These Keto Turtles are the stuff of dreams. With toasted pecans, gooey caramel, and rich chocolate, these sugar-free nut clusters are as good as the original. Be prepared to fight with your loved ones for the last one!
Ingredients you need
- Sweeteners: The right sweeteners are the key to getting a gooey caramel consistency. I prefer a combination of Swerve Brown and allulose for these Sugar Free Turtles.
- Butter: You will need butter for both the caramel and the chocolate coating.
- Heavy whipping cream: I use less cream in this version of caramel, to keep it thicker.
- Xanthan gum: A little additional thickening agent like xanthan gum firms up the caramel so it doesn’t run all over the pan.
- Sea salt: A little salt in the caramel sauce brings out flavor. But I also like to sprinkle a little on top of the finished turtles.
- Pecans: Don’t worry if they aren’t perfect pecan halves. You can pile them up nicely and still get lovely clusters.
- Sugar free chocolate: Use milk or dark chocolate, the choice is yours. ChocZero is a great option for these Turtles
Step-by-step directions
1. Prepare the caramel sauce: In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the sweeteners and 4 tablespoons of the butter. Bring to a boil and cook 2 to 4 minutes, watching carefully so it doesn’t burn. Remove from heat and add the cream. The mixture will bubble vigorously.
2. Let cool: Sprinkle the surface with xanthan gum and whisk to combine. Whisk in the salt. Let the caramel cool until thickened but still pourable, 30 to 60 minutes.
3. Toast the pecans: Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a cookie sheet with parchment or a silicone baking mat. Spread the pecans out on the mat in a single layer and bake 7 to 10 minutes, until toasted. Arrange the pecans in clusters of 3 or 4, making about 24 clusters. (If your pecans are large, use only 3 per cluster).
4. Drizzle with caramel: Drizzle a few teaspoons of caramel over each pecan cluster, making sure some caramel is touching each of the pecans. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer to set the caramel.
5. Add the chocolate: In a small bowl set over a bowl of barely simmering water, combine the chocolate and the remaining tablespoon of butter. Stir until melted and smooth, then drizzle over the chilled clusters.
Recipe FAQs
What is in turtle candy?
Turtle candies combine toasted nuts such as pecans with caramel and chocolate. The nuts are usually arranged so that the resulting candy looks like a turtle. These Keto Turtles are made in much the same fashion, with sugar-free caramel and chocolate.
How many carbs are in sugar free turtles?
This sugar free pecan turtles recipe has 6.6g of carbs and 3.6g of fiber per serving. That comes to 3g net carbs in a serving of two candies.
How long do sugar free pecan turtles last?
Store these keto candies in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days (unless you live in a very hot climate!). You can also store them in the fridge for up to 10 days, and in the freezer for several months.
Best Pecan Turtle Candies
24
Candies15
minutes20
minutes242
kcal35
minutesIngredients
6 tbsp Swerve Brown
3 tbsp Bocha Sweet (or allulose or xylitol)
5 tbsp butter divided
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 tsp xanthan gum
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 cups pecan halves
4 ounces sugar free dark chocolate chopped
More sea salt for sprinkling, if desired
Directions
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the sweeteners and 4 tablespoons of the butter. Bring to a boil and cook 3 to 5 minutes, watching carefully so it doesn’t burn. Remove from heat and add the cream. The mixture will bubble vigorously.
- Return the mixture to heat and bring back to a boil. Boil 3 minutes, watching carefully. Sprinkle the surface with xanthan gum and whisk to combine.
- Whisk in the salt. Let the caramel cool until thickened but still pourable, about 1 hour
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350F and line a cookie sheet with parchment or a silicone baking mat. Spread the pecans out on the mat in a single later and bake 7 to 10 minutes, until toasted. Arrange the pecans in clusters of 3 or 4, making about 20 to 24 clusters.
- Drizzle a few teaspoons of caramel over each pecan cluster, making sure some caramel is touching each of the pecans. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer to set the caramel.
- In a small bowl set over a bowl of barely simmering water, combine the chocolate and the remaining tablespoon of butter. Stir until melted and smooth, then drizzle over the chilled clusters.
- Sprinkle with sea salt if desired, and let set.
Nutrition
Serving: 2turtles | Calories: 242kcal | Carbohydrates: 6.6g | Protein: 2.4g | Fat: 23.9g | Fiber: 3.6g
