Turtle Magic Bars
A twist on a classic, these Turtle Magic Bars are a fun and flavorful treat with chocolate, caramel and pecans. These bars are always a hit!
A TASTY LAYERED DESSERT BAR RECIPE
This dessert is inspired by turtle candy. If you aren’t familiar, “turtles” are chocolate candies with pecans, chocolate and caramel and they look like little turtles – hence the name. These Turtle Magic Bars have all of those favorite flavors! Chocolate, caramel and pecans top off a buttery shortbread crust and sweetened condensed milk help sweeten this up and hold it all together. This Turtle Magic Bar recipe definitely needs to be added to your dessert rotation!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
The name ‘Magic Bars’ was first introduced by Eagle Brand condensed milk company. They printed the recipe on the back of the cans and the name apparently was created by the owner of the company, Gail Borden. Other names have been given to these bars over the years I’m assuming by other companies who wanted to profit off the popularity of the recipe but couldn’t call it the same name. Some other names that they go by include: Hello Dolly Bars (named after a popular musical at the time) and Seven Layer Bars.
No, I do not suggest using any other caramels other than caramel bits. They are too big and you are not able to get the right amount unless you cut them up. You can easily find caramel bits in the baking section of your grocery store.
No, since you are going to be placing these back in the oven right away you are able to add the remaining ingredients immediately after the crust is removed from the oven.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips are used to off-set the sweetness but you can use milk chocolate or dark chocolate as well.
These can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature where they will keep for up to 4 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. They can also be frozen. Place in a freezer container and they will keep for up to 3 months. To defrost, remove from the freezer to the countertop overnight.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- salted butter
- light brown sugar
- all-purpose flour
- semi-sweet chocolate chips
- chopped pecans
- caramel bits
- sweetened condensed milk
HOW TO MAKE TURTLE MAGIC BARS:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 7×11-inch baking dish with foil and spray with cooking spray, set aside. In a large bowl cream the butter with the brown sugar until smooth with an electric hand mixer.
Add in the flour.
Stir just until combined.
Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Bake for 15 minutes until lightly golden brown.
Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the crust, followed by the pecans, then the caramel bits.
Pour the sweetened condensed milk over everything trying to cover the top as best you can.
Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown on top. Let the bars cool in the pan completely. Once they are completely cool, cut them into bars and serve.
WANT MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES?
Turtle Magic Bars
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter, softened to room temperature
- ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 12 ounce bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 ½ cups chopped pecans
- 1 ½ cups caramel bits
- 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 7×11-inch baking dish with foil and spray with cooking spray, set aside.
- In a large bowl cream ½ cup salted butter, softened to room temperature with ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar until smooth with an electric hand mixer.
- Add in 1 cup all-purpose flour and stir until combined.
- Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 15 minutes until lightly golden brown.
- Remove from oven then sprinkle the 12 ounce bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly over the crust, followed by 1 ½ cups chopped pecans then 1 ½ cups caramel bits.
- Pour the 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk over everything trying to cover the top as best you can.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown on top.
- Let the bars cool in the pan completely. Once they are completely cool, lift out of the pan then cut them into bars and serve.
Notes
- Switch up your chocolate chips to milk or dark chocolate if you’d like.
- These can also be made in a 9×9-inch baking pan (the bars will just be thicker).
- Lining the baking dish with aluminum foil makes it easier to remove them after baking.
- These can be frozen, see above on how to do that.
- If you do not like pecans you can use walnuts.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
