PRETZEL TURTLES

PRETZEL TURTLES
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2013/12/pretzel-turtles/

Scott saw this recipe on facebook I think and wanted to try them.  I will try anything from The Pioneer Woman :-)  They are easy to make and so tasty.  The kids enjoyed helping me make them.  We made them for Santa 2013 (in addition to the cinnamon rolls Jackson wanted to make).  Would be a fun thing to take to friends/family/neighbors at Christmas time.  Forgot to toast the pecans first.  I did some with milk and some with semi-sweet/dark mixed.  I liked the milk chocolate better which surprised me.  The semi-sweet/dark mix was too rich.  I did some on a cookie sheet with my mat and some on parchment paper.  I liked the parchment paper better because the other ones had the pattern of the mat and turned white on the bottom.  I have heard that if you add some shortening or parafain (sp) wax the chocolate will keep that smooth look. 

UPDATE: These are addicting!!!

Pretzel Turtles

Prep Time:

 5 Minutes

 

Cook Time:

 10 Minutes

 

Difficulty:

 Easy

 

Servings:

 24

Print Recipe

Ingredients

• 24 whole Mini-pretzel Twists
• 24 whole Individually Wrapped Caramel Squares, Unwrapped
• 8 ounces, weight Good Quality Milk Chocolate, Melted
• 24 whole Pecan Halves

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Place the pecan halves in a single layer on a baking sheet and put in the oven for 5 to 6 minutes, shaking the pan once halfway through, until they're lightly toasted. Remove them after they're toasted and put them on a plate to cool.

Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Arrange the pretzels neatly on the pan, then top each pretzel with an unwrapped caramel. Place the pan into the oven for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the caramels are softened (but definitely not melting.) Remove the pan from the oven.

Gently press a pecan half onto each caramel, just enough for the caramel to fill the pretzel. Set them aside to cool completely.

Meanwhile, melt the chocolate. When the pretzel/caramels are cooled, remove them from the baking sheet. Spoon small dollops (1 1/2 teaspoon helpings) of chocolate all over the baking mat, then lightly drop each pretzel onto the middle of each dollop, making sure they're centered.

Allow them to cool completely before serving (you can hasten this along in the fridge.)

Variation: Spoon a little melted chocolate all over the tops of the turtles to cover the whole thing in chocolate.