Turtle Bars: a mouthwatering recipe for a chocolatey dessert

Chewy, gooey, and packed with tons of chocolate and homemade caramel, turtle bars are an amazing dessert. They're perfect to make during the holidays or year-round! A layer of sweet chocolate swirled caramel and crunchy nuts sit on top of a tender shortbread to make each bite absolutely sublime. Turtle bars are a fantastic sweet treat you can serve as a snack or pop into a packed lunch for dessert. They're easy to make and can even be customized by adding in your favorite ingredients.

How to Make Turtle Bars

Ready to make a batch of turtle bars? Here's what to do. First, preheat your oven to 350F. Combine the flour and sugar, then chop in the butter until the mixture takes on a coarse, crumbly texture. Press the flour mixture into a baking tray lined with parchment paper, then bake for 15 minutes.

As the shortbread is baking, put the butter and sugar in a saucepan and melt it over medium heat. Let the mixture come to a boil, making sure to stir it constantly for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the saucepan from heat, then pour the caramel over shortbread. Sprinkle the caramel with a handful of nuts (hazelnuts, pistachios, pecans – whatever you choose!) and bake the turtle bars for 13 to 15 minutes, or until the caramel starts bubbling.

Take the baking tray out of the oven and sprinkle it generously with chocolate chips. Let it stand for 3 to 5 minutes, then take a knife and swirl the chocolate and caramel. Let the bars cool completely then slice them into squares.

Tips for the Best Turtle Bars

To make the turtle bars easier to cut, put them in the fridge for 30 minutes before slicing.

You'll know the shortbread base for your turtle bars is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean (a few crumbs are okay). Use this method to avoid overbaking the shortbread.

Turtle Bars Variations to Try

There's plenty you can add to give your turtle bars some more pizazz. Mix some dried fruit (cranberries, chopped dried cherries, and raisins are all delicious), crumbled vanilla wafer cookies, oatmeal, or butterscotch chips into the caramel as it's setting. Try drizzling a little extra chocolate or caramel over the tops of the bars for an even sweeter treat.

How to Store Turtle Bars

Keep your turtle bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. 

Can I Freeze Turtle Bars?

Absolutely! For long-term storage, freeze for up to 3 months. To make the turtle bars easier to separate, place a piece of parchment paper in between each layer.

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350F. Line a cake pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang.

In a large bowl, whisk flour and sugar.

Add the butter and combine until coarse crumbs form.

Press the flour mixture into the bottom of a cake pan.

Bake for 15 minutes.

While the shortbread is baking, melt butter and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat.

Bring to a boil and stir constantly for 1 to 2 minutes.

Remove from heat and pour over shortbread.

Garnish with nuts.

Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, or until the caramel begins to bubble.

Remove from the oven and garnish with chocolate chips.

Let it stand for 3 to 5 minutes, then take a knife and swirl the chocolate and caramel.

Leave to cool completely then slice into squares.

Notes

Use a 9-inch square pan for this recipe.