Vegan Caramel Chocolate Turtles - 5 Ingredient Recipe {GF} (2024)

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Vegan caramel chocolate turtles – a simplified 15 minute healthier version of caramel chocolate turtles made with only five ingredients. Gluten Free and Refined Sugar Free.Vegan Caramel Chocolate Turtles - 5 Ingredient Recipe {GF} (1)Vegan caramel chocolate turtles that are gluten-free and also sugar free! Stop everything you’re doing in life and make these immediately.

This might just be the best recipe I have ever created. In almost 6 years of blogging, and hundreds of recipes, it all comes down to one.

Chocolate turtles. With a vegan caramel sauce. And only five ingredients. And 5-15 minutes on hands on times.

For the best dessert you’ll ever have.

I’m not even exaggerating. This to me, is the best dessert I’ve ever made. Especially when you factor in the complexity of the recipe (super easy), the time required (barely any) and the list of ingredients needed (little to none), this blows every other dessert out of the water.

I mean sure if you want cheesecake you can make a vegan pumpkin cheesecake, or if you want brownies there are fudgy vegan protein brownies, but for me these chocolate turtles are the dessert that beats them all.

Vegan Caramel Chocolate Turtles - 5 Ingredient Recipe {GF} (2)

This recipe starts with nuts. Feel free to use your nuts of choice. Almonds, pecans, cashews, all work. I have to save pecans are the best in this recipe followed by almonds and then cashews. You want a solid hearty nut here. The cashews are a bit too soft of a nut in this recipe for me, the almonds and pecans being firmer nuts hold up better if you ask me.

You just need to scatter the nuts in little clusters on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Then you’re ready for the vegan caramel sauce.

Vegan Caramel Chocolate Turtles - 5 Ingredient Recipe {GF} (3)

The vegan caramel is a combo of maple syrup, coconut oil and sunflower seed butter. Yep, I said it, sunflower seed butter. I didn’t even know such a thing existed. I mean nut butters sure, but sunflower seed butter – that’s a new one for me.

And I love it, it gives this caramel sauce that perfect element of intrigue. The maple syrup and coconut oil need to be heated in a pot, and then the sunflower seed butter is added.

Let that boil for 1-2 minutes, stirring it while you go, and that’s it. That’s all it takes for a vegan caramel sauce.

Amazing right? Now butter or cream needed. I am sure this would work with an almond or cashew butter too, so feel free to use those instead if you do not have sunflower seed butter.

Vegan Caramel Chocolate Turtles - 5 Ingredient Recipe {GF} (4)

Pour the caramel sauce onto the clusters of nuts, covering them so they stick nicely together. Let those two hang out in the freezer for a bit 5-10 minutes, or longer if you want the caramel a bit more solidified.

Then just melt the chocolate chips in the microwave and drizzle over the caramel nut clusters.

You chocolate turtles are almost complete. One last optional step. A light sprinkling of coarse sea salt on each chocolate turtle. This is entirely optional or completely mandatory if you’re me and need a bit of salt with everything you consume.

Salt + sweet = my favorite kind of dessert.

No joke these vegan caramel chocolate turtles are my new favorite dessert.

Normally I am not a dessert person at all. Dessert never tempts me and I can have cheesecake, brownies, cookies, chocolate, scattered all over the kitchen counters, fridge, cabinets, without every getting a single craving, but when these chocolate turtles are in the freezer I feel myself gravitating towards that part of the kitchen.

When these are in the house I need to eat at least 2 of these a day. And that’s saying a lot for me.

That’s how I know these chocolate turtles are truly epic.

Make these to impress your dinner guests or just to treat yourself to a healthier yet quick and delicious chocolate treat.

Vegan Caramel Chocolate Turtles - 5 Ingredient Recipe {GF} (5)

Some of my other favorite dessert recipes:

  • Almond Chocolate Nut Clusters {GF}
  • Honey Chocolate Cashew Truffles {GF, DF}
  • Vegan Peach Coconut Almond Clusters {GF}
  • Caramelized Vegan Plantain Recipe {GF}

How to makevegan caramel chocolate turtles

4.43 from 7 votes

Vegan Caramel Chocolate Turtles - 5 Ingredient Recipe {GF} (6)

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5 Ingredient Vegan Caramel Chocolate Turtles {GF}

Prep Time

5 mins

Total Time

15 mins

Simplified 15 minute healthier vegan caramel chocolate turtles made with only five ingredients. Gluten Free and Refined Sugar Free.

Course:Dessert

Cuisine:gluten free, Healthy, Paleo, Vegan

Servings: 18 turtles

Calories: 162 kcal

Author: Vicky

Ingredients

  • 1/4cupmaple syrup
  • 1/4cupcoconut oil
  • 2tablespoonssunflower seed butter
  • 1cupvegan chocolate chips
  • 3/4cuptoasted almondscrushed (or pecans)
  • 3/4cuptoasted cashewscrushed (or pecans)
  • 1/4 - 1/2teaspooncoarse sea salt

Instructions

  1. In a small pot over medium heat, heat maple syrup and coconut oil.

  2. Add sunflower seed butter. Bring to a boil, and mix for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat.

  3. Place nuts in small bundles or clusters on parchment lined baking sheet.

  4. Pour the caramel sauce by the spoonful over the clusters, covering the nuts.

  5. Freeze for 5-10 minutes.

  6. Melt chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl for 30-90 seconds, mixing every 30 seconds until melted.

