Chewy Caramel Turtle Bark Recipes

SOFT 'N' CHEWY CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line a 13x9-in. pan with foil; grease foil with 2 teaspoons butter. Cube remaining butter. In a Dutch oven, combine sugar, corn syrup and 1 cup cream. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Slowly stir in remaining cream. Cook over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 250° (hard-ball stage), stirring frequently. Remove from the heat; stir in cubed butter and vanilla until well mixed, about 5 minutes. , Pour into prepared pan. Cool. Remove foil from pan; cut candy into 1-in. squares. Wrap individually in waxed paper; twist ends.

SALTED CARAMEL CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• Prepare a baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper. Set aside.
• Place two-thirds of the bag of chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high in 15-30 seconds intervals, stirring each time, until chips are completely melted. This will take about 2 minutes total, but watch carefully the last 45 seconds. (If using a thermometer to take temperature it should read 110-115ºF / 43-48ºC)
• Add the remaining one-third of the bag of chocolate and stir to combine and melt. Continue to stir until all the chocolate is melted, smooth, and glossy. Don't be tempted to put it back in the microwave to finish melting added chips. Let it sit a minute and stir again. It will eventually melt from the residual heat. (If using thermometer to take temperature it should read 88-90ºF / 31-33ºC )
• Pour melted chocolate on prepared baking sheet, RESERVING 2-3 TABLESPOONS TO DRIZZLE ON TOP. Use an offset spatula to spread chocolate to about 1/4" thick. Set aside while melting caramel.
• Place unwrapped caramels and milk in another microwave safe bowl. Melt on high in 30 second intervals until mixture is hot throughout, but caramels are about 50% melted. Remove for microwave and stir until smooth and caramels fully melt. This will take up to a minute of stirring. Drizzle caramel over chocolate layer. (CHOCOLATE DOES NOT NEED TO BE SET BEFORE DRIZZLING ON CARAMEL)
• Immediately sprinkle with chopped pecans and drizzle with remaining chocolate (can reheat chocolate for a bit it has started to harden). Sprinkle drizzled chocolate with fleur de sel or coarse sea salt.
• Refrigerate for 10-15 minutes, or until set. Do not break into pieces until chocolate is completely set. Remove from refrigerator to serve and store or caramel will become hard.

CHEWY CARAMEL TURTLE BARK

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the pecan halves across the paper in a single layer. Set the tray of pecans near the stove. Combine the butter, sugar, honey, milk and salt in a heavy bottomed saucepan or deep skillet over medium heat. When the mixture has melted together and is smooth, increase the heat to medium high and continue stirring constantly with a heat proof spatula or wooden spoon. The mixture should come to a rolling boil. Let it cook until the temperature reaches 230-235 degrees, this took less than 5 minutes on my stove. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Pour the caramel mixture over the pecans in an even layer. Use a spatula to spread it across if needed. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or so, until the caramel is cool. Melt the chocolate and the oil in a small mixing bowl in the microwave. 50% power for 2 - 2 1/2 minutes, stopping to stir after the first minute and then every 30 seconds as needed. When most of the chocolate has melted and you are able to stir it, remove from the microwave and stir until smooth, it will continue melting as it rests.
• Pour the chocolate over the top of the caramel and pecans and spread across the caramel with a spatula. Chill in the refrigerator an additional 30 minutes, until the chocolate is firm. Remove from the refrigerator and use the parchment paper to lift the bark onto a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to slice into pieces. Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

HOMEMADE TURTLES

Steps:

• Line two baking sheets or large platters with parchment paper. It's helpful if they will fit in either fridge or freezer.
• Make small piles of pecans, using 5 to 6 pieces per pile. Overlap the pecans some to reduce gaps so the caramel doesn't seep through.
• In a medium microwave-safe bowl, add the caramels, half of the cream (reserve the remainder), and heat on high power to melt. It will probably take about 3 to 4 minutes total, but you must stop and stir the mixture every 30 seconds so you don't burn it. Alternatively, you can melt caramels on the stove over low heat, using caution and stirring frequently. **(see notes below on melting the caramels)
• Add about 1 tablespoon caramel to the top of each pecan pile; set aside.
• In a medium microwave-safe bowl, add 8 ounces chocolate and heat to melt, about 1 minute on high power. Heat in 15-second increments until chocolate can be stirred smooth. I prefer working in smaller batches with chocolate and recommend doing the same and not heating all 16 ounces at once; melt additional chocolate as necessary.
• Add about 2 tablespoons chocolate to the top of each pecan cluster by dolloping it on top and letting it fall down the sides.
• Optionally add a pinch of sea salt to each Turtle.
• Allow Turtles to firm up at room temp (will take many hours) or in the fridge or freezer (about 15 minutes) before serving.

TURTLE CARAMEL BARS

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 350°.
• In a medium bowl whisk together the flour and sugar, with a pastry blender or fork mix in butter until it resembles coarse crumbs. Press onto the bottom of an ungreased 9 inch (23 cm) square cake pan ( I used a spring form pan or line the pan with parchment paper for easy removal). Bake for approximately 15 minutes.

