Mardi Gras is nearly upon us, and what better way to celebrate than with festive, flavorful treats that are easy to make and oh-so-delicious? Look no further than these Easy Mardi Gras Pretzel Turtles!
These adorable little turtles are bursting with Mardi Gras colors and flavors, featuring a salty pretzel base, a gooey milk chocolate caramel center, and a crunchy pecan topping. Drizzled with melted candy melts in festive green, purple, and gold, they're not just a treat for your taste buds but a visual delight as well!
But the best part? These pretzel turtles are incredibly easy to make, even for novice bakers. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal baking time, you can whip up a batch in no time, perfect for party favors, classroom treats, or a fun after-school snack.
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Why You'll Want To Make Easy Mardi Gras Pretzel Turtles
- A Symphony of Flavors: Imagine the salty crunch of a pretzel meeting the gooey sweetness of milk chocolate caramel and the nutty satisfaction of a pecan. It's a flavor explosion that will have you reaching for turtle after turtle.
- A Feast for the Eyes: These turtles are not just delicious but also adorable! Drizzled with melted candy melts in Mardi Gras colors of green, purple, and gold, they're a treat for the eyes as well as the taste buds.
- Effortlessly Easy: Don't let the festive appearance fool you. These pretzel turtles are incredibly easy to make, even for novice bakers. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal baking time, you can whip up a batch in no time.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether you're hosting a Mardi Gras party, packing school lunches, or simply looking for a fun after-school snack, these turtles are the perfect solution. They're bite-sized and portable, making them ideal for any situation.
- A Touch of Tradition: Did you know that turtles symbolize good luck and prosperity in Mardi Gras traditions? So not only are you enjoying a delicious treat, but you're also welcoming good fortune into your life.
Ingredients - Here's What You'll Need
- Snyder's Snap Pretzels: These are the perfect base for these tasty morsels, because they're roughly the same size and shape as the Dove Milk Chocolate Caramels.
- Dove Milk Chocolate Caramels: Many pretzel turtle recipes call for Rolo candy, but I believe this is a mistake for many reasons. For starters, Dove Chocolate is a smoother and more creamy chocolate than Rolo candy, as well as having a thinner shell and a larger overall size.
- Toasted Pecan Halves: Toasting the pecans produces a deeper, nuttier flavor and enhances the crunch.
- Candy Melts: Green, purple, and gold - the colors of Mardi Gras give these their festive holiday flair.
Steps To Make Easy Mardi Gras Pretzel Turtles
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Place the pecan halves in a single layer on a quarter sheet pan. Then toast them in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside. Reduce the oven temperature to 300°F.
- Next, place the Snyder's Snap Pretzels on a parchment-lined quarter sheet pan in a single layer. Make sure the pretzels are touching. This is important for when you pipe the candy melts on top.
- Then, unwrap the Dove Milk Chocolate Caramels and place one on top of each pretzel. Place the pan in the 300°F oven for 5 minutes. You should keep an eye on the oven to make sure the chocolate does not melt too much.
- Remove the pan from the oven and immediately press one toasted pecan halve onto the top of the chocolate. You should press hard enough so that all three components stick together but not so hard that the caramel bursts out of the chocolate or the pretzel breaks.
- Next, place the candy melts in piping bags. Place the piping bags in a microwave-proof glass or container so they are standing upright. Melt the candy melts in the microwave for 30-second intervals at 50% power until the candy has melted. This should take about three minutes for each color. Make sure you squeeze the melts in the bag after each heating. This will help break them down because they will retain their shape even when melted, and you run the risk of over-melting, which will cause them to thicken. If they do thicken, you will be unable to pipe the melted candy melts.
If at any point while you're piping the candy melts they begin to get hard and you cannot pipe them anymore, simply place the bag back in the microwave and reheat for 30 seconds at 50% power.
