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Turtle Magic Bars Recipe

4.8 from 54 reviews

Turtle Magic Bars are a decadent layered dessert featuring a buttery shortbread crust topped with semi-sweet chocolate chips, crunchy pecans, rich caramel bits, and sweetened condensed milk. Baked until golden brown, these bars combine the classic flavors of chocolate, caramel, and nuts into an irresistibly sweet treat perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
  • 1/3 cup light brown sugar (packed)
  • 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • Pinch of fine sea salt (optional)

Toppings

  • 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 1/2 cups caramel bits
  • 12 ounces sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 7×11-inch baking dish with foil and spray it with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Set the dish aside.
  2. Make the crust: In a large bowl, using an electric hand mixer, cream together the softened butter and light brown sugar until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Gradually stir in the all-purpose flour and optional sea salt until just combined. Press this dough mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form the crust. Bake the crust for 15 minutes until it is lightly golden brown.
  3. Add toppings: Remove the crust from the oven and evenly sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate chips over the warm crust. Follow by sprinkling the chopped pecans and then the caramel bits evenly on top. Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over all the layers, trying to cover the toppings as much as possible for a cohesive, gooey texture.
  4. Bake the bars: Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbly. Keep an eye on the bars towards the end to prevent burning.
  5. Cool and serve: Remove the dish from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, lift the foil to remove the bars from the pan and cut them into squares or rectangles to serve.

Notes

  • Ensure the butter is softened for easy creaming with the sugar.
  • Using foil to line the pan makes removal and cleanup easier.
  • For extra texture, toast pecans lightly before adding.
  • Allow bars to cool completely before cutting to ensure clean slices.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.

Keywords: Turtle Magic Bars, caramel bars, pecan bars, chocolate caramel dessert, layered bars, easy baked sweets