Caramel Turtle Pie

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This easy Caramel Turtle Pie brings together all of the delicious flavors of classic turtle candies and turns them into the best pie ever! A buttery Oreo crust is topped with gooey caramel filling, rich chocolate ganache, and crunchy toasted pecans! It’s a pie pan full of pure heaven!

Why You’ll Love This Caramel Turtle Pie

If you like turtle candies, you’ll love this dessert. You just can’t beat the gooey, melt-in-your-mouth goodness of chocolate and caramel combined with the satisfying crunch of chopped pecans. Now imagine that all in a pie! Here’s what keeps me coming back to make it again and again.

• Ultra-decadent. If you are looking for a gloriously rich, sweet dessert, you found it. The combination of the sweet caramel filling and the rich chocolate ganache is over the top (in a good way). I couldn’t stop eating it!
• Texture. I can’t tell you how incredible the smooth, ooey gooey caramel filling is next to the soft buttery crunch of the toasted pecans. While the filling is gooey, it isn’t sticky in a way that it sticks to your teeth while you chew it. It strikes the perfect balance. Plus, it stays in place. It’s soft enough to cut into and eat, but not so soft that is oozes everywhere.
• Easy as pie. Pun intended. Each component of this heart-stopping pie is completely doable for even those of you very new to the kitchen and assembly is super simple as well.
• Make ahead. This dessert will keep in the fridge for many days (up to 7!) making it an awesome make-ahead option during the busy holiday season.

Whether you serve it on Thanksgiving or a typical Tuesday night, this dessert is sure to be the talk of the evening. Feeling inspired by turtle candy? Try my Turtle Cheesecake as well.

What Is Turtle Pie?

A turtle pie is a delicious dessert named aptly after delicious turtle candies. Turtle candies are comprised of buttery toasted pecans, sweet caramel, and rich chocolate and so is turtle pie. While I have seen many variations of turtle pie, it always contains those three components: chocolate, caramel, and pecans. Mine features a chocolate crust, a gooey caramel filling, chocolate ganache, and a toasted pecan topping.

Recipe Ingredients

This recipe for turtle pie requires simple and relatively few ingredients. Here they are. You’ll find the exact measurements listed in the recipe card below.

Oreo cookie pie crust

• Oreo crumbs – I put the whole cookie – filling and all – into a food processor to create my crumbs.
• Unsalted butter – Salted or unsalted would work just fine.

Caramel filling

• Unsalted butter – If you want a saltier caramel filling, you could use salted butter.
• Dark brown sugar – While you could use light brown sugar, the dark brown sugar adds extra flavor to the filling that light brown sugar lacks.
• Sweetened condensed milk and Heavy whipping cream – The combination of the two forms the base of the caramel sauce. I played with them a bit and found an equal amount of each to be best. Using all heavy cream resulted in a thinner filling and using all sweetened condensed milk made it too firm and gave it a different flavor.
• Corn syrup – The corn syrup helps keep the caramel filling from becoming grainy, particularly as it comes back to room temperature after cooling.

Chocolate pecan topping

• Semi-sweet chocolate chips – You could use milk or dark chocolate chips here instead.
• Heavy whipping cream
• Pecans – I highly recommend using toasted pecans or toasting them yourself. It really brings out the natural buttery flavor of the nut.
• Caramel sauce – The caramel sauce is optional but man is it tasty! Short on time? Store-bought caramel sauce will work just fine.

Easy Variations

This pie contains the same flavors as the caramel turtle chocolates you know and love and is, in my opinion, pure perfection. That being said, you are more than welcome to play with the recipe a bit to make it your own. Here are some ideas for you.

• Chocolate swap. Feel free to use milk or dark chocolate for the ganache.
• Try a different nut. Walnuts or slivered almonds would be tasty!
• Crust. Not an Oreo crust fan? You could try a graham cracker crust or use chocolate cookie crumbs instead of Oreos.

How to Make Turtle Pie

Making the separate components for this pie and then putting them together is a walk in the park! Here’s a quick look at how to do it. Scroll on down to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.

To make the crust

• Prep. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and Grease a 9-inch pie pan.
• Make the crust. Grind the Oreos into fine crumbs in a food processor and mix with melted butter.
• Bake. Press the crust mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the pie pan and bake for 8-10 minutes.

For the filling

• Combine the ingredients. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat and add the brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, heavy cream, and corn syrup. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
• Thicken. Bring the filling to a boil over medium-high heat and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until it reaches 220-225°F. Allow it to cool for a couple of minutes.
• Assemble. Pour the caramel into the prepared pie crust and refrigerate for 2-3 hours, or until firm.

To finish

• Make the ganache. Microwave the heavy whipping cream just until it begins to boil, then pour it over the chocolate chips. Allow it to sit for 2-3 minutes, then whisk until smooth.
• Assemble. Spread the ganache over the set caramel, top with chopped pecans, and drizzle with caramel sauce.

Tips for Success

Start out on the right foot by studying these simple tips and tricks before tying on your apron. You’ll be happy you took the time.

• Careful with heat. Cook your caramel over medium-high heat. Anything higher and you run the risk of burning your filling.
• Control the boiling time. Over-cooking the caramel will cause it to over-thicken and/or burn. Under-cooking it will give you a too-thin filling. You want to boil it for about 2-3 minutes or until it reaches 220-225°F for optimal consistency. I recommend using a candy thermometer.
• Chill. After filling the pie crust with caramel filling, you want to let it set in the fridge for at least 2 hours. The time can vary based on how cold your fridge is. The caramel should be firm but give just ever so slightly when pressed into. You’ll also want to allow the fully assembled pie to chill for at least a couple of hours so that the ganache has a chance to firm up.

Proper Storage

• Refrigerator. Once set, cover and store in the fridge for up to 7 days. You can use plastic wrap, aluminum foil or an air-tight container.
• Freezer. Wrap the completely set pie in a double layer of plastic wrap or arrange slices in an airtight container. You can store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw in the fridge before indulging.

Notes on serving temperature: You can enjoy Turtle pie at any temperature. Just note that it will be a little firmer when cold, which can make slicing a bit easier. It will still hold its shape nicely at room temperature, though.

More Holiday Pie Recipes To Try

Set your decadent turtle pie up with some company on the dessert table this holiday season. Here are some of my other favorites.

• Classic Pumpkin Pie
• Homemade Apple Pie
• The Best Sweet Potato Pie
• Caramel Pecan Pie
• Classic Pecan Pie
• Salted Honey Pie
• Chocolate Pecan Pie
• Sugar Cream Pie
• Apple Crumb Cheesecake Pie

Recipe updated 11/8/2023.

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