- After the candy melts have melted, snip the tip off the green bag. Start in one corner of the pan and pipe in one continuous movement up the row vertically, in a straight line, until you reach the end of the row. Then, move down the next row vertically in the same movement. Continue this vertical movement up and down the rows until you reach the end, and every pretzel turtle has some green on it.
- Next, snip the tip off the purple bag. Starting in same row as the green, but at the other end of the row, pipe in one continuous horizontal movement, in a straight line, until you reach the end of the row. Then, move up to the next row and continue horizontally in the opposite direction as the previous row, all in a continuous unbroken movement. Continue this horizontal movement back and forth across the rows until you reach the end, and every pretzel turtle has some purple on it.
- Finally, snip the tip off the yellow bag and start in the same corner as you started the green. Pipe in one continuous movement diagonally, in a straight line, until you reach the end of the row. Then, move up to the next row and continue in a zig-zag movement across the pan, changing direction when you reach the end of each row. Continue until you have reached the end and every pretzel turtle has some yellow on it.
- To make a second pass with the green, start on the same row that you pipped the first pass of green, but at the opposite end. Pipe in one continuous movement up the row vertically, in a straight line, until you reach the end of the row. Then, move down the next row vertically in the same movement. Continue this vertical movement up and down the rows until you reach the end, and every pretzel turtle has some more green on it.
- To make a second pass with the purple, start in the same corner you piped the first pass with the green. Pipe in one continuous horizontal movement, in a straight line, until you reach the end of the row. Then, move up to the next row and continue horizontally in the opposite direction as the previous row, all in a continuous unbroken movement. Continue this horizontal movement back and forth across the rows until you reach the end, and every pretzel turtle has some more purple on it.
- To make the second pass with yellow, start in the same corner as you started the first pass of the yellow. Pipe in one continuous movement diagonally, in a straight line, until you reach the end of the row. Then, move up to the next row and continue in a zig-zag movement across the pan, changing direction when you reach the end of each row. Continue until you have reached the end and every pretzel turtle has some more yellow on it.
- Allow the candy melts to harden, then carefully break the pieces apart. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of pretzels should I use?
This recipe uses Snyder's Snap Pretzels because they are approximately the same shape and size as the Dove Milk Chocolate Caramels. However, you can also use mini salted twists.
What if I don't have candy melts?
You can use regular melting white chocolate with gel food coloring added.
Can I make these turtles ahead of time?
Yes, you can! Once they are assembled and cooled, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They might get a little soft, but they will still be delicious.
Do I need to toast the pecans?
Toasting the pecans adds a deeper flavor and a nice crunch, but it's not essential. If you're short on time or don't want to fuss, you can skip this step.
Recipe Tips And Tricks
- Piping the candy melts: If at any point while you're piping the candy melts they begin to get hard and you cannot pipe them anymore, simply place the bag back in the microwave and reheat for 30 seconds at 50% power.
- Use parchment paper: Line your baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
- Melt efficiently: Microwave your candy melts in 30-second intervals, squeezing the piping bag in between to avoid overheating and seizing.
- Prep your toppings: Have your pecans toasted and Dove Milk Chocolate Caramels unwrapped before assembling the turtles so you can work quickly.
- Press with care: Gently press the pecans into the slightly melted Dove Milk Chocolate Caramels, but don't apply too much pressure, or they might burst, and the pretzels might break.
- Chill for stability: Pop the pretzel turtles in the fridge for 20-30 minutes to further solidify the candy melts and chocolate.
So ditch the store-bought cookies and get ready to make your own Mardi Gras magic with these Easy Pretzel Turtles! They're the perfect way to celebrate the season with friends and family, and they're certain to be a hit with everyone who tries them.
Happy Mardi Gras! And may your turtles be as sweet and fun as the season itself!
Other Great Mardi Gras Treats
If you're looking for delicious Mardi Gras treats, try my Easy Mardi Gras Pretzel Bark as well as these favorites:
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Easy Mardi Gras Pretzel Turtles
Mardi Gras is nearly upon us, and what better way to celebrate than with these Easy Mardi Gras Pretzel Turtles!
