Turtle Cookie Bars

Monday, December 3, 2012
Turtle Cookie Bars are a Christmas Cookie staple in our house. A oatmeal cookie crust is covered with soft chewy caramel and pecans before being covered with chocolate. These are a favorite for the holidays.

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It's the most wonderful time of the year! I love everything about the holidays. 25 days of Christmas movies on T.V. i.e. A Charlie Brown Christmas, enjoying all the wonderful houses decorated with lights, all the goodies to share at work and with the neighbors and don't forget the reason for the season! 

I thought I would kick off the month with Oatmeal Turtle Bars. 

Chewy oatmeal crust topped with gooey caramel, nuts and then a layer of chocolate. Heavenly I proclaim! Heavenly! 

Now please step away from the screen to avoid being caught licking it, your family members might think you've finally lost it! No go head to the nearest kitchen to get your Oatmeal Turtle Bars baking!

Here's how I make Turtle Cookie Bars: 


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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9"x 13" pan with butter, line with parchment paper and butter parchment paper. 

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In a large mixing bowl combine:
  • 1 cup All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 cup Quick Oats
  • 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 3/4 cup Softened Butter

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Mix on medium speed until fully combined.

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Place oatmeal crust into pan.

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Using hand press oatmeal crust evenly around pan and all the way to the edge. 

Place in preheat oven and bake for 12-15 minutes or until crust is light brown.

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Measure 1 1/4 cup Chopped Pecans.

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Mmmm... The house should be starting to smell yummy!

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In a large saucepan add: 
  • 1 1/2 cups Sugar
  • 1/4 cup Corn Syrup
  • 1/4 cup Water
Attach a candy thermometer and cook over medium-high heat until sugar mixture becomes a caramel color being careful not to burn sugar.

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In a small saucepan combine: 
  • 1 cup Cream
  • 4 tablespoon Butter
  • 3/4 teaspoon Sea Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla
Heat until butter is melted and turn off heat.

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If you have a little sugar island in the center of pan or the sugar around the edges are browning before the center, gentle swirl to mix with melted sugar. DO NOT STIR SUGAR OR SUGAR CRYSTALS MIGHT FORM.

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Slowly stir in cream mixture will bubble up while cream is added. Be careful not to add to fast or mixture might boil over.

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The temprature on the thermometer will drop after cream is added. Continue to boil over medium-high heat until caramel reaches 248 degrees firm ball stage.

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Spread caramel over oatmeal crust and top with chopped pecans. 

Allow to cool for 30 minutes.

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Meanwhile in a medium saucepan add 1/2 cup Cream and heat until hot over medium heat. 

Add 2 cups Chocolate Chips and remove from heat. Stir until melted. 

Add a generous  pinch of Salt.

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Stir until combined. 

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Top pecans with chocolate and allow to sit at room temperature for 2-4 hours or until chocolate is set. 

Remove from pan and cut into bars. Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator and remove 1 hour before serving  so caramel can soften.

Turtle Cookie Bars recipe with an oatmeal crust, caramel filling with pecans then topped with chocolate. A Christmas Cookie favorite from Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch.

Turtle Cookie Bars with an oatmeal crust are a delicious Christmas Cookie to share with friends, neighbors, and the ones you love! 

You might also love these other favorite Christmas sweet treat recipes:




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Dessert, Caramel, Turtle Cookie Bars, Christmas Cookies, Christmas Candy, Recipe
American
Yield: 16
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Turtle Cookie Bars

Turtle Cookie Bars

Turtle Cookie Bars are a Christmas Cookie staple in our house. A oatmeal cookie crust is covered with soft chewy caramel and pecans before being covered with chocolate from Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch.
5 out of 5 based on 2 user ratings
prep time: 30 Mcook time: 12 Mtotal time: 42 M

ingredients:

Oatmeal Crust
  • 1 cup All-Purpose Flour or Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
  • 1 cup Quick Oats
  • 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 3/4 cup Butter, Softened
Caramel Layer
  • 1 1/2 cups Granulated Sugar
  • 1/4 cup Corn Syrup
  • 1/4 cup Water
  • 1 cup Heavy Cream
  • 4 tablespoons Butter
  • 3/4 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 1 1/4 cup Chopped Pecans
Chocolate Layer
  • 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
  • 2 cups Semi Sweet Or Dark Chocolate Chips
  • 1 Pinch Salt

instructions:

How to cook Turtle Cookie Bars

Oatmeal Crust
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9"x 13" pan with butter, line with parchment paper and butter parchment paper.
  2. Mix all ingredients for Oatmeal Crust in a large mixing bowl on medium speed until thoroughly combined.
  3. Press Oatmeal crust evenly into pan.
  4. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until light brown.
Caramel Layer
  1. In a small saucepan combine cream, butter, salt, and vanilla. Heat over medium heat until butter is melted.
  2. Meanwhile in a large saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup, and water. Attach a candy thermometer to the side of saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, until sugar becomes caramel color. Do not stir sugar, swirl the pan gently as needed to evenly heat sugar, and mix.
  3. Once sugar becomes a caramel color slowly stir in warmed cream, being careful not to add to fast as mixture might boil over.
  4. Continue to boil until caramel reaches 248 degrees on candy thermometer about 8 minutes.
  5. Spread caramel evenly over oatmeal crust, and top with chopped pecans.
  6. Allow to cool for 30 minutes.
Chocolate Layer
  1. Heat cream over medium heat just until hot. Do not boil. Remove cream from heat.
  2. Add chocolate, and salt. Stir until chocolate is melted.
  3. Spread chocolate evenly over caramel, and pecans.
  4. Allow to sit at room temperature for 2-4 hours or until chocolate is set.
  5. Remove from pan, and cut into bars. 
  6. Store in an airtight container at room temperature, or in the refrigerator, and remove 1 hour before serving, so caramel can soften.
Calories
473.89
Fat (grams)
34.58
Sat. Fat (grams)
21.52
Carbs (grams)
38.69
Fiber (grams)
2.07
Net carbs
36.61
Sugar (grams)
27.39
Protein (grams)
3.77
Sodium (milligrams)
337.69
Cholesterol (grams)
82.61
Calories are estimated.

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Turtle Cookie Bar recipe with a oatmeal cookie crust, caramel filling with pecans topped with chocolate. A favorite Christmas Cookie for the holidays from Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch.

Turtle Cookie Bar recipe with a oatmeal cookie crust, caramel filling with pecans topped with chocolate. A favorite Christmas Cookie for the holidays from Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch.

9 comments

  1. This is going on my holiday baking list...they look delicious!

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  2. December is a month to be jolly..love the holiday and festive air around it. Your bars looks so tempting.

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  3. Mmm, these are fantastic! These would be perfect to give as gifts (and of course sneak a few for yourself!)!

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  4. These look scrumptious, Serena! Love holiday baking!

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  5. This is yummy bars, I need to kick start my baking adventure.

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  6. This is my kind of yummy! Hope all is well with you!
    Hugs,
    Marie

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  7. My husband would go crazy for these - definitely hitting the spot!

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  8. This would be perfect for snacking on...mmm...want one now!

    Thanks for the post Serena, will definitely update you with how it goes!

    :) Anjo Angela

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  9. Mmmm....these will surely be on my list of " what to bake"

    ReplyDelete

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