Turtle Cookie Bars

I found this recipe for turtle cookie bars on tastykichen.com and thought I'd make it this week since I have an abundance of pecans. It's a cookie bar (obviously) that starts with a shortbread cookie layer, then pecans and homemade caramel, then a layer of milk chocolate and more pecans. It was quick and easy and surpassed my expectations.

First I mixed butter, flour and sugar (I wasn't paying attention and used regular white granulated sugar but should have used brown sugar!)

Then pressed it into a 13x9 inch baking pan

Then I spread a cup of chopped pecans over the dough and sprinkled that with salt. The recipe called for salted pecan halves, but I worked with what I had

Next I started making my caramel. If you've never made caramel at home, you should! It's just butter and sugar!

Just boiled it for three minutes...

Then poured it over the pecans in the pan

Now time to go into the oven

Bake at 350F for 15 minutes until golllllden bubbly!

Right when it comes out of the oven dump your chocolate chips all over

It will be melted in a few mintues, then spread out the chocolate in an even layer then sprinkle on some more chopped pecans

Cut into bars after they cool for a couple of hours

Don't they look yummy?!

Here's the recipe! 



Turtle Cookie Bars

Prep Time 20 Minutes


Cook Time 15 Minutes Servings 16 Difficulty Easy


Ingredients


FOR THE SHORTBREAD LAYER:2 cups All-purpose Flour1 cup Brown Sugar, Firmly Packed½ cups Unsalted Butter, Room Temperature
FOR THE PECAN LAYER:1 cup Pecan Halves2 teaspoons Salt⅔ cups Unsalted Butter, Cut Into Pieces½ cups Brown Sugar, Firmly Packed
FOR THE CHOCOLATE LAYER:1-½ cup Milk Chocolate Chips¼ cups Pecans, Finely ChoppedPreparation

Instructions


In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the flour, brown sugar, and butter. Mix on medium speed until well combined. Firmly press the mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9 x 13 pan.
For the pecan layer, in a small bowl, mix the pecan halves and salt together. Layer the pecan halves over the crust. In a medium pan, cook the butter and brown sugar over medium high heat, until boiling. Cook for 3 minutes, then remove from heat. Pour the mixture evenly over the pecan halves.


Place the pan in a 350F oven, and cook for 15 minutes, or until golden and bubbly. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the pecans. Allow the chips to soften for a few minutes, then gently swirl the chocolate over the pecans. Sprinkle with finely chopped pecans, and let cool for two hours. Cut into bars, serve, and enjoy!