Soft, Chewy, Delicious Turtle Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Turtle chocolate chip cookies are one of the best recipes to try out! Why? They’ve got everything you want in a cookie – caramel, chocolate, and pecans. They’re like a brownie bite with a caramel filling, coated in pecans!

The rich flavor of caramel and chocolate is perfectly balanced by the crunch of chopped pecans, and the addition of melted chocolate and additional toppings takes these cookies to the next level.

So secret stash worthy.

What Do Chocolate Chip Cookies Taste Like?

Chocolate chip cookie is a rich blend of flavors that is very addictive. Every bite is interesting.

It has a crispness due to the air pockets in the cookie crumb, then a chocolaty feel that is dense and uniform when bitten.

They are usually recognized for their butter flavor and the inclusion of chocolate chips.

What Is A Turtle Cookie?

A turtle cookie is a delicious chocolate cookie with all the flavor and textures traditionally found in turtle chocolate candy.

They are rolled in chopped pecan, filled with gooey caramel, loaded with chunks of chocolates, and drizzled with melted chocolates.

This makes it look like a turtle shell, hence, its name. It is a fantastic Christmas cookie that is super chewy inside.

Easy Chocolate Chip Turtle Cookies Ingredients

• Unsalted butter: This gives the chocolate chip cookies a mild delicious flavor and tender texture. Do not melt butter or use too soft butter to prevent cookies from spreading. 
• Brown sugar: Brown sugar is a partially refined soft sugar with a distinctive brown color due to molasses. It adds sweetness and flavor to the turtle chocolate chip cookies. It is also responsible for moist, full, and chewy cookies.
• Granulated sugar: Granulated sugar is a simple carbohydrate that blends easily into the other ingredients. It adds sweetness and a subtle flavor that complements the other tastes of these easy chocolate chip turtle cookies. It also encourages browning and is best used when fortified with vitamins.
• Eggs: Egg is an incredible food loaded with almost every nutrient an individual needs. They possess binding properties that help give the chocolate chip cookies structure. Room temperature eggs are always the best for baking. Ensure the eggs are taken out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.
• Vanilla extract: This ingredient is usually used in small amounts to give the turtle chocolate chip cookies a subtle vanilla flavor and to enhance other flavors in the recipe.
• All-purpose flour: Flour is a core ingredient for easy chocolate chip turtle cookies. It helps build structure in the cookies.
• Baking soda: Baking soda acts as a leavening agent for turtle chocolate chip cookies. It helps leaven and lift the cookie dough.
• Salt: A sprinkle of salt accentuates the rich chocolate flavor of the turtle chocolate chip cookies that is impossible to resist.
• Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips: Thanks to stabilizers and preservatives, semi-sweet chocolate chips are soft, shiny, and in perfect chip shape after being baked in the oven. Mix regular and mini chocolate chip sizes to get the best of this recipe.
• Caramel Bits: Caramel bits are bits of soft caramel the size of chocolate chips. The unwrapped morsel is easy to melt and is perfect for baking.
• Chopped Pecans: Pecans have a mild, slightly sweet, nutty flavor and a buttery texture. They are soft and crunchy, making them a great addition to the turtle cookie.

Tools Needed To Prepare This Chocolate Chip Turtle Cookies

• Baking sheet or ungreased cookie sheet
• Parchment paper
• Medium Bowl
• Mixing Bowl
• Whisker
• Medium Cookie Scoop

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Turtle Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pecans

Walnuts or almonds can be used in place of pecan halves. Dried diced apple is a great substitute for people who do not like nuts.

It makes the turtle chocolate chips cookie taste like caramel apple cookies. 

Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Chocolate chips can be substituted with dark chocolate chips or white chocolate chips.

Brown Sugar

Dark Demerara Sugar can be used as a substitute for brown sugar as they are very similar. Coconut sugar can also be used as it is similar in texture to brown sugar.

Vanilla Extract 

Great substitutes for vanilla extract are almond extract or maple syrup. Some people might not even notice the absence of the subtle vanilla aroma or taste.

Butter

Margarine, shortening, coconut oil, or vegetable oil are a perfect substitute for unsalted butter in turtle chocolate chip cookies.

Caramel Bits

Caramel bits can be substituted with other chocolate-covered caramel candy or caramel chews. Just chop them in small chunks, about the size of chocolate chips.

Vegan Substitute

To make vegan turtle chocolate chip cookies, use dairy-free chocolate chips. Vegan butter, almond butter, or coconut oil can replace unsalted butter in this recipe.

