Turtle Thumbprint Cookies
Turtle thumbprint cookies have the best blend textures. Each chewy chocolate cookie is rolled in chopped pecans and filled with caramel!
Cookie season (aka the holiday season) will be here before you know it! I’m getting a jumpstart on my baking and made thumbprint turtle cookies. Have you ever had the turtle candies? They’re basically caramel, chocolate and pecans arranged to look like little turtles—super cute and really yummy.
So imagine those candies in cookie form. Delicious, right? Chewy chocolate thumbprint cookies rolled in crushed pecans and filled with gooey caramel. This turtle pie has the same flavor combo!
Why this recipe works: The ratio of texture is perfect. The chocolate cookies are chewy and hold their thumbprint shape. The chopped pecans stay stuck on the cookies thanks to egg whites. The caramel filling is easy to make simply by melting soft caramel candies.
Overview: How to make turtle thumbprint cookies
- Make the cookie dough: Whisk dry ingredients in one bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, beat wet ingredients until well combined. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix just until combined.
- Chill the dough for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Shape cookies: Roll cookie dough into balls, dip in egg whites and immediately roll in chopped pecans. Use 1/2 teaspoon to create indentation in the center of each cookie.
- Bake cookies for 12 minutes. Cool completely.
- Make caramel filling: Melt caramel with heavy cream in the microwave until smooth. Add 1/2 teaspoon of melted caramel to the center of each cookie.
- Add chocolate drizzle: Melt chocolate in microwave on 50% power level. Use a spoon to drizzle melted chocolate over cookies.
Helpful tips
This recipe requires a few steps so my first tip is to read the entire recipe before getting started. That way you know what steps are required and you’re prepared! For accurate measuring, use a kitchen scale to weigh ingredients (it’s more accurate that measuring).
Have assembly set-up before removing dough from the refrigerator. The dough should be chilled so the cookies maintain their shape while baking. If the dough sits on the counter too long it will warm up. The dough will also warm up if you roll it between your hands too much.
Melt the caramel and chocolate on 50% power level in the microwave. Stop to stir frequently. this will ensure smooth caramel and chocolate that melts evenly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Turtle cookies are inspired by turtle candies. Turtle candies look like turtles. They have chocolate for the body, caramel for the shell and pecans for the feet.
Yes. You can freeze the cookie dough for up to 3 months or you can freeze the baked and assembled cookies for up to 1 month in an airtight container. Defrost at room temperature before serving.
The dough is likely too warm. Make sure the dough is chilled for a full hour. Before removing dough from the fridge, preheat your oven and set up egg whites and pecans. Avoid rolling the dough too much in your hands since your body heat will warm up the dough.
Make sure the pecans are finely chopped. If the pieces are too big, they will fall off the cookies. Also, be sure the egg whites are lightly beaten before dipping the cookie dough balls in.
While these cookies may require a few extra steps than the typical holiday cookies, they are totally worth it. Seriously though, there’s not a doubt in my mind that these cookies will be a crowd pleaser at your Christmas parties. They have all the textures and flavors of a good cookie. Chewy chocolate, gooey caramel and crunchy pecans—what more could you want in a cookie?!
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Get the Recipe: Thumbprint Turtle Cookies
Ingredients
Turtle Cookies:
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup (40 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (113 g or 1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- ⅔ cup (133 g) granulated sugar
- 1 egg yolk, room temperature
- 2 lightly beaten egg whites, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons milk, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cup (150 g) pecans, finely chopped*
Caramel Filling:
- 14 soft caramel candies, I used Kraft caramels
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream, room temperature
Chocolate Drizzle (optional):
- ¼ cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon shortening
Instructions
Chocolate Turtle Cookies
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, and salt. Set aside.
- With a stand mixer (or hand mixer), beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg yolk, milk, and vanilla and mix until combined, one more minute. Scrape down sides of the bowl if necessary. Reduce speed to low and slowly add flour mixture until just combined.
- Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, 1 hour.
- Once dough is chilled, preheat oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Place egg whites in one small bowl and chopped pecans in a separate small bowl. Roll chilled dough into 1-inch balls, dip in egg whites, and then roll in pecans. Place balls about 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet. Using a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon, make an indentation in the center of each dough ball.
- Bake until set, about 12 minutes. Once cookies are removed from the oven, gently re-press the indentations. Prepare caramel filling immediately.
Caramel Filling
- Place unwrapped caramels and cream in a bowl. Microwave together on 50% power level for 1 to 2 minutes, stopping to stir every 20 seconds until smooth.
- Transfer cookies to a wire rack and fill each cookie indentation with about 1/2 teaspoon of the caramel mixture (it’s okay if the cookies are still warm).
Chocolate Drizzle (optional)
- Place chocolate and shortening in a small bowl. Microwave together on 50% power level for 1 to 2 minutes, stopping to stir every 20 seconds until smooth.
- Transfer melted chocolate to a ziplock bag. Snip a very small hole in the corner of the plastic bag. Drizzle chocolate over the cooled turtle cookies.
Notes
Adapted from America’s Test Kitchen.
22 Comments on “Turtle Thumbprint Cookies”
Oh my word, these look divine!!! Love your photos too, I could almost just reach through the screen and grab a cookie or two now!!
You’re so sweet! Thank you, Annie 🙂
I made a double batch of this dough last night for my cookie exchange at work. I does not look like it will make 60 cookies. Is that an accurate count? Thank you for this recipe by the way!
Hi Becca – Yes, this is an accurate count. The cookies are not very large so you should have plenty to share at your cookie exchange!
My husband is a “turtle” freak — loves, loves, loves. He deserves a treat this weekend! Thanks for the inspiration.
He will adore these cookies, Lisa!
These are absolutely dangerous, aren’t they???? I doubt anyone can stop eating with one or even two! I think I’ll go through an entire batch myself in a day or two!
These cookies have that effect, Tina 😉
These look like something you’d find in a luxury biscuit selection, the super special kind you give as special gifts. I love the decoration and flavours, I need to bookmark these to try at home.
Thank you, Kavey. That means so much! These cookies are special 🙂
OH my, my grandmother would have ADORED these cookies. And they look so easy! These might have to make a holiday appearance in our house 🙂
Definitely save the recipe for the holidays – they will be a hit!
These look delicious. I will have a hard time keeping my husbands hands off when I use these in my Christmas gift cookies!! Thank you. I was looking for a new recipe.
These look delicious! Do u think I can make the dough the night before? If so would I let it get to room temperature before I roll and bake them or do I just roll and bake accordingly?
Hi Paul! Yes, you can make the dough the night before and refrigerate it until you are ready to bake the cookies. You may need to let the dough sit for 5 to 10 minutes at room temperature if the dough is too cold to scoop. It depends on how chilly you keep your fridge!
Can I use caramel topping instead of the caramels
Hi Janet – I used caramel candies because they will harden a bit making the cookie easier to consume. You are welcome to use caramel topping, but it will be a little messier to eat!
These cookies won the cookie category at the Richmond Pecan Festival 2018 Bake-off here in Richmond, Texas! My daughter entered them! Shes a great cook and also blonde! 🙂 Great recipe! It’s a keeper! Thank You!
OMG That is amazing! Congratulations! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I want to bake these tomorrow do u use unsweeeted baking cocoa or regular cocoa. The cocoa we mix with milk. Thankyou
Hi Karen – I use unsweetened cocoa powder.
I had to get different Caramel candies. Once yours are melted, how much of a cup was it?