Rich chocolate and crunchy pecans all swirled up in delicious homemade caramel. This chocolate turtles recipe is the perfect way to curb a sweet craving or whip up a last-minute dessert. It’s a candy recipe that you can enjoy all year long.
A no-bake recipe you’ll whip up over and over again, these chocolate pecan turtles are a little bit different than the traditional ones… they’re packed with protein!
Made with a date-based caramel sauce, melted chocolate and crunchy pecans, these turtles are also mixed with collagen powder to bring 7-ish grams of protein per serving.
Though you can skip out on the collagen powder and make a regular dessert with an easy swap, as a Certified Nutrition Coach, I personally love that this recipe brings the best of both worlds: a sweet treat and a fueling one.
Having your cake and eating it too is part of the idea behind my Strong and Sweet Protein Guide as I believe you should enjoy the tastes you love… just make them more fueling. This is exactly why you’ll make this chocolate turtles recipe over and over again.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Easy to make: No major kitchen skills or baking are required for this recipe, and it makes for the perfect last-minute dessert as it comes together quickly.
Healthy: As healthy as a dessert can be, these homemade turtles are dairy-free, gluten-free, grain-free, and paleo. Plus, they have 7ish grams of protein.
Indulgent: All the flavor you remember from the originals, with delicious caramel, melted chocolate, and tasty pecans.
Any nut butter will work for the turtles but almond butter plus maple syrup gives the most authentic caramel flavor (like in this dairy-free caramel sauce).
Ingredients and Substitutions
Peek the image below to get an idea off the ingredients you need to make the best chocolate turtles. Though there are a few flavor variations, the recipe is simple enough to whip up in minimal time.
If you don’t want to make these a protein-packed turtle recipe, substitute the collagen powder with almond flour.
Make the turtles whole-approved by skipping the maple syrup. You won’t miss out on too much sweetness! You may need 1 tablespoon of the date water though for texture.
Expert Tips To Make It
Soak the dates in warm water before you need them. This makes them so much easier to blend.
You can toast the pecans if you have time, it brings out a much richer flavor. Not necessary but absolutely delicious.
Try to add as little water or liquid to the date mixture as possible. Otherwise, they get too sticky.
The turtles are best eaten out of the fridge. They can sit at room temperature for a bit, but they do get pretty soft.
If you like texture in your turtles, leave the dates a bit chunky when blended. If you want it smooth, spend some time scraping them down. Likewise, you can coat the entire turtle with chocolate, and it’ll stay hardened at room temperature, or you can just coat the tops (like I do). The nutritional value is based on just the tops.
How To Make..
Step 1: In a food processor, blend together the dates, almond butter, and maple syrup.
Step 2: Stir in the collagen powder.
Step 3: Portion into balls on a lined baking sheet. Press pecans into the balls.
Step 4: Melt together chocolate chips and oil before topping the turtles with melted chocolate. Pop them in the freezer to set.
How To Store Them
These chocolate pecan turtles can be stored in the fridge or freezer. If storing in the freezer, they’ll last up to 3 months if in a freezer-safe bag. Let them come to room temperature (about 10 minutes) before you enjoy them.
Store them in a sealed container in the fridge in a single layer for up to a week. Enjoy them right out of the fridge or bring them to room temperature.
Flavor Variations
Of course, there are a few ways you can adjust the flavor of the protein turtles. Below are a few of my favorites.
Drizzle: You can drizzle the chocolate turtles with homemade caramel sauce for maximum indulgence.
Sprinkles: Add some festive sprinkles to the top of the turtles to jazz them up for any occasion.
Extract: Add a splash of almond extract to bring out more nuttiness in them.
FAQ's
You’ll want to first double the batch of chocolate sauce (so the chocolate chips and oil). Freeze the turtle's insides for about 30 minutes while the chocolate melts. Then, dip them into the melted chocolate coating all sides before popping them back in the freezer to set.
Other High Protein Dessert Recipes You’ll Love
Homemade Chocolate Pecan Turtles [High Protein]
Video
Equipment
- Food processor
Ingredients
- 2 cups Dates soaked in warm water
- ⅓ cup Pecan halves plus more for topping
- 3 tablespoons Almond butter natural and fresh
- 1 tablespoon Maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons Collagen powder
- Pinch Sea salt
- ⅓ cup Dairy-free chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon Coconut oil
Instructions
- If you haven’t already, soak the dates in warm water for 20 minutes and then drain them.
- In a food processor, blend the almond butter, dates, and maple syrup until mostly smooth.
- Scoop the mixture into a bowl and mix in the collagen powder.
- Use a trigger ice cream scoop to portion the turtle mixture onto a lined baking sheet.
- Press 2-3 pecans into each turtle. When you press them in, flatter the turtle a bit.
- In a small pot or in the microwave, melt the coconut oil and chocolate chips over low heat until combined. Whisk until smooth.
- Use a spoon to portion the melted chocolate over each turtle, spread it around so that it coats the top.
- Crush up some extra pecans and sprinkle them and the sea salt on top.
- Pop the tray into the freezer for 45 minutes to set.
Notes
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Shelby S says
The combination of peanut butter and dates is the BEST.