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These insanely delicious turtle cookies start with a chocolate batter and are loaded with caramel pieces, pecans, and chocolate chips.
![chocolate turtle cookies with caramel, pecans and chocolate chips on blue plate with glass of milk in background](https://thefirstyearblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Turtle-Cookies-2020-10.jpg)
Chocolate caramel cookies are soft & chewy plus look at those puddles of caramel! Ready to eat in 30 minutes, you don’t have to chill the cookie dough!
Why You’ll Love Turtle Cookies
- loaded with caramel pieces, pecans and chocolate chips
- easy and quick to make because you don’t refrigerate the dough before baking
- chewy on the inside
- a fantastic Christmas cookie
If you like cookies that are slightly crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside, these will hit the spot.
Plus the combination of chocolate, pecans and caramel is on point.
And the best part is that you can modify the amount of add-ins you want. Want more pecans? Add them! More chocolate? Oh yes! Bigger puddles of caramel? Do it.
I’m thinking these turtle cookies will look pretty good on a Christmas cookie platter!
What You’ll Need
- all purpose flour – flour is necessary to build structure in cookies
- cocoa powder: adds deep chocolate flavor
- baking soda – helps to leaven and lift the dough
- unsalted butter – adds flavor and and tender texture
- brown sugar – adds sweetness & flavor, keeps the cookies moist and adds chewiness
- granulated sugar – adds sweetness, flavor and encourages browning
- egg – binds the cookies together by providing structure
- vanilla extract – adds flavor
- caramel squares – cut into small pieces, I recommend Kraft caramel squares
- chopped pecans – or walnuts, your choice!
- semi-sweet chocolate chips – I used a mix of regular and mini size
How to Make Turtle Cookies
- Combine the flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking together together. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar.
- Add in the egg and vanilla. Gradually add the flour mixture and the mix-ins. Mix just until combined. The dough will be very thick!
- Use a cookie scoop to form dough balls, pressing addition add-ins to the outside of each cookie.
- Bake on a silicone lined baking sheet for 10-14 minutes, depending on the size of your cookies. Cool for 10 minute before transferring to a cooling rack.
Baking Time Suggestions
For the turtle cookies in the photos, the dough balls were about 3 tbsp, so that’s a large cookie! I baked those for 12-14 minutes – just until the edge of the cookie would begin to look puffy. The result is a soft & chewy chocolate caramel pecan cookie!
If you make smaller dough balls, you should reduce the baking time otherwise the cookies will be over done.
Time Required
- 15 minutes to prep the dough
- 10-14 minutes to bake the cookies
- 10 minutes to cool
How to Freeze Turtle Cookie Dough
Portion the dough into cookie dough balls. Press extra caramel pieces, pecans and chocolate chips into the outside of the dough.
Place them on baking sheet lined with a silicone mat. You can place the dough balls close together since you won’t be baking them.
Place the baking sheet in the freezer until the cookies are frozen solid, about 1 hour.
Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and transfer the frozen cookie dough balls to a ziplock freezer bag. Label the bag with baking directions.
Freeze the cookie dough for up to 3 months.
To bake: remove the dough from the freezer. Pre-heat the oven to 350ºF. Bake for 14-17 minutes. Frozen cookies may need to bake for 1-2 minutes longer.
How to Make Gluten Free Turtle Cookies
I have made these cookies multiple times with King Arthur’s Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour with great success.
Pro Tips
Properly measure the all purpose flour using the spoon and sweep method.
Use room temperature butter for easier creaming of the butter and sugar.
I learned that I prefer using caramel squares for this recipe over caramel bits. Chop the caramel squares into smaller pieces. The caramel squares melt more naturally in the oven creating beautiful puddles of caramel throughout the cookie.
Use a cookie scoop to form uniform balls.
Press extra caramel pieces, pecans, and chocolate chips on the outside of the dough balls before baking for a loaded cookie presentation like the photos!
Want to make this cookie dough a day in advance? Follow the directions to make the dough, then wrap it well in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
More Recipes
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Turtle Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
- ¼ cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened, 1/2 cup
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, regular or mini size
- ½ cup chopped caramel squares, use a knife to cut into small pieces
- ½ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Cut the caramel squares into small pieces with a knife.
- Combine the chocolate chips, chopped pecans, and caramel pieces in a bowl, mix. Reserve 1/2 cup for the outside of the cookie dough balls.
- Preheat the oven to 350º F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat.
- In a small bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda.
- In a mixing bowl cream the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until fluffy, 1 minute. Add in the egg and vanilla, beat again. Add the flour mixture and the add ins (minus the 1/2 cup you’re reserving) to the wet mixture, mix with a spatula (or on low with a mixer) just until everything is combined
- Use a cookie scoop to form dough balls. Press the 1/2 cup of add-ins on the outside of the dough balls. This is optional but I like the way the cookies look when you can see the chocolate chips, caramel puddles and pecans on top.
- Place the cookies 3 inches apart on a silicone lined baking sheet and bake for 10-14 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for 10 minutes before moving to a cooling rack.
They are delicious. No notes! And to person who said that she wouldn’t make them again because they were ugly-huh????
Can you leave the cocoa out altogether, or would I need to add another 1/4 cup of flour by volume if I didn’t use the cocoa powder?
I haven’t tested this recipe without cocoa powder. If you’re wanting a chocolate chip cookie base (so no cocoa in the dough) use this recipe and then add the turtle toppings! https://thefirstyearblog.com/chocolate-chip-cookies/
Can’t wait to try these. I am not a baker but they look so amazing!! I love turtle anything!!
These cookies are delicious but what a nightmare to get off the cookie sheet. Most of them broke up. The cookie sheets are a complete mess and have to be washed between each batch because of all the hardened caramel on them. Not worth the trouble in my opinion, won’t make them again.
Did you line your baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone mat? That helps a ton!
The are freakin’ awesome!! The most requested cookie at Christmas. I always have to make a double batch. Every time I take them someplace everyone wants the recipe. I made 2 ingredient changes to the recipe. I used almond flavoring instead of vanilla and used Kraft Caramel bits rather than cutting up whole caramels……so much easier. I also used mini chips.
Hi Beth, I’ve made 3 batches of the cookies so far and they’ve turned out great every time! I decided that I prefer to keep the nuts on the inside and put bigger chunks of caramel on the outside! Thanks for sharing your amazing recipes!
Could I make them into thumbprint cookies? would I chill them and put thumbprint into them? They look delish!
Hi there – it says 1 stick unsalted butter, softened 1/2 cup
This doesn’t mean 1 stick plus a 1/2 cup but rather 1 stick which if softened would equate to 1/2 cup is that correct?
so 1 stick not 1 and a half correct?
Thanks!
Cant wait to make these
Correct! 1 stick is equal to 1/2 cup butter.
Hi !! Delicious cookies, I made them for your December Challenge!!
I made a lot for Christmas gifts!! They all love them !!
Thank you !!
These were super fun to make! They looked beautiful going into the oven and even more beautiful coming out!
These cookies have a nice flavour – I’m in Canada and bought caramels from bulk barn for those who are looking.
Like many others, my cookies did not flatten as they baked or cooled so I’m not sure what I did wrong? Too much baking soda perhaps?