Turtle hot chocolate is a play on a classic candy, the turtle! This decadent holiday inspired drink combines the rich flavors of buttery caramel and sweet chocolate, and is dessert in a cup.
Now that Thanksgiving is over, I’m in full on Christmas mode. I wanted to create a drink inspired by a classic holiday treat. Enter the turtle candy. Turtle candies combine two of my favorite dessert components, chocolate and caramel. Both flavors compliment each other and combined with salty pecans, make an amazing treat. Turtle candies are great year round, but are also a classic for the holiday season. So what’s better than bringing together two traditional holiday treats, than combining them into what is turtle hot chocolate?!
Hot chocolate, to me, is a nostalgic holiday drink. Growing up in Wisconsin, our winters are COLD, like really cold. After sledding or playing outside, and always around Christmas time, my mom would make us warm and delicious hot chocolate. My favorite was the Swiss Miss with the little marshmallows! As an adult, I still love hot chocolate, but I wanted to get a little creative with it and kick it up a notch. There are so many ways to elevate hot chocolate. You can add in different flavors like peppermint, cinnamon or even add in your favorite alcohol like RumChata or Kahlúa!
PIN FOR LATER!
TOOLS YOU MAY NEED
- Your favorite mug or glass (preferably 12 oz or bigger)
- Sauce pan and whisk
- Stand mixer or electric mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cutting board and knife
- Spoon
WHAT DO I NEED TO PREPARE FOR TURTLE HOT CHOCOLATE?
Although this recipe is really easy, there are a few things you’ll want to prepare ahead of time! While you can make this recipe with pre-packaged ingredients, I really prefer to make my own.
- HOT CHOCOLATE: If you want to make your own hot chocolate, try my stovetop homemade hot chocolate recipe. It is rich and adds a little something extra to this drink. You could also use a powdered mix like this, added to hot milk or a pre-packaged hot chocolate mix works too!
- CARAMEL SAUCE: For the best caramel sauce, I recommend making your own. It is so rich and buttery, and simply amazing. It will make this drink and others even better. Here’s the recipe I used. It will make more than you need for this recipe, but if you stick around, I’ll share some more recipes you can use it in! You could also use store bought caramel topping if you don’t feel like making your own.
- CHOCOLATE SAUCE: I made my own chocolate sauce, but you can use something like this sugar free chocolate syrup or a fudge topping to make it even richer!
- HOMEMADE WHIPPED TOPPING: To make your own homemade whipped cream, simply whip 1/4 cup of heavy whipping cream with 1 to 2 teaspoons of powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla for about 2-3 minutes in your stand mixer or with your electric mixer until peaks form. You can also whisk by hand and get the same result, it just may take longer. Cool Whip works too!
- PECANS– Simply chop up a handful of pecans into tiny pieces! You can buy pecans that are already chopped, which will save you time!
INGREDIENTS
- 8-12 oz of prepared hot chocolate
- 1 tbs caramel sauce
- 1 tbs chocolate sauce
- 1/4 cup homemade whipped cream
- 1 tbs chopped pecans
HOW TO MAKE TURTLE HOT CHOCOLATE
Pour prepared hot chocolate into your favorite mug or glass. You can use your favorite powdered hot chocolate mix or my easy stovetop homemade hot chocolate recipe.
Add a layer of whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce and a drizzle of chocolate sauce.
Sprinkle the chopped pecans over top and enjoy!
Turtle Hot Chocolate
Equipment
- Your favorite mug or glass (preferably 12 oz or bigger)
- Sauce pan and whisk
- Stand mixer or electric mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cutting board and knife
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 8 oz prepared hot chocolate see notes
- 1 tbs caramel sauce see notes
- 1 tbs chocolate sauce see notes
- ¼ cup whipped cream or Cool Whip
- 1 tbs chopped pecans
Instructions
- Pour prepared hot chocolate into your favorite mug or glass. You can use your favorite powdered hot chocolate mix or my easy stovetop homemade hot chocolate recipe.
- Add a layer of whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce and a drizzle of chocolate sauce.
- Sprinkle the chopped pecans over top and enjoy!
Notes
- HOT CHOCOLATE: If you want to make your own hot chocolate, try my stovetop homemade hot chocolate recipe. It is rich and adds a little something extra to this drink. You could also use a powdered mix like this, added to hot milk or a pre-packaged hot chocolate mix works too!
- CARAMEL SAUCE: For the best caramel sauce, I recommend making your own. It is so rich and buttery, and simply amazing. It will make this drink and others even better. Here’s the recipe I used. It will make more than you need for this recipe, but if you stick around, I’ll share some more recipes you can use it in! You could also use store bought caramel topping if you don’t feel like making your own.
- CHOCOLATE SAUCE: I made my own chocolate sauce (recipe to come), but you can use something like this sugar free chocolate syrup or a fudge topping to make it even richer!
- HOMEMADE WHIPPED TOPPING: To make your own homemade whipped cream, simply whip 1/4 cup of heavy whipping cream with 1 to 2 teaspoons of powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla for about 2-3 minutes in your stand mixer or with your electric mixer until peaks form. You can also whisk by hand and get the same result, it just may take longer. Cool Whip works too!
- PECANS– Simply chop up a handful of pecans into tiny pieces! You can buy pecans that are already chopped, which will save you time!
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR MORE DRINK RECIPES?
Looking for more easy drink recipes like this turtle hot chocolate? Check these out!
Did you make this turtle hot chocolate? If you enjoyed it, I’d really appreciate if you came back and gave the recipe a five star rating! Tag me on Instagram (@thesimplehomeplace) to show me your own recreation of this recipe!
This looks delicious! I think that I will have to make this a holiday tradition! Yum! Thank you for sharing.
Oh I love that, thank you! It’s amazing 🙂
I just tried it. By far the best recipe! I added a dash of cinnamon for extra flavor!
Thank you!
So glad you liked it!! Thank you for trying it out 🙂
What a nice, cozy treat to put you in the holiday spirit! Thank you 🙂
Thank you! It sure is 🙂
Can’t wait to try this… maybe with a shot of something ?
Oohh yes!! That would be really good!
OH MY STARS!!!! This looks absolutely incredible!!!!
Thank you! It is so delicious!
I have never in my life seen this. What a treat. I am already thinking of how I will veganize it for me and make your version for my husband since he is an avid Turtle lover. Thank you so much.
Thank you! I’d love to see how you make this vegan!
This looks heavenly. A weekend reward for a long work week.
Thank you 🙂 It’s a perfect reward!
This was so delicious!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!