Keto Turtles
In less than 40 minutes, you can make your own Keto Turtles chock full of pecans and caramel, perfect for any dessert or holiday table. This low carb treat is made covered with dark chocolate and filled with a creamy and decadent filling.
Candies like this are what make living the keto lifestyle amazing. Not only do they taste like the real deal, but they’re actually better, in my opinion. Being able to make this simple dessert recipe right at home trumps going out and battling the holiday crowds to buy candies at the store.
Simple instructions, easy ingredients, and bursts of chocolate goodness are what this keto turtles recipe is all about. This is comparable to turtle candy in every single way. Did I mention that they’re low in carbohydrates while having minimal prep time? The best!
If you like having candy clusters on your holiday dessert table, this recipe needs to happen! Low in net carbs and high in taste – you’ll be the holiday baking star of the house.
Speaking of good candy recipes, be sure to check out my Keto Toffee Candy as well. You can’t go wrong with sweet chocolate and chewy goodness.
Ingredients:
Butter – I use salted butter in keto turtles. If you choose to use unsalted butter for this recipe just add a pinch of salt.
Heavy cream – Adds richness and texture.
Joy Filled Eats Sweetener – This is my go-to sweetener when baking or making candies and sweets. It is a combination of sugar alcohols (xylitol or allulose and erythritol) and stevia.
Cream cheese – Perfect for the creamy filling of this gluten-free treat.
Vanilla extract – Pure vanilla extract is what I use.
Caramel extract – Adds a golden coloring and caramel flavor.
Fine sea salt – To top.
Dark chocolate – You can use sugar-free chocolate as well.
Pecan halves – For an added crunch and the best flavor, I toast them at 400 for 5-7 minutes. Watch them closely!
How to make Keto Turtles
Step One: Mix together the butter, cream, and sweetener in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
Stir frequently and Cook until light brown, about 10-15 minutes. Be sure to keep a close eye on it.
Step Two: Add the extracts, cream cheese, and salt. Stir until the cream cheese is thoroughly mixed all the way.
Set the mixture to the side to cool to room temp. This will help it thicken.
Step Three: Melt the chocolate in the microwave in a small bowl, or you can use a double boiler. Since it’s quicker, I do it in the microwave, and I stir with a spoon every 30 seconds. Using about 1/3 of the chocolate, pour and make 8 2-inch circles onto wax paper.
Put the wax paper and chocolate circles in the fridge.
Step Four: Add a tablespoon of the cooled caramel on top of each chocolate circle. Place it back in the fridge. Wait about 5 minutes or so, and then add the rest of the caramel. Now, place three pecans on each keto turtle candy.
Step Five: Press them down into the caramel. After that, spread more chocolate on top.
Step Six: Sprinkle the keto turtles with sea salt, if desired. Place in fridge for a few minutes to set.
Variations
Use different nuts – While caramel pecans are great, you can easily use walnuts or cashews as well.
Change up the chocolate – If you want to use a different type of chocolate, dark chocolate chips or milk chocolate work as well!
Remember that adding or changing ingredients will change the total calories and nutritional value of the treats.
Common Questions
What if my sugar free caramel sauce gets too hard?
You can warm it up a tad bit in the microwave if you need to soften it up a bit. It needs to be thin if you’re going to drizzle it over the top of this caramel pecan cluster.
What is the best way to keep candies from sticking?
Parchment paper or wax paper is a must when making these keto turtles. The chocolate and caramel will naturally stick as they firm and harden, so using one of these two options is the best way to keep as much of the goodness on the treats without tearing it off when removing them.
What baking supplies are needed to make low carb pecan clusters?
Plan on using a whisk to stir, a baking sheet to let the candies cool and harden, and multiple mixing bowls to stir and store.
How do I store leftover keto pecan clusters?
These simple treats need to be stored in an airtight container for up to 1-2 days at room temperature. They are best within this time frame as the caramel can harden to a toffee consistency as it recrystallizes with time.
For longer, keto turtles need to be kept in the fridge. Keep them sealed so that they don’t absorb any other flavors from anything else stored in the fridge.
I don’t recommend freezing them, as the cream cheese mixture can thaw uniquely, making for a texture that might not be as pleasant. Just store them in the fridge – and enjoy!
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Keto Turtles
Ingredients
- 2 oz butter
- 4 oz heavy cream
- 1/4 cup Joy Filled Eats Sweetener (or see alternatives in recipe notes)
- 1 oz cream cheese
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp caramel extract
- 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
- 8 oz 85% dark chocolate or sugar free chocolate ***
- 24 pecan halves toasted
Instructions
- Combine the butter, cream, and sweetener in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook until light brown and thickened, stirring frequently. This takes up to 10-15 min. Do not walk away from the stove or it can burn.
- Stir in the extracts, cream cheese, and salt. Stir until the cream cheese is thoroughly incorporated. Set aside to cool to room temperature and thicken further.
- Meanwhile, melt the chocolate in the microwave or in a double boiler. I do it in the microwave stirring every 30 seconds. Using about 1/3 of the chocolate make 8 2-inch circles on wax paper. Put in the fridge for a couple of minutes to harden.
- After the bottom circle has cooled, put a tablespoon of room-temperature caramel on top of each circle (using half the caramel).
- Put in the fridge to chill the caramel. After about 2-3 min it should be cool enough to add a second layer of caramel and put the pecans on top.
- Press the pecans into the caramel. You can spread the caramel with more chocolate or just drizzle lines on.
- Sprinkle with a little coarse sea salt, if desired. Store at room temperature for a day or two.
But they aren’t turtles when you put everything inside a chocolate shell! No chocolate on the bottom and the pecans need to stick out the sides. That’s what makes them look like turtles.
You are welcome to make them look more like turtles if you want 🙂
Love all of the Joy Filled Eats recipes 🤣