Rolo Pretzel Turtle Candy
Rolo pretzel turtle candy is a simple, three ingredient spin on a classic treat. These rolo pretzels take less than five minutes to prep and make the perfect gift for the holidays or a really easy dessert for a party.
Christmas is that one time of year when I become a baker and candy maker. I start turning out the snickerdoodles and gingersnap cookies, and packaging up my easy microwave fudge, peppermint bark, and these totally delicious turtle candies.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still no candy maker. I like to keep my recipes super simple, especially when I’m making gifts for lots of people.
The original Turtle candy was made by the DeMet’s candy company in 1918. They are chocolate and caramel covered pecan clusters that have a kind of turtle shape, hence the name.
Our turtle candies are semi-homemade treats that give you that same chocolate, caramel, pecan flavor, with an added salty crunch thanks to the addition of pretzels.
They only take 3 minutes in the oven to make and they are a great homemade gift for friends, family, coworkers… really anyone on your gift list!
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Ingredients You’ll Need
The three ingredients you’ll need include:
- Rolos – Rolos give the traditional turtle candy flavor with caramel and chocolate, but just about any mini-candy will work for this, so you can have fun mixing and matching your favorite candies in this simple recipe.
- Pecan Halves – You could also use walnuts if you prefer or even almonds, but for that turtle candy flavor pecans are the traditional nut used.
- Mini Pretzels – We suggest using the mini square pretzels since they have the same taste and crunch with smaller holes.
Instructions
Step 1 – Prep the oven and baking sheet. Before you get started making the turtle candies, preheat your oven to 350°F. As it heats, line your baking sheet with either parchment paper, or a silpat mat. These will help keep the candies from sticking to the baking sheet.
Step 2 – Bake the pretzels and Rolos. Place your pretzels on your lined baking sheet and place a single Rolo on each pretzel. It works best if you place the flat bottom on the pretzel. Once you have placed a Rolo on each pretzel, place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 3 minutes or until the candy has softened but not melted.
Step 3 – Top with a pecan and allow to cool. Carefully, remove the tray from the oven and press one pecan half down into each Rolo. Before eating, allow the candy to cool completely. Once cooled, you can either eat them immediately or store in an airtight container for later.
Other Options
Rolo gives you the perfect chocolate and caramel for a traditional turtle candy, but if you want to change things up there are lots of other options. Any mini size candy bar will work pretty well, which gives you nearly endless possible combinations.
You can also mix and match to bring a variety of different candy flavors to your holiday or other get-togethers. Some of our favorite additions include:
- Milky Way
- Snickers (give our Snickers pretzel bites a try!)
- Three Musketeers
- Reese Cups
- Milky Way Caramel
- Hershey Chocolate bar
How to Store It
Storing these tasty candies is super easy. All you have to do is let them cool completely and then place them in an airtight container. They will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks, which means you can prep them early for your next get together.
Or if you are looking for an easy holiday gift, these candies are a great way to show someone you care. You can make them and wrap them in a standard cookie tin and then give as a gift to your favorite sweet tooth.
Looking for More Easy Candy Recipes?
- Rocky Road Chocolate Bark
- Reindeer Chocolate Bark
- Christmas Chex Mix
- Homemade Peppermint Bark
- Homemade Candied Nuts
- Slow Cooker Spiced Nuts
- Portuguese Chocolate Salami {Salame de Chocolate}
- More Candy…
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Rolo Pretzel Turtle Candy
Ingredients
- 24 Rolos
- 24 Pecan Halves
- 24 Mini Pretzels, we suggest mini square pretzels
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or a silpat mat .
- Place pretzels on the lined baking sheet and top with 1 Rolo on each pretzel.
- Bake for 3 minutes, or until candy is softened but not melted.
- Remove from oven and press one pecan half down into each Rolo.
- Let cool completely then eat or store in an airtight container for later.
Nutrition
Can I put the pecans down first and melt these on top of them to make them look more like the traditional turtles?
When you bake these they don’t melt into a puddle they just get really soft and then you can press the pecan down into them. So, yes you could put the pecan on the bottom but you’ll have to figure out a way to press the candy down on top of it since it won’t really loose it’s shape as it heats up. Hope that makes sense!
What type of caramels did you bnb use?
Hi Becky, we used Rolo candies.
I’ve made something very similar to your “Chocolate Caramel Pecan Bites”. I referred to them and “Chocolate Caramel Pecan Pretzel Treats” The main difference was the addition of pretzels. I liked to use ‘Butter Waffle Pretzels’, then I’d put a chocolate caramel (I like ‘Rolo’), bake in 350 degree oven for 3 minutes and top with a half pecan, (I’d also to some with just another pretzel (for few crazies in my family who don’t like pecans) Yes, they do actually exist.
Love the idea of adding pretzels! I might have to give that a try this year.
I’ve made several candies and cookies in the past, as previously posted that has included and treat very similar to these. The last 5 or 6 years, I’ve made primarily ‘Amish Friendship Bread’, I’ve made as many as 300 or 400 hundred mini loaves (approximately 3″ x 6″). The last couple years I had to cut way back due to intense pain in my left leg, the year before last I probably only made about 100 loaves, and last year I got the starters ready to bake and begged my niece and great-niece to step in and do the actual baking, After a complete knee replacement in Jan. and a complete hip replacement in Sept. I feeling fantastic and back to baking this year, will be starting tomorrow with a double batch each of cinnamon, raisin, pecan and either peanut butter/grape or peanut butter/strawberry, then 4 more double batches, 3 more times before Christmas. Feels good to be preparing gifts again. WISHING YOU AND YOUR’S A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND AN ESPECIALLY BLESSED AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
So glad you are feeling better and you’re back to baking this holiday season! I know your family is too 🙂 Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
I can’t believe I finally found this recipe!!!!
I had it several years ago, and WOW! I was hooked. I fully intended to make me a batch, but time passed and life intervened. Today it popped into my head again. I searched my 2 grocery apps before I came across the name of the candy. Having that name led me to your recipe site. Now it is saved to my recipe program.
Bless you! And best wishes for the holiday season.
How do you keep them from blooming and to white?
This recipe is a classic. So easy, and so good! The only “problem” is: 24 is not enough 😉
Joyce I know!!! I can eat half on my own LOL
Do I use regular pecans or salted roasted?
We use regular unsalted pecans but salted would probably be good too if you like that salted caramel flavor