Turtle Dessert

This turtle dessert is a creamy and decadent layered dessert with all the fantastic flavors of the classic candy.

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Chocolate, caramel, pudding, whipped cream, and peanuts come together in this creamy turtle dessert to create a divine treat that’s perfect for any occasion. You will love the gooey, sweet, and crunchy textures that make up this decadent layered delight.

Turtle Dessert Ingredients

Substitutions And Additions

COOKIE CRUMBS: You can substitute crushed chocolate graham crackers for the crushed chocolate sandwich cookies in these no-bake turtle dream bars. Be sure to add 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar if you make the substitution.

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NUTS: In this chocolate turtle dessert, you can substitute chopped pecans for chopped peanuts.

PUDDING: You can substitute instant caramel-flavored pudding mix for the vanilla mix if you can find it. If you are able to use the caramel pudding, be sure to omit the caramel flavoring.

How To Make This Turtle Dessert Recipe

This delicious recipe will have you creating layers of decadence that start with a chocolate cookie crust.

Next, you will create the cream cheese layer, followed by the creamy pudding layer. Between each addition, you will want to chill the dish to make sure each layer sets properly.

Top the pudding with all the gooey caramel, peanuts, and chocolate syrup that make this a turtle treat. Finally, add whipped topping right before serving this decadent concoction.

STEP ONE: Use either a pastry brush or your hands to butter a 9×9-inch baking dish with the 2 tablespoons of butter. Set it aside.

STEP TWO: Add the crushed cookies and the melted butter to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Stir to combine. Press the buttered cookie mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the baking dish. Chill the chocolate cookie crust in the refrigerator while you prepare the cream cheese layer.

STEP THREE: Using a stand mixer or a medium-sized mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on medium-high speed, beat the softened cream cheese and vanilla for 1 to 1½ minutes until smooth.

STEP FOUR: Add the powdered sugar and 1 cup of whipped topping. Continue mixing for another 1 to 1½ minutes until smooth.

STEP FIVE: Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture on top of the cookie crust, and return the baking dish to the refrigerator.

STEP SIX: Add the cold milk to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Sprinkle the pudding mixes and caramel flavoring over the cold milk. Use a handheld mixer on medium-low speed and mix just until the mixture begins to thicken (this usually only takes about 1 minute). 

STEP SEVEN: Add 1 cup of the whipped topping and continue mixing until the pudding mixture thickens.

STEP EIGHT: Evenly sprinkle ½ cup of the chopped peanuts and 1 cup of the chopped turtle candies over the cream cheese layer.

STEP NINE: Drizzle 1 to 2 tablespoons of the chocolate syrup and caramel syrup over the candy layer.

STEP TEN: Spread the pudding mixture in an even layer over the candy layer. Cover and chill for 2 hours.

STEP ELEVEN: Just before serving, spread the remaining whipped topping over the pudding layer. 

STEP TWELVE: Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of chopped peanuts and the remaining 1½ cups of chopped turtle candies over the whipped topping.

STEP THIRTEEN: Drizzle the chocolate syrup and caramel syrup over the candies. Slice into 3-inch x 3-inch pieces.

How To Serve

Serve up a taste of luxury with the decadent indulgence that is our turtle dessert. Your guests will love the unforgettable combination of chocolate, pecans, and caramel.

Serve a slice of this heavenly dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to delight your taste buds. For even more decadence, add a warm mug of homemade hot chocolate or a pumpkin spice latte to wash it down.

Our chocolate turtle candies are the inspiration for this delicious dessert, while our turtle pie is another spin on these fantastic flavors.

MORE TURTLE RECIPES

Candy Recipes

Turtle Chocolates

Poke Cakes

Turtle Poke Cake

Storage

IN THE FRIDGE: Store any leftovers covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 

IN THE FREEZER: This yummy dessert can be frozen for up to a month. Store in an airtight container or well-wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Make sure to label your container so that you remember to enjoy your dessert while it is at its best.

All the tasty parts of turtle candy are found in this amazing dessert lasagna. The combination of crunchy pecans, gooey caramel, and silky chocolate is sure to be a huge hit with anyone you serve this turtle dessert to.

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Turtle Dessert

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This turtle dessert is a creamy and decadent layered dessert with all the fantastic flavors of the classic candy.

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 2 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Servings 9

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Ingredients

  

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• 2 tablespoons salted sweet cream butter, softened
• 36 crushed chocolate sandwich cookies with cream center filling, I used Oreo cookies
• 6 tablespoons salted sweet cream butter, melted and cooled
• 16 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ¾ cup powdered sugar
• 16 ounces whipped topping, thawed
• 2 cups cold whole milk
• 6.8 ounces instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1½ teaspoons caramel flavoring
• 1 cup chopped dry roasted peanuts, divided
• 2½ cups chopped turtle candies, divided
• Chocolate syrup, optional garnish
• Caramel sundae syrup, optional garnish

Instructions

 

• Use either a pastry brush or your hands to butter a 9×9-inch baking dish with the 2 tablespoons of butter. Set it aside.
• Add the crushed cookies and the melted butter to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Stir to combine. Press the buttered cookie mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the baking dish. Chill the cookie crust in the refrigerator while you prepare the cream cheese layer.
• Using either a stand mixer or a medium-sized mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on medium-high speed, beat the cream cheese and vanilla for 1 to 1½ minutes until smooth.
• Add the powdered sugar and 1 cup of whipped topping. Continue mixing for another 1 to 1½ minutes until smooth.
• Evenly spread the cream cheese layer on top of the cookie crust, and return the baking dish to the refrigerator.
• Add the cold milk to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Sprinkle the pudding mixes and caramel flavoring over the cold milk. Use a handheld mixer on medium-low speed and mix just until the mixture begins to thicken (this usually only takes about 1 minute).
• Add 1 cup of the whipped topping and continue mixing until the pudding mixture thickens.
• Evenly sprinkle ½ cup of the chopped peanuts and 1 cup of the chopped turtle candies over the cream cheese layer.
• Drizzle 1 to 2 tablespoons of the chocolate syrup and caramel syrup over the candy layer.
• Spread the pudding mixture over the candy layer. Cover and chill for 2 hours.
• Just before serving, spread the remaining whipped topping over the pudding layer.
• Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of chopped peanuts and the remaining 1½ cups of the chopped turtle candies over the whipped topping.
• Drizzle the chocolate syrup and caramel syrup over the candies. Slice into 3-inch x 3-inch pieces.

Video

Notes

• Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature, so you don’t have any lumps in your creamy dessert.
• You can whisk the pudding mixture by hand; the handheld mixer is just a time saver.
• Don’t skip the chilling stage. You want to give your dessert plenty of time to chill and set before serving it.

Nutrition

Calories: 1100kcal | Carbohydrates: 135g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 58g | Saturated Fat: 29g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 849mg | Potassium: 586mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 106g | Vitamin A: 1142IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 273mg | Iron: 6mg

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