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Turtle Pecan Bars

Turtle Pecan Bars have the best shortbread crust topped with crunchy pecans and ooey gooey caramel. Topped with chocolate chips these bars will become a new favorite!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time22 minutes
Total Time32 minutes
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Pecan Bars, Pecan Bars Recipe, turtle dessert bars, Turtle Pecan Bars, turtle pecan bars recipe
Servings: 12 servings
Author: Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

Shortbread Crust

  • 1 cup softened unsalted butter
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup pecan halves

Caramel

  • 1 (5.3-ounce) bag unwrapped soft caramels
  • 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

Chocolate Topping

  • 1 ½ cup semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
  • coarse sea salt optional

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9 x 13 x 2-inch pan with parchment paper and set aside.
  • Beat 1 cup softened unsalted butter in a large bowl until smooth and creamy. Add ⅓ cup granulated sugar and ½ cup packed brown sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
  • Add 1 large egg yolk and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and mix until combined, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
  • Add ½ teaspoon salt and 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour and mix until just combined, being careful to not over mix.
  • Add the dough to the prepared pan and gently press it in a firm, even layer. Top with 1 cup pecan halves, no need to press them into the dough.
  • Bake for 18-24 minutes or until the edges are a very light golden brown. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool completely.
  • Meanwhile, combine 1 (5.3-ounce) bag unwrapped soft caramels and 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly until the caramels have melted and the mixture is smooth.
  • Pour the caramel over the cooled bars and spread into an even layer.
  • Immediately add 1 ½ cup semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips on top of the caramel so they melt and stay in place. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt, if desired.
  • Allow the bars to sit at room temperature for about 2 hours to let the chocolate and caramel set up.
  • Slice into bars before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 531kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 137mg | Potassium: 236mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 569IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 3mg

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