These Vegan Keto Turtles, or Keto Caramel Pecan Clusters as some people call them, are the perfect Keto Candy! They feature nuts coated in an easy and creamy Paleo or Keto caramel sauce and covered in chocolate - I think I'm in love!
Turtles are one of my favorite candies so I'm sooooo excited to finally have a Keto version to share with you now that I perfected my Keto Caramel Sauce!
These keto turtles feature nuts coated in an easy and creamy caramel sauce and covered in chocolate - what's not to love!?!
Speaking of chocolate, I have 2 chocolate options for you to choose from depending on how sweet you prefer them to be and your preferred ingredients.
The first chocolate version consists of melting low-carb, allergy-friendly chocolate chips with some coconut oil. This is the version my kids prefer because they're a bit sweeter and tastes like the original candy we all know and love!
The second chocolate version is a mixture of cocoa powder and coconut oil that is sweetened with a low-carb sweetener.
This version isn’t quite as sweet, but they still have that classic turtle taste that will satisfy the fiercest of cravings!
The butter
For the butter, I prefer to use grass-fed butter because it tastes so much better than regular butter. It’s also way healthier! It has vitamin K-2 (which is good for your arteries!), good fats, and anti-inflammatory properties.
If you are dairy-free, you can use non-dairy butter or non-hydrogenated shortening.
The sweetener
To add a nice caramel flavor I found that you can add 1-2 teaspoon of molasses and use the Swerve or Lakanto brown varieties. Along with browning the butter, this makes the caramel portion of the turtles have a deep, rich flavor.
While the molasses is optional, I really prefer them with the molasses. ESPECIALLY if you use don't use a brown sweetener. The molasses gives it a deep caramel taste that is otherwise missing. It also covers up any "sugar-free" aftertaste.
If you're worried about adding molasses, keep in mind that molasses is considered a low glycemic sugar.
One teaspoon only adds 5 carbs to the entire batch! It's also rich in vitamins and minerals such as iron, chromium, magnesium, calcium, vitamin b6, and more!
The filling
Start by adding ¼ cup of butter to a saucepan and heat over medium heat. Once melted, turn down to a low simmer and simmer for 5 minutes, or until nicely golden.
Add maple-flavored syrup, brown sweetener, and molasses. Bring back to a low simmer.
Lightly simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then, sprinkle in the xanthan gum and heavy cream or coconut cream for dairy-free.
Stir until everything is melted and dissolved. And be sure to sprinkle in the xanthan gum and not dump it in, otherwise, it will clump.
Whatever you do, don’t leave out the sugar-free maple syrup or the xanthan gum! These 2 ingredients are required when using an erythritol-based sweetener. Otherwise, the caramel will turn out grainy.
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, water, sea salt, and pecans.
If using chocolate version #1, scoop out the caramel/pecan mixture into Tablespoon-sized amounts onto a lined baking sheet.
If using chocolate version #2, scoop the mixture into a lined mini muffin tin.
🍫 The chocolate coating
For chocolate version #1, melt some low-carb chocolate chips with coconut oil.
For version #2, mix together cocoa powder, coconut oil, pure vanilla, and powdered keto sweetener.
I recommend xylitol, monk fruit/allulose blend, or allulose. Erythritol-based sweeteners can be grainy and leave an aftertaste.
You can use the powdered or granulated variety. For granulated, simply add all the ingredients to a saucepan and heat over medium heat until the sweetener dissolves.
Drizzle the chocolate over the pecan/caramel mixture.
Place the keto turtles, uncovered, in the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour, or until chocolate and caramel are set.
Store, tightly covered, in the fridge for up to 1 month or in the freezer up to 3 months.
💭 Top tips
- To make these keto turtles Paleo, simply use Paleo Caramel Sauce instead of the Keto Caramel in the recipe card.
- Chocolate coating #1 uses melted chocolate chips of your choice with a little oil. This version is similar to the caramel pecan clusters we all know and love!
- Chocolate coating #2 uses a mixture of cocoa powder, coconut oil, vanilla, and low-carb sweetener. While very good, this version isn’t nearly as sweet, but they’re super low in carbs and are the perfect turtle fat bomb recipe that will satisfy the fiercest of cravings!
- If using coconut cream, place full-fat canned coconut milk in the fridge for 24 hours and scoop out the coagulated cream. I only recommend the Thai Kitchen, Native Forest, or Sprouts brand. Other brands may not separate as well or leave a funny aftertaste.
- I highly recommend using butter, ghee, or non-dairy butter for best taste. If the butter isn’t an option though, you can use non-hydrogenated shortening as a substitute
- Whatever you do, don’t leave out the sugar-free maple syrup or the xanthan gum! These 2 ingredients are required when using an erythritol-based sweetener. Otherwise, the caramel will turn out grainy.
- While the molasses is optional, I recommend adding the molasses. ESPECIALLY if you don’t use a brown sweetener. The molasses gives it a deep caramel taste that is otherwise missing. It also covers up any “sugar-free” aftertaste.
- If you’re worried about adding molasses to a low-carb recipe, keep in mind that molasses is considered a low glycemic sugar. One teaspoon only adds 5 net carbs to the entire batch! It’s also rich in vitamins and minerals such as iron, chromium, magnesium, calcium, vitamin b6, and more!
Looking for more Keto Desserts?
If you’ve tried these Keto Turtles please let me know in the comments below!
