Tis the season for goodies and it seems like people are always looking for quick and easy ones. It recently came to my attention that not everyone in the world has been introduced to the pretzel turtle and that’s just a cryin’ shame! This is possibly the easiest little goodie you’ll come across. They can be made in about 10 minutes and with only 3 ingredients. However here I’ll show you my little twists to take them a notch up and make them cooler than everyone else’s pretzel turtles. Because at Christmas time it’s all about one-upping everyone else, right?? Kidding people, kidding. Really though, these are great for satisfying your own sweet tooth or for making to give away. Either way they’ll be gone in a flash!
Easy Pretzel Turtles
small pretzels
Rolo candies – one bag has about 55 candies
Pecan halves – or optionally peanuts, cashews, and m&m’s
Optional: almond bark or white chocolate for drizzling
This is easy as can be! Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place pretzels on a parchment lined baking sheet. I like to use parchment paper for easy handling, but you can also put them on foil, a silpat, or directly onto the cookie sheet.
Unwrap your Rolo candies and place one on top of each pretzel like a cute little hat.
Don’t they look like they’re just standing there waiting for an order? At least someone in my house stands at attention because heaven knows my children don’t!
Place pan in the oven for 3-4 minutes. Any longer is probably too long. You just want the chocolate on the outside to look glossy and melty, but they should still hold their shape.
Remove pan from oven and take a pecan and gently press it right into the center of the chocolate candy.
Keep going and be filled with joy each time you feel that gooey caramel squish out underneath your fingers. It’s one of life’s little pleasures.
Here’s where you can be creative. You don’t need to stick to pecan halves. I also love cashews and peanuts (I used honey roasted peanuts here). And for kiddos and those who can’t eat nuts or don’t like them, M&M’s make a great little topper, or those mini Hershey’s kissables are cute too. I always throw a few of those in for color and because the kids like them. And if it’s not Christmas time, use the colorful ones- they’re adorable!
If you want to get fancy you can give them a little drizzle of almond bark or white chocolate. Just melt some in a plastic baggie and nip the corner off to drizzle. A little goes a long way; I used a half a square of almond bark for half a batch and had plenty left over.
Now definitely do yourself a favor and eat a few of these babies warm off the pan. Mmmm… Wait for the rest to cool and harden before you pack or plate them up. I pop them in the fridge because I stink at the whole patience thing.
Also fun for parties to do them with all M&M’s on top. Kids love how colorful and fun these are:
These are so cute that I love to package them in little peep-window boxes. You can grab some off of Amazon, or craft stores like Michaels.
Or just pop them in a bowl or on a plate for a party. Either way they’ll be gone fast! And just look how fancy-schmancy they look. No one has to know you whipped them up so fast 🙂
Easy Pretzel Turtles
Description
These pretzel turtles are deliciously easy. Actually, more like dangerously easy…
Ingredients
- Small pretzels
- Rolo candies – one bag has about 55 candies
- Pecan halves – or optionally peanuts, cashews, Hershey’s kisses, M&Ms, or Reese’s Pieces
- Optional: almond bark or white chocolate for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place pretzels on lined baking sheet. (Works well with a silpat, tin foil, or parchment paper).
- Unwrap your Rolo candies and place one on top of each pretzel.
- Place pan in the oven for 3-4 minutes; until chocolate on the outside to looks glossy and melty.
- Remove pan from oven and take a pecan, peanut, chocolate candy, Hershey’s kiss, or whatever else you desire, and gently press it right into the center of the chocolate candy.
- Enjoy a few warm, then wait to cool and harden before you pack or plate them up.
Notes
- Great tip: To drizzle, just melt some almond bark in a plastic baggie and nip the corner off for a homemade piping bag. A little goes a long way; I used a half a square of almond bark for half a batch and had plenty left over.
Click Here to see our top 20 favorites all in one place!
Questions & Reviews
These are definitely on my to do list. Thanks!
Like very good thanks for sharing
I’m soooo gonna make these…we’re in the middle of a move (yeah, whose bright idea was it to remodel a house to move into it right at Christmas?) so I may have to forego sleep in order to make them happen, but I will, and I must! 😉
I make these all the time with m&m’s and never thought to make “turtles” which are my absolute favorite candy of all time! Thank you!
These are adorable. The only problem is that we love rolos so much then all get munched before they get turtled!!!
If you buy the Rolos in the roll in the checkout lane I believe they are not individually wrapped so it makes things go a little quicker and you don’t have to unwrap each candy!
I just whipped up a batch and they’re so easy to make!! I added almonds, cashews or peanuts on mine and they taste soo good… Thanks!
