Easy Turtles (Pretzel Rolo Pecan Candies)

I'm not always a chocolate person, often not a dessert person.  But, I ran across a picture the other day that inspired me to stop at the store for some ingredients.  Behold:

Easy Turtles.  AKA Pretzel Rolo Pecan Candies.  And yes, they're easy.  And delicious.

          (Recipe makes about 112 candies.)

Ingredients:

• 1 nine oz bag of Snyder's Butter Snap pretzels (the ones shaped like window panes)
• 1 eight oz bag of halved pecans
• 2 twelve oz bags of Rolo candies (about 56 candies/bag -- the ones I bought had 55 and 57)

Yes, there are only 3 ingredients.  Unless you count an oven.

Directions (per batch - I made mine in 2 batches):

• Preheat a toaster oven or oven to 375 degrees.
• Count one bag of Rolo candies (from now on, I'll assume there are 56 - if there are fewer/more, adjust accordingly).
• Count out 56 pecan halves.
• Spread the pecans on a pan, bake until they're fragrant and lightly toasted, about 5-7 minutes.  I toasted mine in the toaster oven so that I could keep the "big oven" for the candies.

• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 300 degrees (if you're using the oven for both, this will have to be after the nuts are toasted).
• Arrange 56 pretzels on a baking pan/jelly roll pan.

•  Top each with an unwrapped Rolo candy.

•  Bake in the preheated oven for 2 minutes (until chocolate is shiny and chocolates are slightly softned - you'll know if they're soft enough when you try to assemble the first one).

•  Place one pecan on top of a pretzel/Rolo.  Press the pecan down to smoosh the Rolo.  Do this with the whole pan.  (I do them 2 handed - its a quick/easy process.)
• Transfer the candies to a baking rack to cool (so they don't stick to the baking pan in their small amount of chocolate-melt-through).

•  Allow to cool/allow the chocolate to set.  Enjoy!  (Or eat them while warm - YUM either way!!)
• Wash the pan and repeat for second batch.

 

These are better than chocolate covered pretzels because they add the caramel/pecan turtle element.  They're better than turtles because they add the sweet/salty combo.  I'm not a dessert person.  I've had to stop myself from eating these tonight so I have some left to share.  That says a lot to me...