Gluten Free Chocolate Turtles

I love chocolate turtles! I haven’t had one since about 1999. Making these homemade turtles were fun, as this was the first time I made them. There are plenty of different ways to make them. You can use chopped pecans, pecan halves, as well as whole pecans. I used roasted coffee beans for the heads, but you can use pecans. Meanwhile, enjoy these luscious candies or give them as gifts.

Yield: Makes 12 large chocolate turtles

Gluten Free Chocolate Turtles

Gluten free chocolate turtles using decadent homemade caramel and rich milk chocolate.

Ingredients:

1 recipe Salted Caramel, cooked to the soft temperature
5 - 6 oz. pecan halves
(1-1/2 cups) chopped gluten-free chocolate (Hershey's) (3/4 cup melted) (or Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips, for dairy-free)
Oil for pan

Instructions:

Oil a 12-cup muffin tin. Set aside.
Make the caramel in the above-linked recipe and distribute evenly among the cups.
Add 4 pecan halves and smaller pieces to the caramel. Lightly press them into the caramel. Refrigerate until soft-set, 20 - 22 minutes. You can also use some caramel and shape them into round heads and attach it over a piece of pecan that is pushed into the caramel.
Once they are firm enough to unmold, remove them from the pan using a plastic knife or small rubber spatula.
Push pecan pieces into the caramel and nut mixture where the legs should go. If using pecans for the head, place a quarter of a pecan piece where the head should go. If using chocolate covered coffee beans for heads, wait to add them.
Melt the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl over simmering hot water or in a double boiler. Stir until the chocolate melts.
Spoon the chocolate over each pecan cluster, covering them completely. After the chocolate sets a bit, attach the chocolate-covered coffee beans, if using. Refrigerate the chocolate turtles until set, at least 45 minutes.
Store in the refrigerator until ready serve.

Tips

Variations:

Add some crushed gluten free pretzels to the caramel.

Top with coarse salt prior to the chocolate setting.

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