So these turtles are not something that I’d normally put on my blog. They are gluten free, but are not dairy free or sugar free. They are however, absolutely delicious (even though I can’t eat them anymore), and my daughter and I will continue to make them every year at Christmas. If you want my dairy free version try Chocolate Caramel Cups , which are also quite delicious.
I have been making this recipe for probably fifteen years. A friend of mine told me about it, so I don’t know if its in any recipe book anywhere. In her version, she uses one whole pecan for each turtle. I found that to be very expensive, so I use what ever chopped up nuts that I find on sale.You start with a can of sweetened condensed milk. Not the pop top kind, but the one you have to use a can opener on. You boil the can for three hours. Yes you boil the whole can, not opened, in a pot of water, keep adding more water if you need to. After the three hours you put the can on the counter(still unopened) until the next morning. This will become your caramel.The next day, you melt about two cups of semi sweet chocolate chips in a double boiler. You can use about a third milk chocolate chips, but I wouldn’t go more than that because they won’t harden.
You roll out parchment paper on your counter and put little dollops of chocolate down and smooth it into circles with the back of a spoon. This is the base for your turtle.
Make lines of them. We usually do about 100 but it will depend on how big you want them. We do them about the size of a normal store bought one.
I have been making this recipe for probably fifteen years. A friend of mine told me about it, so I don’t know if its in any recipe book anywhere. In her version, she uses one whole pecan for each turtle. I found that to be very expensive, so I use what ever chopped up nuts that I find on sale.You start with a can of sweetened condensed milk. Not the pop top kind, but the one you have to use a can opener on. You boil the can for three hours. Yes you boil the whole can, not opened, in a pot of water, keep adding more water if you need to. After the three hours you put the can on the counter(still unopened) until the next morning. This will become your caramel.The next day, you melt about two cups of semi sweet chocolate chips in a double boiler. You can use about a third milk chocolate chips, but I wouldn’t go more than that because they won’t harden.
You roll out parchment paper on your counter and put little dollops of chocolate down and smooth it into circles with the back of a spoon. This is the base for your turtle.
Make lines of them. We usually do about 100 but it will depend on how big you want them. We do them about the size of a normal store bought one.
Canned Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 c. chocolate chips
1 c. chopped nuts
Then using two small spoons, put small amounts of your caramel on top of your chocolate rounds.
Then put your nuts on top.
Melt some more chocolate and drizzle it over your chocolates. These store well in the fridge and freezer.
Shared On: Tasty Tuesday, Creative Wednesdays
