Published: Jun 27, 2023 · Modified: Oct 4, 2024 by Carolyn

Sugar Free Keto Turtles

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These Keto Turtles are the stuff of dreams. With toasted pecans, gooey caramel, and rich chocolate, these sugar-free nut clusters are as good as the original. Be prepared to fight with your loved ones for the last one!

A stack of Keto Pecan Turtles on a white table.

When I was a kid, Pecan Turtles were the epitome of dessert happiness in my young mind. We didn’t get to have them very often; they were a special treat around the holidays.

There is something magical about that combination of chewy caramel, toasted pecans, and rich chocolate. And these Keto Turtles are just a rich, just as delicious, just as special occasion-worthy as the originals!

Close up shot of Keto Turtles Candy with a bite taken out of one.

Why you must try this recipe

For a long time, I didn’t want to try my hand at Sugar Free Turtles because I didn’t think they’d live up to the real deal. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to get the caramel gooey enough.

But the increasing availability of other sweeteners has changed things considerably. Once I mastered truly gooey, soft keto caramel sauce, it was game on for creating a Keto Turtles recipe.

Mind you, the caramel here isn’t exactly the same, as it needs to be thicker. But with a few minor adjustments, I was able to get the exact consistency I was looking for.

Once you’ve made the caramel, the rest of the turtles come together easily. You just toast the pecans and arrange them into piles. Then drizzle a little caramel on top and freeze until hard. Add a little melted chocolate and voila!

These keto candies are phenomenally good. And you don’t need to wait for a special occasion to make them!

Reader reviews

“Made these yesterday and they are to die for! My caramel set within about ½ hour but I was ready because I toasted the pecans before starting the caramel and already had them arranged in bundles on a parchment line sheet. Thanks for all you do Carolyn! You are the best!” — Diane L.

“Sweet Mary, mother of god! These are off the hook! Please tell me when you perfect a recipe like this, you do a happy dance, punch the sky, and holler “f*** yes!!!” Or at least something similar…..because that’s what I just did! THANK YOU.” — Amy

“I made these for a work Christmas party (6 people only) and they were a hit! Hubby said there was no way they were low carb!” — Jessi

Ingredients you need

Top down image of the ingredients needed for Keto Turtles Candies.

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Sweeteners: The right sweeteners are the key to getting a gooey caramel consistency. I prefer a combination of Swerve Brown and allulose for these Sugar Free Turtles.
Butter: You will need butter for both the caramel and the chocolate coating.
Heavy whipping cream: I use less cream in this version of caramel, to keep it thicker.
Xanthan gum: A little additional thickening agent like xanthan gum firms up the caramel so it doesn’t run all over the pan.
Sea salt: A little salt in the caramel sauce brings out flavor. But I also like to sprinkle a little on top of the finished turtles.
Pecans: Don’t worry if they aren’t perfect pecan halves. You can pile them up nicely and still get lovely clusters.
Sugar free chocolate: Use milk or dark chocolate, the choice is yours. ChocZero is a great option for these Turtles and you can get 10% off by using my affiliate link!

Step-by-step directions

A collage of 6 images showing how to make Keto Pecan Turtles.

1. Prepare the caramel sauce: In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the sweeteners and 4 tablespoons of the butter. Bring to a boil and cook 2 to 4 minutes, watching carefully so it doesn’t burn. Remove from heat and add the cream. The mixture will bubble vigorously.

2. Let cool: Sprinkle the surface with xanthan gum and whisk to combine. Whisk in the salt. Let the caramel cool until thickened but still pourable, 30 to 60 minutes.

3. Toast the pecans: Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a cookie sheet with parchment or a silicone baking mat. Spread the pecans out on the mat in a single layer and bake 7 to 10 minutes, until toasted. Arrange the pecans in clusters of 3 or 4, making about 24 clusters. (If your pecans are large, use only 3 per cluster).

4. Drizzle with caramel: Drizzle a few teaspoons of caramel over each pecan cluster, making sure some caramel is touching each of the pecans. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer to set the caramel.

5. Add the chocolate: In a small bowl set over a bowl of barely simmering water, combine the chocolate and the remaining tablespoon of butter. Stir until melted and smooth, then drizzle over the chilled clusters.

