What Chocolate Works Best?

You can use any type of chocolate for these Pretzel Turtles! I used semi-sweet, but you can use milk, dark or white if you prefer! Try a few of each or mix and match for the ultimate chocolate treat!

How Many Pretzel Turtles Does This Recipe Make?

This recipe makes 35 pretzel turtles!

What Can I Use Instead Of Caramels?

A great idea is to use chocolate rolos instead of caramels. They come complete with chocolate and caramel!

overhead shot of homemade pretzel turtles.

Tips

  1. For these pretzel turtles I used semi-sweet chocolate only, but if you like milk chocolate, feel free to use it! You could also use a mix of the two.
  2. If you have some leftover chocolate, drizzle some on top of the pretzels. For perfect sweet and salty combination, sprinkle with some fleur de sel, which just means sea salt. I love the combination of salt and chocolate together. Trust me, it’s to die for.
  3. You have to wait until the chocolate cools and hardens! To speed up the process pop them into the fridge for a bit, and then finally you can enjoy these delicious morsels
  4. Use a baking sheet lined with silpat or parchment paper for the easiest cleanup!
  5. Add a teaspoon of espresso powder to the melted chocolate for a mocha flair.

Storing

You can store these pretzel turtles in airtight container in the refrigerator or at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Make sure to keep them away from warm temperatures or the chocolate will start to melt.

Freezing

Layer your turtles in an airtight container with parchment or wax paper in between (this will prevent them from sticking together.)

Freeze for up to 2 months, then defrost at room temperature before serving.

homemade pretzel turtles in a gift box.

More Great Recipes To Try

  • Pretzel Bites
  • Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
  • Peanut Butter Blossoms
  • Homemade Pretzels
  • World’s Greatest Soft Pretzels

Looking for more recipes? Follow on… My Newsletter Pinterest Facebook Instagram

closeup shot of homemade pretzel turtles.

Pretzel Turtles

4.55 from 11 votes
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 30 mins
Author: Joanna Cismaru
Serves: 35
Print Pin Rate
These Pretzel Turtles are the perfect combination of sweet and salty! Made with just 4 ingredients, these are ideal little treats to serve for the holidays! A little crunchy, a little chocolate, a little caramel – to die for.

Equipment

  • Aluminum Baking Sheet (2 pack)
  • Parchment Paper

Ingredients

  • 35 pecan halves
  • 35 pretzel twists
  • 35 caramels
  • 12 ounce chocolate chips semi-sweet
  • 1 teaspoon fleur de sel
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F.
  • Roast Pecans: Roast the pecan halves for about 5 minutes or until they become aromatic.
  • Assemble: Next, lay the pretzels on a baking sheet lined with silpat or parchment paper, and then set a caramel on top of each pretzel. I did 7 rows of 5 pretzels on each row.
  • Melt Caramel: Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake for about 5 to 6 minutes until the caramels soften, but make sure they do not melt. Next press pecan halves on top of the caramels.
  • Add Chocolate: Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 seconds intervals. Stir after every 30 seconds until smooth and melted. Remove the pretzels from the baking sheet. Use a measuring spoon to spoon small dollops, about half a tbsp of chocolate over the baking silpat. Take the pretzels and gently press on top of the chocolate. Continue until finished. If you have some leftover chocolate, drizzle some on top of the pretzels and sprinkle with fleur de sel.
  • Cool & Serve: Allow them to cool completely before serving. To speed this up you can pop them in the fridge for about half hour.