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📖 Recipe
Keto Turtles Or Caramel Pecan Clusters
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Pecans or nuts of choice - roughly chopped or halved
For The Caramel:
- ¼ Cup Butter - can use non-dairy
- 3 tablespoon Brown Swerve or Brown Lakanto Sweetener - can use the white variety if needed. If using white sweetener, I HIGHLY recommend adding the molasses!
- 2 tablespoon Keto Maple Syrup - or preferred maple-flavored sweetener
- 1 ½ teaspoon Molasses - optional but very highly recommended
- ½ Cup Heavy Cream - or coconut cream for dairy-free
- ⅛ teaspoon Xanthan Gum
- 2 teaspoon Pure Vanilla
- ⅛ teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1 tablespoon Filtered Water
Chocolate Coating #1:
- ¾ Cup Keto Chocolate Chips
- 1 tablespoon Coconut Oil
Chocolate Coating #2:
- ½ Cup Cocoa Powder
- ½ Cup Coconut Oil - melted
- Keto Sweetener - to taste, I recommend xylitol, monk fruit/allulose blend, or allulose. Erythritol-based sweeteners can be grainy and leave an aftertaste. You can use the powdered or granulated variety. For granulated, simply add all the ingredients to a saucepan and heat over medium heat until the sweetener dissolves.
- 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla
Instructions
- In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat until melted.
- Turn heat down to a low simmer and simmer 5 minutes, or until a deep golden brown. Stir occasionally and be careful not to let it burn!
- Stir in the sweetener, lakanto maple-flavored syrup, and molasses. Return to a low simmer. Then, simmer 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Again, be careful not to let it burn!
- Add the coconut cream and slowly sprinkle in the xanthan gum. If you dump it all in at once it will clump! Stir until dissolved.
- Remove from heat and stir in the pure vanilla, water, sea salt, and pecans.
- Prepare one of the chocolate coating recipes below and set aside.
- For chocolate coating number 1: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and drop Tablespoon-sized amounts of the caramel pecan mixture onto the parchment paper. Then, Drizzle the chocolate over the caramel pecans, roughly 1 to 2 teaspoon per cluster. Place in freezer for 30 minutes to an hour, or until the caramel and chocolate are set. Store, tightly covered, in the fridge for up to 1 month or in the freezer up to 3 months.
- For chocolate coating number 2: Line a mini muffin tin with 15 liners. Evenly divide the caramel pecan mixture between the muffin cups. Drizzle the chocolate over the caramel pecans, evenly dividing between each cup. Place in freezer for 30 minutes to an hour, or until the caramel and chocolate are set. Store, tightly covered, in the fridge for up to 1 month or in the freezer up to 3 months.
Chocolate Coating #1:
- Place the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwaveable-safe bowl. Heat for 45 seconds then stir. Heat for 20 seconds then stir again. Repeat heating in 20 second intervals, stirring in between, until chocolate chips are completely melted. If you prefer not to use a microwave, heat chocolate chips and coconut oil in a heatproof bowl over a bowl of boiling water, being careful that the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Stir continuously until melted.
Chocolate Coating #2:
- Mix together all of the chocolate coating #2 ingredients in a large bowl.
Notes
- To make these turtles Paleo, simply use Paleo Caramel Sauce instead of the keto Caramel in the recipe card.
- Chocolate coating #1 uses melted chocolate chips of your choice with a little oil. This version is similar to the caramel pecan clusters we all know and love!
- Chocolate coating #2 uses a mixture of cocoa powder, coconut oil, vanilla, and keto sweetener. While very good, this version isn’t quite as sweet.
- For coconut cream, place full-fat canned coconut milk in the fridge for 24 hours and scoop out the coagulated cream. I only recommend the Thai Kitchen, Native Forest, or Sprouts brand. Other brands may not separate as well or leave a funny aftertaste.
- I highly recommend using butter, ghee, or non-dairy butter for the best taste. If the butter isn’t an option though, you can use non-hydrogenated shortening as a substitute
- Whatever you do, don’t leave out the sugar-free maple syrup or the xanthan gum! These 2 ingredients are required when using an erythritol-based sweetener. Otherwise, the caramel will turn out grainy.
- While the molasses is optional, I recommend adding the molasses. ESPECIALLY if you don’t use a brown sweetener. The molasses gives it a deep caramel taste that is otherwise missing. It also covers up any “sugar-free” aftertaste
- If you’re worried about adding molasses to a low-carb recipe, keep in mind that molasses is considered a low glycemic sugar. One teaspoon only adds 5 net carbs to the entire batch! It’s also rich in vitamins and minerals such as iron, chromium, magnesium, calcium, vitamin b6 and more!
Nutrition
NET CARBS = Total Carbs - Fiber
Nutritional information is approximate and may vary. Sugar alcohols are included in the total carbs and fiber.
Looking for more information on the keto diet? Check out my
Ann says
Made these tonight....my family loved them! Thanks for giving us a keto version of one of our favorites!
Cassidy says
Thanks Ann, I'm so excited you and your family liked them!!! Turtles have always been one of my favorite candies too ?
-Cassidy
Shay Lachendro says
Turtles have always been one of my favorite candies, I love that you made a healthier version!
Cassidy says
Thank so much Shay!!!
jenna urben says
What a tasty little treat, perfect for the holidays! I love using Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Chips 🙂
Kristina says
oooh, turtles were always my grandma's favorite! I am saving this to make during the holidays... thank you!
Cassidy says
You're welcome Kristina!! Let me know how they turn out ?
-Cassidy