A sugar free pecan turtle on a white cake stand.

Expert tips

The caramel sauce is the glue in this recipe, so it’s important to get it right. It needs to be thick enough to clings to the pecans, and yet still be soft and gooey. To achieve this consistency, you need:

Swerve Brown or another brown sugar substitute (such as Sukrin or Lakanto)
Another sweetener that doesn’t harden or recrystallize, such as allulose, BochaSweet, or xylitol.
Xanthan gum to help thicken the sauce after cooking.

Watch your pecans carefully in the oven! They can go from pale to burned very quickly, so set your timer for less time than you think you need and check on them frequently.

Normally I don’t recommend butter for melting keto chocolate, as it tends to thicken it. But in this case, you want a nice thick coating of chocolate over the caramel and pecans. So it works perfectly in these Sugar Free Turtle Candies.

A pile of sugar free Turtles Candy with a bite taken out of one.

Recipe FAQs

What is in turtle candy?

Turtle candies combine toasted nuts such as pecans with caramel and chocolate. The nuts are usually arranged so that the resulting candy looks like a turtle. These Keto Turtles are made in much the same fashion, with sugar-free caramel and chocolate.

How many carbs are in sugar free turtles?

This sugar free pecan turtles recipe has 6.6g of carbs and 3.6g of fiber per serving. That comes to 3g net carbs in a serving of two candies.

How long do sugar free pecan turtles last?

Store these keto candies in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days (unless you live in a very hot climate!). You can also store them in the fridge for up to 10 days, and in the freezer for several months.

More Keto Candy Recipes

Keto Peanut Butter Cups

These keto peanut butter cups feature a sugar free chocolate shell and a rich, creamy peanut butter center. They’re delicious and easy, so whip up a batch today!

Keto Peppermint Patties

Easy keto peppermint patties will make your heart sing and your tastebuds dance. These easy homemade peppermint patties are dairy free and sugar free. A healthy way to indulge in a childhood classic.

Sugar Free Marshmallows

You will be astonished at how easy it is to make sugar free marshmallows at home. These keto friendly treats are perfect in hot chocolate and delicious on their own. And they are almost completely carb free!

Top down image of a keto sugar free marshmallow in a cup of hot chocolate.

Keto Pecan Turtles Recipe

4.90 from 38 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Homemade Turtles, Turtle Candy

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 20

Chill time: 1

Total Time: 35

Servings: candies

Calories: 242kcal

Ingredients

¼ cup Swerve Brown
¼ cup allulose (or BochaSweet)
5 tablespoon butter divided
⅓ cup heavy whipping cream
¼ tsp xanthan gum
¼ teaspoon sea salt
2 cups pecan halves
4 ounces sugar free dark chocolate chopped
More sea salt for sprinkling, if desired

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the sweeteners and 4 tablespoons of the butter. Bring to a boil and cook 2 to 4 minutes, watching carefully so it doesn't burn. Remove from heat and add the cream. The mixture will bubble vigorously.
Sprinkle the surface with xanthan gum and whisk to combine. Whisk in the salt. Let the caramel cool until thickened but still pourable, 30 to 60 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a cookie sheet with parchment or a silicone baking mat. Spread the pecans out on the mat in a single layer and bake 7 to 10 minutes, until toasted. Arrange the pecans in clusters of 3 or 4, making about 24 clusters. (If your pecans are large, use only 3 per cluster).
Drizzle a few teaspoons of caramel over each pecan cluster, making sure some caramel is touching each of the pecans. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer to set the caramel.
In a small bowl set over a bowl of barely simmering water, combine the chocolate and the remaining tablespoon of butter. Stir until melted and smooth, then drizzle over the chilled clusters.
Sprinkle with sea salt if desired, and let set.

Video

Notes

Storage Information: Store these keto candies in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days (unless you live in a very hot climate!). You can also store them in the fridge for up to 10 days, and in the freezer for several months.

Nutrition Facts

Keto Pecan Turtles Recipe

Amount Per Serving (2 turtles)

Calories 242 Calories from Fat 215

% Daily Value*

Fat 23.9g37%

Carbohydrates 6.6g2%

Fiber 3.6g14%

Protein 2.4g5%

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

Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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Comments

4.90 from 38 votes (8 ratings without comment)