Easy Turtle Cookies {Chocolate Pecan Cookie Recipe}

If you want the ultimate fudgy chocolate cookie, filled with silky caramel and rolled in crunchy pecans you’ve found it! This is about to be your new favorite cookie.

Table of Contents

• What goes into this recipe
• Other Filling Ideas:
• How to make Turtle Cookies
• Expert Tips
• Storage and Freezing
• Recipe FAQs
• Do you love sweets?  Try one of these cookie recipes…
• Easy Turtle Pecan Cookies

As a former high school culinary teacher I know the flavor combinations that people go crazy for. Chocolate, pecan and caramel is definitely one of them which is why I know these easy Turtle Cookies will be an instant hit!

One of my students’ favorite lessons was always candy making. They loved dipping pecans and caramel in chocolate! In fact, some of my most popular recipes are taken from classes I taught to teenagers for years. That is how this turtle cookie recipe was born.

Believe me when I tell you that transforming turtle candies into a cookie form is a dreamy situation. A soft chocolate cookie with gooey caramel and pecans, yes please!   My favorite thing to do with these turtle cookies is to add them to a holiday cookie box.  They also work great for cookie exchanges.

What goes into this recipe

• Chocolate Cake Mix: Using a cake mix is the perfect starting point for great flavored chocolate cookies. No need for cocoa powder or extra ingredients.
• Vegetable Oil: The oil gives the cookie a great soft texture.  Melted butter can always be substituted if you prefer.
• Chopped Pecans: This ingredient adds amazing flavor and awesome added crunch.  I like to use pecan pieces or halves and chop them down into smaller pieces. If you love pecans you should also try these pecan chocolate chip cookies.
• Rolo Candy- The chocolate caramel candies are the perfect addition to each cookie. The chocolate melts into the soft cookie and creates a creamy caramel filling.
• Melting Wafers or Chocolate Chips- Melting milk chocolate or dark chocolate wafers and drizzling it on top of each cookie gives them an extra special chocolate flavor. It also acts as a delicious glue for the pecan on top. Semisweet chocolate chips are also a great option and melt well.

Other Filling Ideas:

If you prefer to use something other than a Rolo candy for the middle of the cookie here are some other options.  Adding 6-7 caramel bits would work well in the middle of each chewy cookie.  A soft Kraft caramel is also a great substitution.  I don’t suggest caramel sauce because it could easily melt out of the turtle cookies and not create the middle you are looking for.

How to make Turtle Cookies

1. To make the dough, combine the chocolate cake mix, oil and eggs in a medium bowl. Use an electric mixer {or stir by hand} and mix until you have a thick dough. Use a medium or large cookie scoop to scoop cookie dough into your hand. Make an indentation in the middle of the cookie dough and place a Rolo candy in it.
2. Wrap the cookie dough around the candy and roll dough into a ball.

3. Then roll the filled cookie dough balls into chopped crunchy pecans.
4. Place the cookie dough onto silicone mat {or parchment paper} lined cookie sheets.

5. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 9-11 minutes or until each chewy chocolate cookie is set.  Remove from the oven, place on a wire rack and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet.
6. Finally, drizzle melted chocolate over the top of each cookie. Add additional pecan halves {or more chopped pecans} to the top of each cookie while the chocolate is still wet.

Expert Tips

• Use a cookie scoop to make sure that all of your cookies are the same size.  This allows all of your cookies to bake at the same rate.
• If the dough is sticky and hard to work with, flour your hands. The flour will act as a barrier between your hands and the chocolate cookie dough.
• Do you love caramel?  Double the filling and add two caramel candies.  You would also go crazy for these Salted Caramel Bars.
• Don’t over bake the cookies.  Bake them until just set and then allow them to cool on the baking sheet.  The residual heat from the baking sheet will continue baking the cookies slightly and allow them to set up perfectly.
• Don’t forget the chocolate drizzle and extra pecans.  Not only are you adding more flavor but doing so makes for a beautiful cookie.

Storage and Freezing

Store: These turtle pecan cookies are best stored in an airtight container {or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap} either at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Freeze: Yes, you can freeze these chocolate turtle cookies for up to 3 months. For best results, be sure that the cookies are completely cooled and the chocolate is not wet on top.

Recipe FAQs

Do you love sweets?  Try one of these cookie recipes…