A fan-favorite cookie featuring chocolate, pecans, and caramel, these Turtle Tassies are the perfect bite-size treat for your next holiday party or family gathering! If you don’t know what a “tassie” is, you’re not alone! Tassies are like a sugar cookie cup, made in mini muffin cups instead of baked on a cookie sheet, then topped or filled with a variety of delectable goodies. These Turtle Tassies are so easy to make and fun to eat!
This chocolate cookie recipe with caramel and pecans is Day 4 of our 12 Days of Cookies! Happy Baking!
Be sure to check out all of the other days for more amazing cookies!
Day 1 – Copycat Crumbl Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies
Day 2 – Linzer Cookies
Day 3 – Chocolate Dipped Orange Cookies
Day 4 – You’re on it!
Day 5 – Fruity Pebbles Cookies
Day 6 – Brownie Mix Cookies
Day 7 – Cornflake Wreaths
Day 8 – Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Day 9 – Pizzelles
Day 10 – Bourbon Toffee Cookies
Day 11 – Peppermint Gooey Bars
Day 12 – Chocolate Cherry Thumbprints
This chocolate cookie cup recipe has most definitely been a labor of love. I worked, reworked and worked this recipe for a total of 4 times before I felt I’d nailed it. It was arduous, but I really think you’ll love these once you make them.
The chocolate cookie, the dark chocolate bottom, chewy caramel and crunchy pecans make this recipe a keeper and one that will be enjoyed all year long.
Santa will LOVE them!
SAVE THIS TURTLE TASSIES RECIPE TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD!
Why are these treats called “Turtle” tassies?
Turtle candies originated in the early 1900s when someone noticed that the treat made from pecan halves coated in caramel and enveloped in chocolate looked just like a turtle shell! The name stuck, and now “turtle” has become synonymous with the flavors of pecan, turtle, and chocolate.
What do I need to make these turtle pecan tassies?
Gather the following ingredients before you begin baking:
- 1 cup butter, unsalted
- White sugar
- Light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Cocoa powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Dark chocolate chips
- 22 oz. unwrapped caramels
- 2/3 cup chopped pecans
- Heavy cream
How to make Turtle Tassie cookie cups
First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F., then prepare a mini muffin tin by spraying it lightly with cooking spray. Use a paper towel to spread the spray around the sides of each tin. Unwrap all the caramels and put them in a small bowl.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars for about three minutes until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and mix well. Then add the eggs, one at a time, incorporating fully after each one.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Add them to the creamed butter mixture in two batches until just combined. Be sure to scrape the sides and especially the bottom of the mixing bowl since some of the dry ingredients will settle there.
Use slightly less than 1 1/2 tablespoons cookie dough to shape dough into balls and place each one in the bottom of a mini muffin cup. Bake for 12-14 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, and using the end of a wooden spoon, gently press into the bottoms and sides of the cookie cups to flatten and create an opening, taking care not to make holes in the dough. The dough will be somewhat wet and underdone, but shouldn’t stick too much to the spoon handle. If it does, return to oven to bake for an additional minute or two before using the spoon again.
Return the muffin tin to the oven and bake a final round for an additional three to five minutes. Once out of the oven, but dough should look a tad moist, but not completely done. Use the spoon to create a deeper opening in each of the cups, if necessary without puncturing the bottoms.
While the cookies are in the oven, melt the caramels and heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently until the caramels are smooth and melted. Turn the heat down to low to keep the caramel dip warm.
Remove cookies from the oven and place 4 chocolate chips into each cup. Drizzle about two to three teaspoons of caramel on the top of each cup, then place ¼ teaspoon of chopped pecans on top. Allow cookies to completely cool in pan. Gently remove the sugar cookie cups from the pan, then place them on a wire rack to cool.
Recipe Notes:
- I found it is easiest to assemble the cookies right at the stove. This way the warm caramel stays soft near the heat and is easy to drop onto the cookies. You may also put the saucepan of caramel sauce into a medium skillet with about an inch of boiling water. This will help keep the caramel soft enough to work.
- I found it easiest to put the chocolate chips into each cookie first, put the caramel into half of the cups and then top those with the pecans. Then I finished the rest of the tray.
- Place the pecan pieces onto the caramel immediately; if you wait too long, the caramel will harden the pecans won’t stick.
Can I make Turtle Tassies ahead of time?