Recipe Notes

  1. For these pretzel turtles I used semi-sweet chocolate only, but if you like milk chocolate, feel free to use it! You could also use a mix of the two.
  2. You have to wait until the chocolate cools and hardens! To speed up the process pop them into the fridge for a bit, and then finally you can enjoy these delicious morsels
  3. Use a baking sheet lined with silpat or parchment paper for the easiest cleanup!
  4. Add a teaspoon of espresso powder to the melted chocolate for a mocha flair.
  5. You can store these pretzel turtles in airtight container in the refrigerator or at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Make sure to keep them away from warm temperatures or the chocolate will start to melt.
  6. Layer your turtles in an airtight container with parchment or wax paper in between (this will prevent them from sticking together.)
  7. Freeze for up to 2 months, then defrost at room temperature before serving.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1pretzelCalories: 128kcal (6%)Carbohydrates: 17g (6%)Protein: 1g (2%)Fat: 6g (9%)Saturated Fat: 2g (13%)Sodium: 168mg (7%)Potassium: 104mg (3%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 9g (10%)Vitamin A: 10IUCalcium: 23mg (2%)Iron: 1.5mg (8%)
Course:Candies, Dessert
Cuisine:American
Keyword:pretzel turtles
Tried this recipe? Rate it belowtag @jocooks on instagram and hashtag it #jocooks!
  • 138

Meet Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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Comments

  1. Wendy T. says

    December 26, 2021 at 6:54 am

    5 stars
    Yummmmy!! I made these for a Christmas cookie exchange. I love to cook but I am not the best baker…so this was a good choice for me. I did the mix of semi sweet and milk chocolate. Even though the pretzels are salty, the tiny bit of finishing salt makes the recipe extra good. Love your recipes : )

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      December 26, 2021 at 9:20 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Cyndi says

    December 23, 2021 at 6:42 pm

    I made these this year for my holiday goodie bags that I hand out. Tried one (or two 😉). They are supper good and easy.

    Reply
  3. Angelia Flaim says

    December 18, 2020 at 6:01 pm

    I am reading the directions and sorry to be such a novice but you lost me when you say “Take the pretzels and gently press on top of the chocolate. Continue until finished”. Aren’t the pretzels already on the bottom so why are you pressing pretzels on top?

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      December 18, 2020 at 6:23 pm

      They’re not, if you read up above a couple lines, it tells you to remove the pretzels from the baking sheet.

      Reply
  4. Harry Roy says

    November 29, 2020 at 9:54 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you for this Joanna ! Always look forward to your posts!
    Stay well!

    Reply
  5. Trang Ngo says

    December 18, 2018 at 9:17 pm

    I made it and my husband finished half before I put them together. And when it’s done, it’s gone lol

    Reply
    • Nicole Beaulieu says

      December 19, 2018 at 12:30 pm

      Lol that’s amazing! That’s exactly what happens in our kitchen too 🙂

      Reply
  6. Helene Bonte says

    December 10, 2018 at 5:01 pm

    These look delicious. How far ahead would you recommend make these?

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      December 10, 2018 at 5:28 pm

      You could probably make them a couple days ahead.

      Reply
  7. Rita says

    December 4, 2017 at 9:10 pm

    5 stars
    I use rolos instead of caramels…bake about 5 minutes at 250. Then press on the pecan. Drizzle with chocolate.

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      December 5, 2017 at 10:15 am

      I love rolos!!

      Reply
  8. Mary Jane says

    October 5, 2016 at 1:01 pm

    What is silpat, and where does one get it???

    Reply
    • Fenne Kieken says

      October 5, 2016 at 2:14 pm

      A silpat is a french non stick baking mat and you can get one at Amazon. I have provided a link for you https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00008T960/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=josfav-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00008T960&linkId=9b5b0b2810fb71db76fc07555659b6aa

      Reply
  9. lalaine says

    December 15, 2013 at 5:28 pm

    5 stars
    Jo, these are amaaazing! They look like you slaved all day making them and yet they are so simple! This 12 days Christmas cookie you have going on is such a wonderful idea, I’ve been checking everyday what you have fresh from the oven and your yummy treats never disappoint. This is my favorite blog ever! Keep them coming 🙂

    Reply
    • jo says

      December 15, 2013 at 8:43 pm

      Thanks Lalaine! You’re awesome, love your blog too!

      Reply

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I'm Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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