Description
Indulgent chocolate chip turtle cookies blend rich chocolate, caramel, and pecans into a classic dessert. Sweet layers of flavor combine perfectly for a memorable treat you’ll savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsps vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¾ cup chopped pecans (toasted for extra flavor)
- ¾ cup soft caramel bits (or chopped soft caramels)
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) heavy cream (for melting caramel, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Heat oven to 350F (175C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, creating an ideal surface for cookie placement.
- Combine Dry Elements: Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl until uniformly blended and lump-free.
- Create Butter Base: Cream butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large bowl until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and fully integrated.
- Develop Wet Foundation: Mix eggs and vanilla extract into the butter blend, ensuring a smooth and cohesive texture.
- Merge Ingredients: Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, maintaining the dough’s delicate structure and avoiding overmixing.
- Enhance Flavor Profile: Incorporate chocolate chips, pecans, and caramel bits throughout the dough, distributing evenly for consistent taste.
- Shape and Bake: Scoop tablespoon-sized dough rounds onto the prepared sheet, spacing them to allow spreading, then bake for 10-12 minutes until edges turn golden and centers remain slightly soft.
- Cool and Finish: Rest cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and create a caramel drizzle by melting caramel bits with heavy cream in the microwave, stirring at 30-second intervals.
- Final Presentation: Elegantly drizzle warm caramel sauce over cooled cookies, transforming a classic treat into a decadent dessert experience.
Notes
- Manage Mixing Technique: Avoid overmixing cookie dough to prevent tough, dense cookies; mix just until ingredients are combined for a tender, delicate texture.
- Control Caramel Consistency: Heat caramel sauce carefully in short microwave intervals, stirring frequently to prevent burning and achieve a smooth, glossy drizzle.
- Optimize Baking Time: Watch cookies closely during the 10-12 minute baking window; remove when edges are golden but centers remain slightly soft for the perfect chewy texture.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Substitute gluten-free flour for traditional flour, use dairy-free butter alternatives, and swap pecans with seeds for nut-free versions to accommodate various dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 198
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg