Easy Turtle Bars are a decadent dessert featuring a buttery shortbread crust topped with gooey caramel, crunchy pecans, and a drizzle of rich chocolate. These bars are quick to make and perfect for holidays, parties, or whenever you’re craving a sweet treat. With all the flavors of classic turtle candies, these bars are sure to impress!
Ingredients:
For the Crust:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Topping:
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- Make the Crust: In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Gradually add the flour and salt, mixing until crumbly. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and set aside.
- Prepare the Caramel Topping: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the sweetened condensed milk, brown sugar, and butter. Stir constantly until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Assemble the Bars: Sprinkle the chopped pecans evenly over the baked crust. Pour the caramel mixture over the pecans, spreading it gently to cover. Bake for an additional 12-15 minutes, or until the caramel is bubbly.
- Add the Chocolate: Remove the bars from the oven and immediately sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Let them sit for 2-3 minutes to melt, then spread the chocolate evenly over the caramel.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature or chill them in the fridge for faster setting. Once set, slice into squares or rectangles and serve.
Nutrition (per bar, based on 16 servings):
- Calories: 320
- Protein: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 20g
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