Description
Delight in these rich and chewy Turtle Cookies that combine buttery chocolate dough, crunchy pecans, and a luscious caramel center. Perfectly baked until soft and topped with melted caramel, these treats are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth with their delightful texture and decadent flavors.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- ½ Cup salted butter, softened
- ½ Cup white granulated sugar
- ½ Cup light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ Cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ Cup cocoa powder
- 1 Teaspoon baking powder
- ½ Teaspoon baking soda
- 1 Cup pecans, crushed
Caramel Filling
- 1 Cup caramels (5 ½ ounces, 130 grams)
- 2 Tablespoons water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s hot enough for baking your cookies evenly.
- Prepare the cookie dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, white sugar, and light brown sugar. Using an electric hand mixer, beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Add the egg: Beat in the egg thoroughly until completely incorporated with the creamed sugar and butter mixture.
- Incorporate dry ingredients: Reduce mixer speed, then gently whisk in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cocoa powder until just combined.
- Fold in pecans: Carefully fold the crushed pecans into the dough using a spatula, ensuring an even distribution throughout.
- Scoop dough onto baking sheet: Use a cookie scoop to drop balls of dough onto a baking sheet, spacing them about 1 ½ inches apart to allow room for spreading.
- Bake the cookies: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 11 minutes until edges are set but centers remain soft.
- Create indents: Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, use a small dish or the back of a tablespoon to gently press an indent in the center of each cookie to hold the caramel filling.
- Prepare caramel filling: While the cookies cool on the counter, melt the caramels and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly until smooth.
- Fill cookies with caramel: Spoon the melted caramel into each cookie indent carefully, filling each cavity evenly.
- Cool to set caramel: Allow the cookies to cool for an additional 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature, letting the caramel thicken and set as the cookies firm up.
Notes
- For best results, use room temperature butter to ensure smooth creaming with the sugars.
- If pecans are not available, walnuts or almonds can be substituted for a different nutty flavor.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature; they keep well for about 3 days.
- To speed cooling and setting of the caramel, you can place the cookies in the refrigerator after filling.
- Be careful not to overbake the cookies; they should be soft in the center when removed from the oven.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