CHEWY CARAMEL TURTLE BARK

Steps:

• For complete instructions, visit the original site at http://barefeetinthekitchen.com/turtle-bark-recipe/

GOOEY CARAMEL TURTLE BARK

Steps:

• Line a 15x10x1" cookie sheet with wax paper.
• Pour chocolate chips into a medium-sized bowl and microwave for 45 seconds, stir, then return to the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir until completely melted and smooth (you may need to throw it back into the microwave for another 30 seconds- it really just depends on the strength of your microwave). Pour melted chocolate onto prepared sheet.
• Using a flat spatula, spread chocolate out on wax paper until it's about 1/4" thick.
• Place unwrapped caramels and milk in a medium-sized bowl. Microwave for about 30 seconds, then remove and stir. Microwave again for 30 seconds, then stir until caramel is smooth and creamy (you may need to throw it back into the microwave for another 30 seconds so it can be super creamy).
• Drizzle melted caramel over chocolate, then top with chopped pecans. If desired, drizzle with additional melted chocolate.
• Place bark in the fridge for 30-45 minutes so that it can set up.
• When it has hardened, remove from fridge and use a sharp knife to chop into large pieces (or you can use your hands to break it into small pieces).

CHEWY CARAMEL TURTLE BARK

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the pecan halves across the paper in a single layer. Set the tray of pecans near the stove. Combine the butter, sugar, honey, milk and salt in a heavy bottomed saucepan or deep skillet over medium heat. When the mixture has melted together and is smooth, increase the heat to medium high and continue stirring constantly with a heat-proof spatula or wooden spoon. The mixture should come to a rolling boil. Let it cook until the temperature reaches 230-235 degrees. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Pour the caramel mixture over the pecans in an even layer. Use a spatula to spread it across if needed. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or so, until the caramel is cool. Melt the chocolate and the oil in a small mixing bowl in the microwave, 50% power for 2-2 1/2 minutes, stopping to stir after the first minute and then every 30 seconds as needed. When most of the chocolate has melted and you are able to stir it, remove from the microwave and stir until smooth. It will continue melting as it rests.
• Pour the chocolate over the top of the caramel and pecans and spread across the caramel with a spatula. Chill in the refrigerator an additional 30 minutes, until the chocolate is firm. Remove from the refrigerator and use the parchment paper to lift the bark onto a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to slice into pieces. Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE AND CARAMEL TURTLES

Steps:

• Grease 2 large cookie sheets; set aside. In a double boiler or a microwave set on low power, melt the caramels and butter, stirring frequently until smooth.
• Arrange 36 groups of 3 nuts 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets (see photo, opposite). Spoon melted caramel by teaspoons on top of the nuts. Cool for 15 minutes.
• In a double boiler or a microwave set on low power, melt the chocolate chips, stirring frequently until smooth. Spoon the melted chocolate by teaspoons over each caramel turtle. Spread the chocolate with a spatula. Let candies set at room temperature, or to speed up the setting process, refrigerate briefly.

CHEWY CARAMEL TURTLE BARK

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the pecan halves across the paper in a single layer. Set the tray of pecans near the stove. Combine the butter, sugar, honey, milk and salt in a heavy bottomed saucepan or deep skillet over medium heat. When the mixture has melted together and is smooth, increase the heat to medium high and continue stirring constantly with a heat proof spatula or wooden spoon. The mixture should come to a rolling boil. Let it cook until the temperature reaches 230-235 degrees, this took less than 5 minutes on my stove. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Pour the caramel mixture over the pecans in an even layer. Use a spatula to spread it across if needed. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or so, until the caramel is cool. Melt the chocolate and the oil in a small mixing bowl in the microwave. 50% power for 2 - 2 1/2 minutes, stopping to stir after the first minute and then every 30 seconds as needed. When most of the chocolate has melted and you are able to stir it, remove from the microwave and stir until smooth, it will continue melting as it rests.
• Pour the chocolate over the top of the caramel and pecans and spread across the caramel with a spatula. Chill in the refrigerator an additional 30 minutes, until the chocolate is firm. Remove from the refrigerator and use the parchment paper to lift the bark onto a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to slice into pieces. Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

FRUIT AND NUT CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Place the dark chocolate chips in a microwave safe glass bowl or measuring cup. Heat for 1 minute, at 50% power, stir and heat an additional 30 seconds, stir again until smooth. Pour the chocolate across the lined baking sheet and spread it out with a spatula.
• Wipe the bowl clean and repeat the melting process with the white chocolate chips. Pour the white chocolate over the dark and use the end of a spoon or a spatula to swirl the two chocolates together. Sprinkle with the chopped fruits and nuts. Let the chocolate harden at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Cut the bark into pieces once it has set. Store at cool room temperature or in the refrigerator. Enjoy!