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Homemade Turtle Candy

Homemade Turtles

Author: Stephanie Kay

You can really make this healthy homemade turtles recipe from any type of dates you like, but it works best with Medjool dates for a soft and gooey texture.
  • Author: Stephanie Kay
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 12 turtles 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: By Hand
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Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Using your fingers, or a knife if needed, peel open the dates and remove the pits.
  2. Once the pit has been removed, using your hands press the pitted date into a flat, round shape. The fresher the dates the easier this will be. You want to ‘smush’ them together to create a bit of a ball, the more you ‘smush’ them, the more they will provide a chewy texture to the turtles. (Optional: You can also add the dates to a food processor to create a date paste and then shape the paste into 12 disc-shaped pieces.)
  3. Once each date has been formed into a circle, press 4 pecan halves into the base of each date. The pecans should emulate the feet of the turtles. Once complete, place them feet-side up on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  4. Using a double boiler (or microwave if needed) gently melt the chocolate. You want to do this at a low heat to ensure the chocolate remains velvety smooth, and ensure that you are stirring the chocolate periodically.
  5. Once the chocolate is melted, add roughly 1 teaspoon to the bottom of the turtle to help adhere the pecans to the date. Once complete, transfer the baking sheet to the freezer for a few minutes until the chocolate has solidified.
  6. Once the chocolate has solidified, remove the baking sheet from the fridge or freezer. Working one at a time, place each date into the melted chocolate, feet-side up, until the entire date is covered in chocolate. You can use a spoon to move it around and remove it from the chocolate.
  7. Once complete, return each turtle to the baking sheet, feet-side down, and sprinkle the top with a small pinch of sea salt. (The sea salt is optional but it helps to bring out the flavor of the chocolate.)
  8. Once all turtles are complete, transfer the baking sheet to the fridge for 20-30 minutes until the chocolate has completely solidified.
  9. Once solidified, the turtles can be eaten immediately, or stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition