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–+ servings

Turtle Bars

Delightfully indulgent Turtle Bars packed with chocolate, caramel, and pecans over a buttery shortbread base, perfect for satisfying your sweet cravings.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 12 bars
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Base Ingredients
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened Seriously, no margarine here. I only use the good stuff.
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed Light or dark, I usually go dark for that molasses goodness.
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour I’ve used whole wheat in a pinch — ssshhh, don’t tell the kids.
Filling Ingredients
  • 1 cup sweetened condensed milk The magic is in the sweet stuff.
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips I usually splurge on Ghirardelli because, well, it’s chocolate.
  • 1 cup pecans, chopped You can go for the fancy ones from the farmers market, but honestly, any will do.
  • 1/2 cup caramel sauce Store-bought, because ain’t nobody got time for making it from scratch.
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Pure vanilla if you’re feeling fancy, but it’s not the end of the world if you use imitation.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
  2. In a bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add the flour to form a smooth dough.
  3. Press the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan and bake it for about 10 minutes, until slightly golden.
  4. While the base cools, combine sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, and vanilla in a saucepan over low heat. Stir until melted and smooth.
  5. Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the slightly cooled base and then scatter the chopped pecans evenly over the top.
  6. Drizzle the caramel sauce over the pecans, making sure to cover all the little nooks and crannies.
  7. Bake until caramel is bubbly and golden brown – around 20-25 minutes.
  8. Let the bars cool in the pan for at least an hour before cutting.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 3gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 50mgFiber: 1gSugar: 18g

Notes

These bars can be made a day ahead. They’re actually better the next day when all the gooeyness has had time to mingle. Leftovers (if there ever are any) taste even better since the bars get that lovely chewiness overnight.
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