These Chocolate Turtle Cookies are ultra decadent, soft, and delicious. Any chocolate lover will go crazy for this delicious cookie recipe!
The chocolate cookie base in this recipe is an incredible mix between a brownie and a cookie. It’s decadently divine if I do say so myself. Add in some chopped pecans and top it all off with a caramel drizzle and you have one decadent cookie that any chocolate lover will go crazy over. I’m telling you, these might be my new favorite cookie!
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You can use unwrapped caramel candies in this recipe (as show in the photos) or you can use caramel bits. Caramel bits are little round bits of caramel that are easily melted. I’ve noticed that sometimes you can only find these in your grocery store during the fall–holiday baking season–so be on the lookout!
If you want to make it clear that there are nuts in these cookies, I recommend placing some halved pecans right on top in a decorative fashion. Not only will this be a clear indicator of nuts (which keeps my children at bay), it also adds a bit of style to them.
The price of nuts is always fluctuating. You can easily substitute walnuts in this recipe for a similarly delicious cookie treat. I guess they won’t technically be “turtle” cookies at that point, but your secret is safe with me!
These cookies should be stored in an airtight container once cooled. Be sure to cool the cookies completely before storing. The cookies should be stored in one layer to prevent the caramel from being transferred off the tops and onto the bottoms of other cookies. You can easily do this in a plastic bag, or you can use a tupperware container.
Watch the video below where I walk you through every step of this sinfully delicious recipe. It’ll have you drooling in no time! I like to give you a visual reference point, but in this case, it really should come with a drool warning!
Chocolate Turtle Cookies Recipe
Chocolate Turtle Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter softened
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 14 baking caramels unwrapped
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Cream together butter, sugar, and brown sugar using a stand mixer or hand mixer.
- Add in eggs and vanilla extract and beat until combined.
- Beat in cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Use a spoon or rubber spatula to stir in flour until combined. Stir in chocolate chips and pecans.
- Scoop out about two tablespoons of the cookie dough and roll into a ball and place on prepared pans. Repeat with remaining dough until you have 24 cookies. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place unwrapped caramels and heavy cream into a microwave safe bowl. Place in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir, and microwave again for 30 seconds. Continue until caramel is completely melted and smooth.
- Once the cookies are out of the oven drizzle with caramel and let cool completely on a wire rack.
Nutrition
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Darlene says
I have Celiac Disease. Can I make these using a gluten free all purpose flour? Thank you.
Rachel Farnsworth says
Worth a try using a 1:1 blend designed for replacing all purpose flour.
Isabel Caplin says
the recipe calls for 14 UNWRAPPED caramels.and the recipes goes as—-Meanwhile, place unwrapped caramels and heavy cream into a microwave safe bowl. Place in the
microwave for 30 seconds. Stir, and microwave again for 30 seconds. Continue until caramel is
completely melted and smooth.
would you not unwrap the caramel BEFORE you micro wave them ….
Rachel Farnsworth says
Unwrapped means without the plastic covering. So you’d definitely place the unwrapped caramels without the plastic covering on them anymore into the microwave.
Michaela says
This recipe works perfectly every time 😍 so yummy and they stay moist for so long! Looking forward to impressing the family at a Christmas party tomorrow. I even managed to make 26 cookies! I usually make a lot less than what recipes say, but these cookies are still a great size! Thanks for a wonderful recipe!
Patricia Ross says
They are great.
Suzanne Carpenter says
What are the ingredient measurements in cups, etc ???
Rachel Farnsworth says
Both American and metric measurements are listed above in the recipe. The default is cups.
Lou Reiser says
Do these freeze well?
Rachel Farnsworth says
Yes they do!
Jen says
i couldn’t wait to try this recipe! They’re smelling amazing in the oven but they’re still in the shape of a ball and haven’t flattened out! What could I have done wrong? I feel like I followed the recipe to a T. We’ll see how they taste 🙂
Rachel Farnsworth says
Don’t worry, thicker cookies stay in a ball for quite some time in the oven but end up turning cookie shaped right near the end 🙂
Ginger says
So happy I came across this. I bake all of the Italian cookies for christmas every year and I always add some form of a new cookie and I have now found it. Two questions. Can you make these smaller as in 1 tbl size. Feel the 2 tbl would be to big for cookie trays and how long do you think they would stay fresh if they are in zip lock bags or good tupperware?
Rachel Farnsworth says
Yes, you can make smaller cookies. They are best when eaten within 3-5 days.
Lenore says
Can you use margarine? I have a lactose child and butter makes her sick
Rachel Farnsworth says
Yes, the texture will just be slightly different.
Pooja Kiran says
Looks delicious!! I’am gonna try them today!!
Can this recipe be made without cocoa powder ? The same receipe just minus cocoa powder ?
Rachel Farnsworth says
Not sure what that would be like but it is worth a try! You can replace the cocoa powder with cornstarch to keep the right balance of ingredients.
Debra says
Anxious to try these, the churros, & the garlic shrimp! Thx
Heather says
Does the caramel thicken up? Wanting to send my friend some but worried the caramel will take forever to harden for packaging. Ty ♡
Rachel Farnsworth says
It never gets completely hard as that would be unpleasant to eat.
Diane says
I’m going to cut Carmel’s in quarters and put inside the dough then roll them up before baking
Anna Bell says
I never comment on recipe websites, but these cookies are worth the time. These are probably the best cookies I’ve ever made, after sharing with my family and friends I already have requests for more cookies. I followed the directions exactly and they turned out perfect.
Rachel Farnsworth says
Yay! I’m so glad you liked them. I totally agree with you, these things are dangerously good!
Heba says
I made the cookies… sooooo delicious. I have a small problem they are so thin & flat. They started to spread over the parchment paper after 5 minutes in the oven.
Can I make the recipe without pecans? Will the measurements be the same?
Thank you
Rachel Farnsworth says
If you watch the video I give you a great tip for the spreading. Simply pop them into the fridge or freezer for 30 minutes before baking and you will have much less spreading. You can make the recipe without the pecans without changing any other measurements.