Easy Turtle Bars with Chocolate and Pecans – Sweet Dessert Recipes Easy
When I want something that feels like a hug in bar form, I make these Easy Turtle Bars. They’re layered with buttery shortbread, gooey caramel, crunchy pecans, and of course, a cascade of melty chocolate. It's like your favorite candy bar decided to grow up and get cozy in a baking pan.
These bars hit all the notes: sweet, salty, chewy, crunchy – you name it. I whip them up when I’ve got people coming over and I want to seem like I have my life together (spoiler: I don’t, but they don’t need to know that). You don’t need any fancy skills or equipment – just a baking pan and a sweet tooth.
Whether you're making them for a bake sale, family gathering, or a Tuesday that just really needs a win, these turtle bars are always the answer. And let’s be honest, if there are leftovers… they make an excellent breakfast too.
Servings: 24 bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 package (11 oz) caramel bits
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
- In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter, flour, and brown sugar until crumbly.
- Press this mixture evenly into the prepared pan to form the base. Bake for 15 minutes.
- While the base bakes, melt the caramel bits and 2 tablespoons of milk in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth.
- Pour the melted caramel evenly over the baked crust.
- Sprinkle chopped pecans over the caramel layer.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 10–12 minutes.
- Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with chocolate chips. Let them sit for a few minutes, then gently spread the melted chocolate with a spatula.
- Cool completely before cutting into bars. Try not to eat them all in one sitting (good luck!).