Description
These Easy Turtle Bars are a delightful treat featuring a buttery crumb crust topped with rich caramel, crunchy pecans, and gooey semi-sweet chocolate chips. Perfect for a simple dessert or sweet snack, these bars balance textures and flavors beautifully with minimal ingredients and quick preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
Topping
- 1 cup caramel sauce
- 1 cup pecan halves
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make removal easy.
- Mix crust: In a mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, all-purpose flour, and granulated sugar. Stir until the mixture becomes crumbly and fully incorporated.
- Press and bake crust: Press the crumbly dough evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the crust turns lightly golden and firm to the touch.
- Cool and add caramel: Allow the crust to cool for 5 minutes, then spread the caramel sauce evenly over the warm crust, ensuring full coverage.
- Add pecans and chocolate: Sprinkle pecan halves and semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly over the caramel layer to create a rich and crunchy topping.
- Bake again: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until the caramel is bubbling and the chocolate chips have begun to soften.
- Cool and serve: Let the bars cool completely to set before cutting into 12 equal squares for serving.
Notes
- For easier cutting, chill the bars in the refrigerator for 30 minutes after cooling.
- Use homemade or store-bought caramel sauce depending on preference; if homemade, ensure it is thick enough to spread.
- For a variation, use walnuts or almonds instead of pecans.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
- To make the crust gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
