Homemade Chocolate Turtles Recipe - The Gracious Pantry (2024)

These homemade chocolate turtles make a wonderful gift or even treat for yourself!

Sometimes, a girl needs chocolate. There is something downright visceral about it. A craving unlike anything else. Almost like your cells need chocolate to survive another day. Am I right? We have the Aztecs to thank for this deliciousness, and I for one, am thankful on very nearly a regular basis. I also have a love affair with chocolate turtles. I mean, who doesn’t like a good chocolate turtle?

Most turtles are chocolate caramel turtles. They have a layer of caramel that glues the nuts together and then the chocolate is drizzled over that. But I don’t find it to be necessary. These are just as good without it and definitely hit the spot every time. And far be it from me to tell anybody that they can’t have a treat such as chocolate on their clean eating diet. I would be quite the hypocrite because frankly, I just couldn’t stop eating these!

That’s right, even on a clean eating diet, it’s important to give yourself a treat every now and again. The last thing you want is to feel like you’re on a diet. That’s a dirty, four-letter word in my book! So the occasional treat is important, in my humble opinion, for the purpose of general sanity. Am I right?!

What Makes This Homemade Chocolate Turtles Recipe Healthier Than Most?

There is zero corn syrup, sugar, brown sugar, vegetable shortening, heavy cream, milk chocolate, or even butter in these. The recipe calls for healthy sweeteners and simple ingredients. So yes, these are definitely a treat. But farm healthier than anything you can buy at the store. You won’t even need a candy thermometer!

Dietary Restrictions

Dairy-Free – Just make sure the chocolate you use is dairy-free. Nothing in this recipe calls for any dairy-based ingredients.

Sugar-Free – You can use sugar free chocolate chips and simply omit the added sweeteners.

Gluten-Free – While none of the ingredients used have gluten, it’s best to be sure that each ingredient you purchase is labeled as gluten-free.

Vegan – To make this plant-based, simply omit the honey and use maple syrup instead. You may need to add an extra tablespoon for sweetness though. Maple syrup is not as sweet as honey.

About The Ingredients

Unsweetened baking chocolate – I use the Baker’s brand (not paid to promote them). But any brand you can get will work.

Brown rice syrup – This is what will give the turtles some stickiness and a slight caramel flavor. It replaces sugar-based caramel.

Honey – You can use any sweetener you prefer. Honey is simply what I chose to use.

Mediumalmonds -I used raw almonds – 6 for each turtle. You can also use pecans or pecan halves. Even walnuts will work well here.

Sea salt – Optional. You can sprinkle this on over the tops of the turtles while the chocolate is still warm. Just a tiny little sprinkle will get the job done.

How To Make This Homemade Chocolate Turtles Recipe

Melt chocolate in microwave for 2 minutes. Stir. (Or, melt in a slow cooker on low heat until melted)

Continue melting chocolate in microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring after each one.

When you have very small clumps left, stop microwaving and just stir until the chocolate melts completely.

Stir in brown rice syrup and honey.

Portion out 6 almonds for each turtle on a parchment-lined baking sheet. (Or pecan clusters, if you are using pecans)

Pour approximately 2 tsp. chocolate over each cluster of nuts.

If using, sprinkle on the sea salt while the chocolate is still warm.

Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Storage

Keep in refrigerator. These can sit at room temperature for about 4 hours before they need to go back into the fridge.

Freezing

These will freeze well. Pack them in an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 6 months.

More Healthy Treats

• Marzipan Candies
• Homemade Twix Bars