Equipment
- 2 quarter sheet pans
- Parchment paper
- 3 piping bags
Ingredients
- 50 pecan halves
- 50 Snyder's Snap Pretzels
- 50 Dove Milk Chocolate Caramels
- 2 oz green candy melts
- 2 oz purple candy melts
- 2 oz yellow candy melts
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Place the pecan halves in a single layer on a quarter sheet pan, then toast them in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 300°F.
- Next, place the Snyder's Snap Pretzels in a single layer on a parchment-lined quarter sheet pan. Make sure the pretzels are touching. This is important for later on when you pipe the candy melts on top.
- Then, unwrap the Dove Milk Chocolate Caramels and place one on top of each pretzel.
- Place the pan in the 300°F oven for 5 minutes. You should keep an eye on the oven to make sure the chocolate does not melt too much.
- Remove the pan from the oven and immediately press one toasted pecan halve onto the top of the chocolate. You should press hard enough that all three components stick together but not so hard that the caramel bursts out of the chocolate or the pretzel breaks.
- Next, place the candy melts in piping bags. Place the piping bags in a microwave-proof glass or container so they are standing upright. Melt the candy melts in the microwave for 30-second intervals at 50% power until the candy has melted. This should take about three minutes for each color. Make sure you squeeze the melts in the bag after each heating. This will help break them down because they will retain their shape even when melted, and you run the risk of over-melting, which will cause them to thicken. If they do thicken, you will be unable to pipe the melted candy melts.
- After the candy melts have melted, snip the tip off the green bag. Start in one corner of the pan and pipe in one continuous movement up the row vertically, in a straight line, until you reach the end of the row. Then, move down the next row vertically in the same movement. Continue this vertical movement up and down the rows until you reach the end, and every pretzel turtle has some green on it.
- Next, snip the tip off the purple bag. Starting in same row as the green, but at the other end of the row, pipe in one continuous horizontal movement, in a straight line, until you reach the end of the row. Then, move up to the next row and continue horizontally in the opposite direction as the previous row, all in a continuous unbroken movement. Continue this horizontal movement back and forth across the rows until you reach the end, and every pretzel turtle has some purple on it.
- Finally, snip the tip off the yellow bag and start in the same corner as you started the green. Pipe in one continuous movement diagonally, in a straight line, until you reach the end of the row. Then, move up to the next row and continue in a zig-zag movement across the pan, changing direction when you reach the end of each row. Continue until you have reached the end and every pretzel turtle has some yellow on it.
- To make a second pass with the green, start on the same row that you pipped the first pass of green, but at the opposite end. Pipe in one continuous movement up the row vertically, in a straight line, until you reach the end of the row. Then, move down the next row vertically in the same movement. Continue this vertical movement up and down the rows until you reach the end, and every pretzel turtle has some more green on it.
- To make a second pass with the purple, start in the same corner you piped the first pass with the green. Pipe in one continuous horizontal movement, in a straight line, until you reach the end of the row. Then, move up to the next row and continue horizontally in the opposite direction as the previous row, all in a continuous unbroken movement. Continue this horizontal movement back and forth across the rows until you reach the end, and every pretzel turtle has some more purple on it.
- To make the second pass with yellow, start in the same corner as you started the first pass of the yellow. Pipe in one continuous movement diagonally, in a straight line, until you reach the end of the row. Then, move up to the next row and continue in a zig-zag movement across the pan, changing direction when you reach the end of each row. Continue until you have reached the end and every pretzel turtle has some more yellow on it.
- If at any point while you're piping the candy melts they begin to get hard and you cannot pipe them anymore, simply place the bag back in the microwave and reheat for 30 seconds at 50% power.
- Allow the chocolate to harden, then carefully break the pieces apart. Enjoy!
- Yield 50 pieces
Nutrition
Calories: 49kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 1gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 25mgPotassium: 19mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 8IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 0.1mg
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