Turtle Tassies have a dough that freezes really well. You can make the dough ahead of time and freeze it for up to 3 months. Make sure to wrap the dough in multiple layers (parchment paper, aluminum foil, freezer bags, etc) or in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn and to keep it as fresh as possible.
How to store leftover cookies
These cookies are best stored at room temperature in an airtight container. You can enjoy them for up to 3-4 days.
You can also freeze the baked cookies for up to 3 months. Use plastic wrap and freezer bags or an airtight container to keep them as fresh as possible.
Our favorite Turtle Treats
If you love “turtle” desserts, you’ll love our Easy Turtle No-Bake Dream Bars. These delicious Rolo Pretzel Turtles are a popular candy during the holiday season. Or, try these fluffy Turtle Parfaits!
More Pecan Recipes
If you love pecans, try some of our favorite pecan recipes!
- Best-of-all Pecan Pie
- Chocolate Pecan Wafers
- Pecan Oatmeal White Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Pumpkin Spice Cranberry Pecan Pound Cake
Be sure to check out the rest of our delicious cookies in our 12 Days of Cookies Series!
Turtle Tassies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Filling
- 22 ounces caramels (2) 11 oz. packages, unwrapped
- 5 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- ⅔ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F, and prepare a mini muffin tin by spraying it with cooking spray. Use a paper towel to wipe the sides of the muffins cups. Unwrap all of the caramels and put them into a bowl.
- In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugars for 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and mix well.
- Add the eggs, one at a time incorporating fully after each one.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed butter in two batches until just combined.
- Using about 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough, roll into balls and place each into a mini muffin cup. Bake for 12-14 minutes. Remove pan from oven and using the rounded end of a wooden spoon, gently press into the bottoms and sides of the cookie cups to flatten and create an opening. Take care to not make holes in the dough. The dough will be slightly wet and may stick to the end of the spoon, but shouldn't be too underdone. If it is, return to oven for another minute or two.
- After putting holes in all of the cookie cups, return to oven and bake for an additional 2-5 minutes. Upon removal, the bottom of the cups should appear moist, but not completely dry.
Filling
- While cookies are in oven, melt the caramels and heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring very frequently until completely smooth and melted. Turn heat down to low.
- I found it easiest to assemble right at the oven, keeping the caramel warm on the stove. When cookies are finally removed from the oven, place 4 chocolate chips into each cup. Cover with about two – three teaspoons of caramel. I used a tablespoon, but only put about two teaspoons into each cup.
- Place ¼ teaspoon of chopped pecans on top. After the cookies have cooled, gently remove them from the pan and place on a wire cooling rack.
Comments & Reviews
How many does this recipe make?
Sally, next to the description in the recipe card, it says that you should have about 45 cookies when you’re finished.
How much heavy cream is used?
Theresa, the recipe says that 5 tablespoons of heavy cream are needed.
Easy to make although a few steps. Made a very impressive addition to my cookie boxes. The family loved the combination of chocolate, caramel and pecans. They gave them 5 stars!
Cheryl, that’s awesome to hear, thank you so much!
Yes, they are a little more involved, but definitely worth the effort in the end, I think.
Thanks so much for your review and comment. I appreciate it!
Absolutely delicious
It seems that salted pecans would be better to use than not salted to get the sweet-salty combination that the pretzel-rolo-pecan bites have. Or perhaps a pinch of salt could be added to the carmel mixture. Has anyone tried either? What do you think?
Carol, you could definitely use the salted pecans if you’d like. I just went for the raw pecans as a matter of personal preference.
Would a box brownie mix be enough brownie for this recipe?
Kristie, since I made the chocolate cookie cup from scratch for this recipe, I’m not sure if one box of brownie mix would result in the same amount of Tassies, but I think it would be close.
If you try it, I’d love for you to report back and let me know if other readers would like to do the same.
Thanks!
Such a great recipe and so worth the time. Just made 125 for my daughter’s wedding. I thinned out the caramel a bit more and drizzled and added a sprinkle of salt for an extra kick. So amazing!
Kolleen, you absolutely made my day, thank you for your kind words and review! I am so honored that these are to be part of your daughter’s wedding celebration. I wish her, her future husband and all of you the very best. May it be an incredible celebration. Hugs!! ❤️
And I LOVE the addition of the salt – GREAT idea!!
You say they can be left out for days. I was wondering, if you used a ganache instead of chocolate chips could you still leave it outat room temp ?
Pam, I read that you should be able to leave something made with ganache out at room temperature for 3-5 days, but I wouldn’t go any longer than that. Enjoy them!