  7. Pour chocolate by the spoonful over the caramel nut turtles

  8. Sprinkle each turtle with course sea salt.

  9. Freeze for 10-30 minutes.

  10. Store in the freezer.

Nutrition Facts

5 Ingredient Vegan Caramel Chocolate Turtles {GF}

Amount Per Serving

Calories 162Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Sodium 1mg0%

Potassium 87mg2%

Carbohydrates 12g4%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin C 0.1mg0%

Calcium 38mg4%

Iron 1.4mg8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Vegan Caramel Chocolate Turtles - 5 Ingredient Recipe {GF} (2024)

FAQs

Are TURTLES chocolates gluten free? ›

Sugar, Pecans, Glucose, Modified Milk Ingredients, Cocoa Butter, Unsweetened Chocolate, Modified Palm Oil, Water, Soy Lecithin, Salt, Natural Vanilla Flavour. NESTLÉ TURTLES are made with only quality, natural flavours – gluten-free!

Are TURTLES vegan? ›

Some turtles are carnivores, while others follow a strictly vegetarian diet. Most turtles, however, are omnivores, eating both animals and plants.

Are turtle chocolates in Canada? ›

A cherished Canadian tradition since 1949

Indulge in the sweet moments with the delectable taste of Nestle Turtles! This famous Canadian Classic chocolate is filled with the luscious taste of golden caramel, and crunchy wholesome pecans and is deliciously covered in a coating of rich and creamy milk chocolate!

Can vegetarians eat caramel? ›

Because caramel is essentially just sugar, in its purest form, it is vegan. However, it is often mixed with dairy cream, butter, or milk, which is why it's important to always check the back of store-bought caramel candy.

Can celiacs eat vegan chocolate? ›

The short answer is yes. But you should always read the contents on the label. Gluten is a type of protein found in many types of grains, including rye, barley, and wheat.

Can celiacs have Skittles? ›

The Wrigley company makes skittles gluten-free. They indicate this on the back of each skittle box because none of the ingredients used in making skittles has gluten.

Are Nestle turtles vegan? ›

No. This product is not vegan as it lists 2 ingredients that derive from animals and 3 ingredients that could derive from animals depending on the source.

Are box turtles vegan? ›

These opportunistic omnivores eat a wide variety of plants, mushrooms, fruits, insects, fish, small amphibians, eggs and even animal carrion. Younger box turtles grow very rapidly and tend to be preferentially carnivorous (for the needed energy).

Do turtles have testosterone? ›

Turtles with TSD had higher levels of yolk testosterone (up to approximately 300 ng/g) than turtles with GSD (up to approximately 15 ng/g), suggesting a potential functional dichotomy between these two classes of sex-determining mechanisms; concentrations of yolk estradiol-17beta were low and fairly uniform among all ...

Why are smarties not sold in the US? ›

Smarties are not distributed (except via parallel import) in the United States, where the rights to the name belong to the Smarties Candy Company, which manufactures its own hard tablet sweet under the registered trademark name Smarties.

Why are chocolate and caramel called TURTLES? ›

Developed in 1918 by DeMet's Candy Company, these delectable bites were made of pecan pieces that were coated in caramel and then enveloped inside a glob of gourmet chocolate. And why were they called turtles? Because they actually looked like turtles with a large, chocolate covered shell.

Are pixies the same as TURTLES? ›

“Clusters,” “turtles,” and even “pixies” are often used synonymously. At Sunnyland, we call this delicious mix of chocolate, caramel, and pecans a “chocolate cluster" and sometimes a "chocolate caramel cluster." We offer them in 2 varieties: dark chocolate and milk chocolate.

What is vegan caramel made of? ›

The base for this 5-ingredient caramel is coconut cream, dates, and arrowroot starch, which are blended until creamy and smooth. This makes up the liquid ingredients, which are added to a bit of coconut sugar and cooked until glossy and just bubbly.

What is the difference between caramel and vegan caramel? ›

Vegan caramel is created from a mixture of coconut milk and brown sugar simmered down until it forms a thick syrup. It may be a different take on caramel but, for those with food restrictions, it is a dream.

Is co*ke a vegan? ›

Coca‑Cola does not contain any ingredients derived from animal sources and can be included in a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Are terrific TURTLES gluten-free? ›

Gummy, green turtles with a soft yellow belly and with lots of delicious bubblegum flavour. Coming from sweetie giants, Haribo, you know they're gonna be good. And they are - we've eaten loads! Gluten Free!

Is TURTLES hot chocolate gluten-free? ›

GLUTEN FREE-This mix does not contain any gluten, but it IS made in a facility that contains gluten. Very good!! I added whole milk, mini marshmallows, whipped cream and caramel drizzle to the cup to make it a true gourmet drink. I ordered the Caramel Turtle Hot Chocolate for my kids.

Which chocolates are gluten-free? ›

Results for “gluten free chocolate”
  • KIND Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt bars Cereal bars 3x30g. ...
  • KIND Caramel Almond & Sea Salt cereal bars 3x30g. ...
  • Cadbury Twirl Chocolate Bar 4 Pack Multipack 136g. ...
  • Ms Molly's Milk Chocolate Bar 100G. ...
  • Nutella Hazelnut Chocolate Spread 350G. ...
  • Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons Chocolate Bag 119g.

Can celiacs eat dairy milk chocolate? ›

In its purest form, chocolate in any of its milk, dark and white varieties doesn't contain gluten. Sadly for chocoholic coeliacs everywhere, the reason all chocolate isn't gluten free is because some products have gluten-based ingredients added, or they are made in a factory where gluten is used.

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