Decadent Sweet Chewy Turtle Bars (Print)

Experience delightful sweet chewy turtle bars. Layers of rich caramel, toasted pecans, melted chocolate, and a golden buttery crumb.

# Components:

→ Crust & Topping

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup rolled oats
03 - 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
04 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

→ Filling

08 - 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
09 - 1 cup chopped pecans

→ Caramel Layer

10 - 1 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
11 - 1/4 cup heavy cream

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x9-inch baking pan with butter or line it with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, melted butter, salt, and baking soda. Mix until crumbly.
03 - Reserve 1 cup of this crumb mixture for the topping. Press the remaining mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust.
04 - Bake the crust for 10 minutes, until slightly golden.
05 - In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the caramel sauce and heavy cream. Stir constantly until smooth and well combined. Remove from heat.
06 - Remove the crust from the oven. Evenly sprinkle chocolate chips over the warm crust, then sprinkle chopped pecans on top.
07 - Pour the warm caramel sauce evenly over the chocolate and pecans.
08 - Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture evenly over the caramel layer.
09 - Return the pan to the oven and bake for 15–20 minutes, until the topping is golden brown.
10 - Remove from the oven and cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, cut into squares.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of chewy oats and crunchy pecans creates texture that keeps every bite interesting
  • Store bought caramel shortcuts make these taste entirely homemade without the fuss
  • They actually improve after a day, making them perfect for make ahead dessert planning
02 -
  • Let these cool completely before attempting to cut or the caramel will ooze everywhere and make a mess
  • Room temperature caramel will not pour evenly so warm it gently but do not let it get too hot or it separates
  • A hot knife dipped in water between cuts gives you the cleanest squares
03 -
  • Measure your melted butter while it is hot so it mixes easily into the dry ingredients
  • If your caramel is too thick to pour add another teaspoon of cream until it reaches the right consistency
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