Monday, December 12, 2011

the great food blogger cookie swap 2011: butter pecan turtle cookies

These cookies, affectionately referred to as 'turtles', remind me of family, home, and holidays. These are the cookies I have been making as long as I have been baking (I even have proof).


These are the cookies my big brother requests without fail at Christmas. These cookies melt in your mouth in a swirl of caramel, pecans, and chocolate. These are the cookies that mean the most to me. These are the cookies I am sharing with you, today.

Butter Pecan Turtle Cookies ("Turtles")

Crust
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

Caramel Layer
2/3 cup butter
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup whole pecan halves (not chopped)
1 cup milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a 3 quart bowl, combine crust ingredients. Mix at medium speed, scraping sides of bowl after 2-3 minutes or until well mixed and particles are fine (I never use a mixer, but rather use a fork and then my hands until I get this texture crust). 

 
Pat firmly into ungreased 13x9x2" pan. Sprinkle pecans evenly over unbaked crust. 


Prepare caramel layer.

Caramel layer. In a heavy 1 quart saucepan combine brown sugar and butter. 


Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until entire surface of mixture begins to boil. Boil 1/2 to 1 minute, stirring constantly.


 Pour caramel evenly over pecans and crust.

 
Bake near center of oven at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes or until entire caramel layer is bubbly and crust is light golden brown. Remove from oven. Immediately sprinkle with chips. Allow chips to melt slightly (2-3 minutes). 

 
Slightly swirl chips as they melt; leave some whole for a marbled effect. Do not spread chips. 


Cool completely; cut; eat; enjoy. 


Butter Pecan Turtle Cookies ("Turtles")

Crust
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

Caramel Layer
2/3 cup butter
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup whole pecan halves (not chopped)
1 cup milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degree. In a 3 quart bowl, combine crust ingredients. Mix at medium speed, scraping sides of bowl after 2-3 minutes or until well mixed and particles are fine (I never use a mixer, but rather use a fork and then my hands until I get this texture crust).

Pat firmly into un-greased 13x9x2" pan. Sprinkle pecans evenly over unbaked crust. 

Prepare caramel layer; pour evenly over pecans and crust. Bake near center of oven at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes or until entire caramel layer is bubbly and crust is light golden brown. Remove from oven. Immediately sprinkle with chips. Allow chips to melt slightly (2-3 minutes). Slightly swirl chips as they melt; leave some whole for a marbled effect. Do not spread chips. Cool completely; cut; eat; enjoy. 

Caramel layer. In a heavy 1 quart saucepan combine brown sugar and butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until entire surface of mixture begins to boil. Boil 1/2 to 1 minute, stirring constantly.


17 comments:

  1. Butter pecan turtles are my dad's FAVORITES!! This recipe sounds amazing, I'm totally making these for him over Christmas break :)
    Thanks for sharing!

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  2. WOW- I have had something like this at a party before and had no idea how they were made. I am totally making these!

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  3. Wow these look glorious!! They almost look like a cross between a cookie and a bark! Yum.

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  4. These look pretty intense, in a very good way!

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  5. thanks everyone! i promise if you make these cookies you won't be disappointed!

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  6. bookmarking this recipe for sure!

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  7. Oh these look so goooood! Turtles are amazing...and the cookie form is such a genius idea! You go girl!

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  8. I just about died when I saw the title of this post... these are some of my most favorite kinds of cookies! But the version you have here looks even more glorious, my gram would love them too! Making them for the holidays :D

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  9. Ohhh, my goodness. Those look devilishly good! I love layered bar cookies like that. So simple, yet so perfect.

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  10. These look...oh my, I don't think I can even find words to accurately describe how delicious they look. I love making (and eating) layered bar-type desserts. The different flavors and textures make them amazing.
    Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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  11. YUM! I'm so mad at myself for not participating this year! Stupid schoolwork! lol!

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  12. This is like food porn...these look so delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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  13. Thanks for the wonderful cookies, Sara! My husband and I are enjoying them.

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  14. Oh my gosh. those look insanely good :-) xyx

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  15. Try using saltines for the crust. I would assume it resembles "Christmas Crack" that we make. It adds a bit of "salty" to the mix. Probably tastes the same, but a little less work.

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