I made these last night and brought them in to work today. Big Hit! So super easy – the hardest part was unwrapping all those Rolos.
I have to say I tried this recipe tonight to the tune of three bags of rolos! They are fantastic! So much faster than traditional turtles! I did half red & green m&m’s and half pecans and they taste terrific! Love your blog!
I just made these … They aren’t even cooled yet, but I am really wondering if any are going to make it to our neighbors! 😉 Thanks! They’re delicious and super simple!
Thanks for sharing everybody loves turtles. My son also want me to put reeses cups on them says they are great..
I just whipped these up to add to our teacher gifts and oh my…..they’re SO good! Thank you so much for such an easy and scrumptious recipe!!! Now I just hope that I’ll have some left over for their gift boxes! 😉
For the pecans, do you use roasted/salted or what? Just wondering!
All of the above! They all work. I personally love a toasted pecan, but I’ve used all sorts and never had one I didn’t like 😉
that's what I wasn't sure of… whether or not the caramel in the kisses would hold up…. phooey!
I scouted another store today and… NO ROLOS!
Everyone in my area must have found your blog and been buying them up for these treats! lol
Will try again this week – good thing with these is they are SO easy and quick to make that it's no big deal to make them last minute.
btw – I found red/white/green candy corn 😉 Gonna use those on top!
Jenn–Oh, holy night, I'd die if I couldn't find Rolos. 🙂 Honestly, I'd keep looking if you can–the caramel in the caramel kisses is pretty runny (like if you break the kiss, it will all come out, but if you cut a Rolo, it'll stay solid). My worry is that it won't be able to hold up and it will make a huge mess.
Good luck! 🙂
Ok, I've made these twice now (thank you!) and I wanted to make them for Christmas goodies.
But – I couldn't find any ROLOS!! 🙁
I did buy caramel filled kisses…. would these work? Or should I scout another store for the rolos?
thanks ladies 🙂
I have ZERO time to make treats this year, but this is perfect. Thank you and Merry Christmas from a busy Mom.
they do last quite a while, but if you can help it I probably wouldn't make them a whole week ahead of time. A few days ahead would be better 🙂
I LOVE these! I made some the other day, and they were all gone within 2 days! I was wanting to make some for a couple friends/co-workers, and I'm wondering how long they last for? If i make them tonight, will they still be good next wednesday? Thanks!
I just want to say that part of me hates you. I made 80 of these in, like, 10 minutes. And they were gone nearly as quickly. And now I need to keep a bag of rolos in my pantry for occasions when I want salty chocolate snacks. *sigh*
I know this is an old post but I wanted to say these are so yummy and easy (and yes, totally addicting!):) My son and I made some of these and put Peanut Butter M&Ms on them. Yum!! I love peanut butter/caramel/chocolate together.
I LOVE pretzels+chocolate+caramel! It's the perfect combination, but I hate to dip pretzels and homemade caramel takes FOREVER! These little things are perfect, thanks for posting them!!
I made them today using lightly salted peanuts and drizzled them with white almond bark and boy oh boy are they yummy! (and look fancy too!)
I placed them right non the pan since I didn't have any parchment, when they cooled they were sticking SOOOOO bad. I was beginning to worry I had ruined 3 pans worth of treats. BUT I turned on our gas stove and quickly ran the bottom of the pan over the flame, honestly maybe 3 seconds worth of time, and wallah!! They melted just enough to loosen from the pan. What a relief. I didn't want to make more nor did I want to end up with 3 pans of broken treats that my waist line doesn't need 🙂
Love these, love your blog. Thanks!
As a follow-up…
I ended up making these for my son's class and instead of nuts or M&Ms, I used a candy corn on top! SOOO cute!!! (wish I had thought to use pumpkins, but alls well that ends well).
very cute 🙂 Will post a pic or two on Facebook
ohh, meant to mention – also got some cute halloween cupcake liners and will put a treat or two in each! how cute, huh?
will have to post pics when I do them!
I'm going to make these as the not-so-healthy snack for my 3rd grade son's class for their fall treat day.
I think I'm going to use candy corn on top though; to make it look more festive!! 🙂
I have made these before using hershey kisses and M&M's, but seems that once they leave the frige the chocolate melts – do the rolos work better? I want to give them away as gifts, but don't want a melty mess.
These are great! I brought them to my bowling team and everyone loved them!
Btw, I love all your recipes!
I just made these today as a thank you gift. I now think I will be doing them for my wedding favors! They were so very easy that even the fiance could help without messing them up to badly 🙂
Easy, addicting and impressive. Thanks a bunch!