If you like Turtles, the iconic Christmas treat, then you will LOVE these chocolate bacon turtles. They are made with crunchy pecans coated in caramel and then topped with crispy bacon and dark chocolate. They're ideal on a holiday dessert tray and make excellent gifts!

Homemade Bacon Turtles

These little guys are everything a chocolate turtle should be. They're sweet and chewy from the caramel, crunchy and rich from the toasted pecans, and decadent from the dark chocolate, plus (a big plus) they're salty and savory from the bacon. Oh, and the sea salt sprinkled on top sends them over the edge.

Make these, but make a lot; They won't last long.

Ingredients For Chocolate Bacon Pecan Turtles

To make the caramel you'll need – butter, light corn syrup, brown sugar, and condensed milk.

For the chocolate layer, you'll need – semi-sweet chocolate and butter.

To assemble the homemade turtles, you'll need – pecan halves and crispy cooked bacon.

Homemade Bacon Turtles

How to make homemade turtles that look like turtles

To make these chocolate bacon turtles look like cute little turtles, here's what you do:

  1. Lay three pecan halves onto a flat surface that is coverd with a piece of parchment paper. Position them so that the two ‘feet' are facing a little forwards.
  2. Next, pour the caramel over the top, making sure that you don't cover the feet and head.
  3. A crispy piece of bacon lays on top of the caramel.
  4. Finally, cover the caramel in chocolate to create the turtle shell.

Recipe FAQs

How do you store homemade turtles?

Normally, homemade turtles candy can be stored on the counter. But because these have bacon in them, they should be stored in an airtight container in your fridge.

What are some fun variations to try for this recipe?

You can swap the pecans for walnuts. Or try using milk chocolate or even white chocolate. And instead of the bacon, try a pretzel!

Do I need to add the bacon?

Not at all! You can make a traditional version of these turtles by simply omitting the bacon.

How long do bacon turtles last?

Homemade chocolate bacon turtles will keep well for 1 week in the fridge. If you make them without the bacon, they will last for a very long time.

How to get the kids involved

Kids love making sweet treat! For this recipe, get their help assembling the pecan halves, breaking the cooled, crisp bacon into pieces, melting and pouring the chocolate, and sprinkling the sea salt on top. The caramel is VERY hot so this part should only be done by an adult.

Community Praise

Tina ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ok so these were so good! I did a test run to see if I wanted to make them for Christmas and I’m definitely making them again!

Homemade Bacon Turtles

Homemade Bacon Turtles

A fresh and delicious take on a classic Christmas treat

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4.95 stars (17 ratings)
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Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ cup light corn syrup
  • 1 cups brown sugar
  • ½ tin condensed milk
  • ¾ pound pecan halves
  • ½ lb bacon, cooked crispy
  • 8 ounces semisweet chocolate
  • 3 tablespoons butter

Instructions 

For the caramel

  • Add the butter, corn syrup, brown sugar and condensed milk to a heavy-bottomed saucepan with high sides. Start with the heat on high until it is boiling, and then reduce the heat to medium. Stir constantly for approximately 15 minutes, or until the caramel reaches 235 degrees Fahrenheit. One way to test this is to drop a bit of the caramel into cold water. If it forms a soft ball, then it is ready. This is known as the ‘soft ball stage'. Let the caramel cool for about an hour. It should still be warm but not hot.
    ½ cup butter, ½ cup light corn syrup, 1 cups brown sugar, ½ tin condensed milk

Assemble the turtles

  • Arrange pecans to resemble turtles – one for the head and two for the feet – on parchment paper. Roll small balls of the caramel and place in the center of the pecans, squishing gently into place. Cover the caramel with a piece of cooked bacon. Place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
    ¾ pound pecan halves, ½ lb bacon

For the chocolate

  • Gently melt chocolate and butter over low heat until just melted. Be careful not to burn the chocolate. Hold the turtle by the head and spoon the chocolate over top. Place the turtles back onto the parchment paper and sprinkle lightly with medium course sea salt. Put them back into the fridge to harden the chocolate.
    8 ounces semisweet chocolate, 3 tablespoons butter

Notes

These little guys freeze really well. And they make perfect gifts, too
Serving: 1 turtle, Calories: 320kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 24g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 10g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 24mg, Sodium: 127mg, Potassium: 175mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 23g, Vitamin A: 200IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 50mg, Iron: 1mg
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For more holiday dessert recipes, check out all of our Christmas sweets!