Out of This World Turtle Bars

Out-of-This-World Turtle Bars

Buttery. Gooey. Nutty. Chocolatey. Irresistible.

If you’re dreaming of a dessert that hits every craving in a single bite—salty, sweet, crunchy, creamy—look no further. These Turtle Bars combine a tender brown sugar shortbread crust, rich caramel, toasted pecans, and melty chocolate chips into a dessert that feels fancy, but is incredibly easy to make.

They’re perfect for holiday platters, potlucks, gifting, or when you simply want to treat yourself with something amazing from your own kitchen.

 Why You’ll Love These Bars:

• Layered with real, buttery caramel (no store-bought wrappers here!)
• Made with pantry staples—nothing fancy or hard to find
• Perfect texture: crisp crust, gooey caramel, melty chocolate
• Easy to slice and serve—ideal for gatherings
• A sweet and salty dessert bar everyone devours!

 Ingredients:

For the Crust:

• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecan pieces

For the Caramel Layer:

• ⅔ cup (10 tbsp) unsalted butter
• ½ cup packed light brown sugar

For the Topping:

• 1 cup milk chocolate chips

 Equipment Needed:

• 9x13 inch baking dish
• Mixing bowls
• Pastry blender or fork
• Small saucepan
• Spatula or butter knife
• Knife for slicing

 Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the Crust

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a medium bowl, combine softened butter, flour, and brown sugar. Use a pastry cutter or fork to mix until it resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Press the crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch baking pan.
4. Sprinkle the chopped pecans evenly over the crust. Set aside.

Step 2: Make the Caramel

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
2. Stir in the brown sugar and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
3. Once boiling, continue to stir and boil for exactly 1 minute.
4. Carefully pour the hot caramel over the crust and pecans in the baking pan.

Step 3: Bake

1. Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven until bubbly and golden around the edges.

Step 4: Add Chocolate Topping

1. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the hot caramel layer.
2. Let sit for 5 minutes to allow the chocolate to melt, then use a spatula or butter knife to spread it evenly.
3. Cool completely at room temperature or refrigerate for cleaner cuts.
4. Slice into bars once fully set and enjoy!

 Serving Suggestions:

• Top with flaky sea salt for a sweet-salty twist
• Serve with vanilla ice cream for a turtle sundae
• Gift in parchment-lined boxes for holidays or thank-you treats

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Out-of-This-World Turtle Bars

Rich caramel, crunchy pecans, buttery crust, and melty chocolate come together in these indulgent dessert bars.

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Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Crust:

• ½ cup unsalted butter softened
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Caramel Layer:

• ⅔ cup 10 tbsp unsalted butter
• ½ cup packed light brown sugar

Topping:

• 1 cup milk chocolate chips

Equipment

• 9×13-inch baking dish
• mixing bowls
• Pastry blender or fork
• Small saucepan
• Spatula or butter knife
• Knife for slicing

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Combine softened butter, flour, and brown sugar until crumbly.
3. Press mixture into an ungreased 9x13-inch baking pan.
4. Sprinkle pecans evenly over the crust.
5. In a saucepan, melt butter and stir in brown sugar. Bring to a boil and stir constantly for 1 minute.
6. Pour caramel evenly over the crust and pecans.
7. Bake for 20 minutes.
8. Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over the hot caramel.
9. Let sit 5 minutes to melt, then spread with spatula.
10. Cool completely before slicing into bars.

Notes

Top with flaky sea salt for a sweet-salty twist

Serve with vanilla ice cream for a turtle sundae

Gift in parchment-lined boxes for holidays or thank-you treats