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Easy Turtle Bars

Easy Turtle Bars
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Easy Turtle Bars combine gooey caramel, rich chocolate, and crunchy nuts into soft, chewy bars that are perfect for any occasion. This no-fuss recipe features a buttery graham cracker crust topped with smooth caramel, chopped nuts, and melting chocolate chips, delivering the classic turtle candy flavor in a delicious bar form.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups graham cracker crumbs (or gluten-free graham cracker crumbs)
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Caramel Layer

  • 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

Topping

  • 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
  • 1 to 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips or chunks (milk, dark, white, or caramel-flavored)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Crust: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a baking pan. In a bowl, combine softened butter, graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until the mixture resembles wet sand. Press this mixture evenly into the prepared pan to form a sturdy, flavorful base.
  2. Bake the Crust: Bake the crust in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes until toasted and firm to the touch, enhancing the nutty graham flavor and ensuring it holds together well.
  3. Add the Caramel Layer: Remove the crust from the oven and immediately pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the warm crust. The heat will help it meld into a smooth, creamy caramel layer.
  4. Sprinkle Nuts and Chocolate: Evenly scatter chopped pecans or walnuts over the caramel layer, then top with chocolate chips or chunks. The residual heat will gently melt the chocolate, binding all the layers beautifully.
  5. Final Bake and Cool: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely before slicing to ensure clean, perfect squares.

Notes

  • Use room temperature butter to ensure easier mixing and even texture in the crust.
  • Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting to prevent the caramel from being too soft and messy.
  • Press the crust mixture firmly into the pan so the bars hold together well and don’t crumble.
  • Chop nuts uniformly to get balanced bites with caramel and chocolate.
  • Use good-quality chocolate for richer flavor and smoother melting results.

Nutrition

Keywords: Turtle Bars, caramel bars, chocolate dessert, nut dessert, easy bars, sweet treat, gluten free dessert, homemade bars

Find it online: https://mealsbymary.com/easy-turtle-bars/