How to Make Chocolate Turtle Cookies

Ingredients

For The Turtle Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup caramel bits
• ½ cup chopped pecans

For Decorating (optional)

• 1 cup semisweet or milk chocolate chips, melted
• Additional semisweet chocolate chips to press into the top of the cookies.
• Extra caramel bits to press into the top of the cookie.
• Pecan halves to press into the top of the cookie.

Instructions

STEP 1: While preheating the oven to 350ºF, prepare your baking sheets with parchment paper.

STEP 2: Next, mix the flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium mixing bowl.

STEP 3: In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until fluffy and well combined.

STEP 4: Add the eggs one by one, mixing well after each addition. After adding the last egg, add the vanilla. Mix until combined.

STEP 5: Gradually add the flour mixture until it forms a dough. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary.

STEP 6: Fold in the chocolate chips, caramel bits, and pecans.

STEP 7: Using a medium cookie scoop, portion the dough and place it on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Press pecan halves or extra morsels into the top of each cookie dough ball.

STEP 8: Bake the cookies for about 8 to 10 minutes.

STEP 9: Allow the cookies to cool on the cookie sheets for 5 to 7 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

STEP 10: Drizzle with chocolate chips, caramel bits, and chopped pecans, if desired.

What to Serve With This Chocolate Chip Turtle Cookie Recipe

Beverage

Turtle chocolate chip cookie is usually served with a hot or cold beverage like tea, coffee, milk, or hot chocolate to wash down the cookie for satiety.

Dunking a warm chocolate chip cookie into a cold glass of milk is a common yet satisfying way to enjoy this yummy treat.

Need a refreshing drink on a hot summer day? Pair these cookies with this Fanta Chapman drink mixed with a spirit of your choice, if you dare!

Ice Cream

The turtle chocolate chips can be served with ice creams or milkshakes, especially when sandwiched between two delicious turtle chocolate chip cookies or washed down with a tall milkshake glass.

Unbaked cookie dough balls can also be used as toppings on ice cream sundaes. This Rhubarb Elderflower Ice Cream Floats will be a hit for adults!

Chocolate Syrup

Chocolate syrup enhances the look and taste appeal of chocolate chip cookies. When eaten with the chocolate chip cookie, it is a tantalizing combination of pure goodness.

Tips About Making Easy Chocolate Chip Turtle Cookies

• If you’re having issues making dough balls, try chilling the chocolate cookie dough for at least 4 hours or overnight to help reduce spread.
• Bake each batch of cookies one sheet at a time on the center oven rack for best results.
• Use a completely cooled cookie sheet when baking batches of the turtle chocolate chip cookies to prevent the cookies from spreading too much.
• Don’t overbake the cookies. They taste better when they are a bit underbaked (vs overbaked).

How Long Can You Store Turtle Cookies?

Turtle chocolate chip cookies can be stored in an airtight container or plastic wrap at room temperature for 5  to 7 days and frozen in a freezer-safe, airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.

Unbaked cookie dough can also be balled up in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw, let the cookie dough stand uncovered at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours.

Is Chocolate Chip Cookies A Homogeneous Mixture?

Chocolate chip cookies are heterogeneous because the cookie’s chocolate is not uniformly mixed with the dough. This is why the chocolate can easily be pinpointed on the cookie.

Are Chocolate Chip Cookies Kosher?

For chocolate chips to be kosher, the ingredient must be prepared in a way that is kosher certified.

To ensure chocolate chip cookie is kosher certified:

1. It must be prepared in the presence of a rabbi.
2. The cooking utensils/equipment used for non-kosher cookies cannot be used. The equipment used needs to be dedicated to pareve or completely cleaned from any dairy residue and kosherized properly.
3. All ingredients must be from Kosher sources.

Why are my chocolate chip cookies flat?

There are three main culprits responsible for flat chocolate chip cookies.

• Butter: The butter might have been too soft or even melted, which makes the cookie spread.
• Too Little Flour: Too little flour can prevent a proper cookie form. Thus when baking the turtle chocolate chip cookies, do not hold back when adding flour.
• Cookie sheet: If the cookie is baked on a hot cookie sheet, it makes the cookies spread.

FAQ About Turtle Chocolate Chip Cookies

Conclusion

These easy turtle chocolate chip cookies are an irresistible treat that is perfect for any occasion like holiday parties and baby showers.

Whether you’re looking for a festive dessert for a holiday party or a simple snack to share with friends, these cookies are sure to satisfy everyone.

The rich flavor of caramel and chocolate is perfectly balanced by the crunch of chopped pecans, and the addition of melted chocolate and additional toppings takes these cookies to the next level.

If you’re looking for a truly unique and delicious cookie recipe, Turtle chocolate chip cookies are the way to go.

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