Vegan Freezer Pecan Turtles with Date Caramel

These vegan freezer pecan turtles are the most addicting healthy treat! They are easy to make and everyone will love them.

Dark chocolate pecan turtles are my new obsession. Chocolate + caramel + nuts = heaven in a few sweet bites. We had some of the best turtles ever from a candy shop here on Cape Cod recently, and they’ve been on my mind ever since.

These freezer turtles are a healthier version that you need to make ASAP if you love them as much as I do. They are free of refined sugar, as they are sweetened naturally with homemade date caramel. In addition, these treats are vegan and gluten free!

What’s in vegan freezer pecan turtles?

You need just 7 whole food, simple ingredients to make these delicious turtles.

• Dark chocolate: We melt the dark chocolate to coat the turtles in chocolatey goodness.
• Toasted pecans: Traditional turtle recipes call for pecans, and I love them. If you prefer other nuts, you can try something else like almonds, walnuts, or peanuts. I used salted toasted pecans in this recipe.
• Medjool dates: Fresh and soft medjool dates work best in this recipe, as you’ll blend them up into a smooth paste.
• Non-dairy milk: We add this to the date caramel to make it super creamy and spreadable.
• Maple syrup: A touch of maple syrup adds a little more sweetness and enhances the caramel-y flavor of the dates.
• Maldon sea salt: Consider this flaky sea salt the icing on the cake in this recipe! It really brings the flavors to the next level.
• Vanilla extract

How to make vegan freezer pecan turtles

• Prepare the date caramel in a blender or food processor.
• Form small pecan clusters on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
• Top each pecan cluster with a spoonful of date caramel.
• Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes to set.
• Melt dark chocolate in the microwave or using a double boiler.
• Place pecan clusters on a fork one at a time, and dip them into the melted chocolate.
• Use a spoon to drizzle melted chocolate over the turtles.
• Place the turtles back on the same baking sheet and sprinkle with Maldon sea salt before the chocolate hardens.
• Place the turtles back in the freezer for 15 minutes to harden.

Tips for making this recipe perfectly

• Use the freshest Medjool dates you can find. The softer, the better! Since you’ll blend up the dates to make date caramel sauce, you want to ensure there are no chunks.
• Toast the pecans if you have raw ones. Toasting really brings out the nutty and sweet flavor of the pecans, so I highly recommend it if you are using raw nuts. You can toast them on the stovetop in about 5-10 minutes. Add them to a skillet over medium heat, tossing frequently, until crunchy, browned, and fragrant.
• Use a fork to dip the turtles into the melted chocolate. Place each turtle on a fork individually, then lower it into the melted chocolate. Use a spoon to drizzle the top with chocolate. Gently scrape the bottom of the fork against the bowl to get rid of any excess chocolate on the bottom of the turtle.

If you love this recipe, you may also like

• No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
• No Bake Peanut Butter Trail Mix Bars
• Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Coconut Bars

Let me know if you love this recipe by leaving a comment or rating below, and check out Instagram and Pinterest for more healthy lifestyle inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!

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