Chocolate Turtles Food

CHOCOLATE TURTLES® (THE CANDY)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Arrange pecans on a baking sheet.
• Bake pecans in the preheated oven until fragrant and lightly browned, 7 minutes.
• Melt chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching.
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil; grease with butter.
• Combine caramels, water, and butter in a saucepan over low heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until caramels are melted and smooth. Fold in pecans.
• Drop caramel mixture by the spoonful onto the prepared baking sheet. Allow to cool and harden.
• Drizzle chocolate over caramel nut clusters. Refrigerate to set, about 1 hour.

CHOCOLATE TURTLES

Steps:

• In a double boiler or microwave, melt caramels and milk. Stir until smooth. Place pecan halves in groups of three on a greased baking sheet. Spoon melted caramel over pecans (1 scant tablespoon over each cluster). , Refrigerate. Melt chocolate chips and shortening; spread over clusters. Keep refrigerated.

CHOCOLATE COVERED TURTLES

Steps:

• Generously butter 2 baking sheets.
• On the baking sheets, arrange the pecan halves in snowflake-shaped clusters of 5 pecans each, overlapping the nuts in the center, leaving 2 inches of space between each.
• In a medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of the evaporated milk, the corn syrup, and sugar and bring to a boil. Add the remaining 1/2 cup evaporated milk and the 4 tablespoons butter, and cook, stirring constantly, until it reaches the soft ball stage, 240 degrees F. Stir in the vanilla and remove from the heat. Let cool to 200 degrees F.
• Using a tablespoon, spoon caramel on top of each nut cluster and let harden. (If the caramel becomes too stiff to pour, return to low heat, and cook, stirring constantly, until it returns to the proper consistency.)
• To make the chocolate coating, in the top of a double boiler or in a metal bowl set over barely simmering water, combine 6 ounces of the chocolate and the shortening. Melt over low heat, stirring, until it reaches 116 to 118 degrees F, or feels fairly warm but not hot to the touch.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 2 ounces of chocolate. Continue stirring until the chocolate reaches 80 degrees F or feels cool to the touch. Return to low heat and cook, stirring, until the temperature rises to 85 to 87 degrees F, or feels barely cool. Remove from the heat.
• Drizzle 1 tablespoon of tempered chocolate over each cluster. Set aside in a cool place to harden. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, with waxed paper separating the layers to prevent sticking.

WHITE CHOCOLATE TURTLES

Steps:

• In a sauce pan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, cream, butter and pecans together. Stir over high heat until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the chocolate and boil the ingredients slowly to the firm ball stage, 248 degrees F. Stir in the vanilla. Using a wooden spoon, drop about a tablespoon for each candy onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Let the caramels cool and set, about 5 minutes. Using a candy dipping fork, dip each caramel into the tempered chocolate. Place the chocolates back on the parchment on allow to set, about 5 minutes.

CHOCOLATE TURTLE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Combine crumbs and margarine, press onto bottom and sides of 9-inch spring- form pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes.
• In 1 1/2 quart heavy saucepan, melt caramels with milk over low heat, stirring frequently, until smooth.
• Pour over crust.
• Top with pecans.
• Combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended.
• Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• Blend in chocolate, pour over pecans.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes.
• Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan.
• Chill.

CHOCOLATE TURTLE ICEBOX CAKE

Steps:

• Reserve 3 Tbsp. caramel sauce, and 2 Tbsp. each melted chocolate and nuts for later use.
• Beat pudding mixes and milk in large bowl with whisk 2 min. Add remaining melted chocolate and half of the COOL WHIP; mix well. Spread 1/2 cup pudding mixture onto bottom of 13x9-inch dish.
• Cover evenly with 6 graham crackers. Spread 3 Tbsp. of the remaining caramel sauce evenly onto graham crackers in dish; sprinkle with 1/3 of the nuts. Top with 1/3 of the remaining pudding mixture. Repeat layers twice.
• Top dessert with remaining COOL WHIP. Drizzle with reserved caramel sauce and melted chocolate; sprinkle with reserved nuts.
• Refrigerate overnight.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL PECAN TURTLES

Steps:

• Toast pecans at 300 degrees on a cookie sheet for 5 to 6 minutes until fragrant. Let cool.
• Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper and spray lightly with non stick cooking spray.
• Arrange the pecans on the sheet in small groups of 3.
• To make the caramel, melt butter in a medium sized sauce pan.
• Add brown sugar, corn syrup, 7 ounces sweetened condensed milk.
• Cook and stir over medium high heat until it reaches 235 degrees on your candy thermometer or the soft ball stage. (Clings together well when you drop 1/2 teaspoon of caramel in cold water).
• Then remove the caramel from heat and stir in vanilla. Carefully spoon caramel over each nut cluster covering all the nuts.
• For the chocolate topping melt the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl or big glass measuring cup. Heat for 30 seconds at a time stirring after each interval until all melted and smooth.
• Then add in 1/2 teaspoon shortening to the melted chocolate chips. Stir all together until its blended in.
• Spoon the melted chocolate over the caramel and spread around with the back of a spoon.
• Once they set up you can eat them or store them in an airtight container.
• Great for gift giving and holiday parties.

CHOCOLATE TURTLE CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare cake mix as directed.
• Pour 1/2 of the batter in a 13x9 inch pan.
• Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
• Remove and let cool.
• In a double boiler, add caramels, milk and butter and stir constantly till melted.
• Pour melted caramel over cooling cake.
• Sprinkle on top 1 cup of pecans& chocolate chips.
• Pour remaining batter on top and bake for an additional 20 minutes.
• Enjoy.