Indulge in the irresistible decadence of Ooey Gooey Turtle Bars—a blissful combination of buttery shortbread crust, creamy homemade caramel, crunchy chopped pecans, and melty semi-sweet chocolate chips. These layered dessert bars are baked to perfection and finished with an optional drizzle of dark chocolate for a sophisticated touch. Perfect for holidays, parties, or anytime you’re craving a sweet treat, these bars strike the perfect balance of rich, nutty, and chocolatey flavors. With just 20 minutes of prep time and easy-to-follow steps, this recipe is ideal for both novice and experienced bakers. Let these irresistible turtle bars elevate your dessert game!
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Press the crust mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes until lightly golden, then remove from the oven and set aside.
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and ½ cup of butter. Stir constantly until the mixture begins to boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes while stirring. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
Pour the caramel mixture evenly over the baked crust. Sprinkle the chopped pecans over the caramel layer, gently pressing them down to adhere.
Sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly over the top of the pecans.
Bake again for 15 minutes until the caramel is bubbly and the chocolate chips have started to melt. Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack.
Once cooled, drizzle melted dark chocolate over the bars for an extra decadent finish if desired.
Chill the pan in the refrigerator for 2 hours to set before slicing into 16 bars.
Serve and enjoy your Ooey Gooey Turtle Bars!
Calories |
5593 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 225.4 g | 289% | |
| Saturated Fat | 73.8 g | 369% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.3 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 135 mg | 45% | |
| Sodium | 1162 mg | 51% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 864.9 g | 315% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 38.6 g | 138% | |
| Total Sugars | 633.8 g | ||
| Protein | 87.9 g | 176% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.8 mcg | 4% | |
| Calcium | 1492 mg | 115% | |
| Iron | 24.2 mg | 134% | |
| Potassium | 3008 mg | 64% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.