Healthy Cashew Caramel Turtle Candy

Cashew turtles are sweet, delicious clusters of cashews and gooey caramel that have been enrobed in sweet, decadent chocolate. They are just like the classic candy shaped like a small turtle, that is often made with pecans, but instead are made with sweet, buttery cashews.

Cashews have a slightly softer texture than pecans and are a bit sweeter with a buttery flavour. They are my favourite nut and taste incredible when combined with caramel and chocolate. While these homemade turtle candies aren’t in the traditional shape of a turtle, they taste just as good!

I choose to use whole, raw cashews when making my turtles. But you can use cashew halves, whole cashews, or chopped cashews. If you want a bit deeper flavour you can use roasted cashews or roast your own before making your turtles.

To keep things super simple, you can simply drizzle the chocolate over the top, or you can choose to dip them for turtles that are fully enrobed in chocolate.

These tasty little candies can be decorated any way you like. Add an extra drizzle of chocolate,some crushed nuts, or pretty sprinkles to decorate for the holidays.

These easy cashew turtles are created with just a few simple ingredients, and you can have a batch made in under an hour. You can double or even triple this recipe to make homemade candy for friends and neighbours.

These treats are very popular around Christmas and have become a go-to quick gift and stocking stuffer. It’s one of those treats where it’s easy to buy a box and eat it all yourself before you get the chance to gift it. 😊

This homemade recipe has been ‘healthified’. I got rid of the corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk and the truckloads of sugar in the traditional recipe and replaced them with the natural sweetness of dates. Dates have so many health benefits, unlike refined sugar that gives nothing to health, sends your blood sugar levels wacko and leaves you feeling tired.

Dates make the most delicious caramel that gets poured over the crunchy toasted cashews then it all gets covered in melted chocolate and finished with a sprinkle of flaky salt for the perfect combination of flavors and textures.

This recipe comes together relatively quickly and you will have homemade candy you can be proud of sharing with friends and family. You will keep on making these cashew caramel chocolate clusters whether its holiday season or no - the best cashew clusters ever!

Why I LOVE this treat:

Quick homemade caramel: Most recipes for chocolate turtles use melted store-bought caramels, but this recipe is a winner with a homemade caramel recipe that is just as easy and tastes amazing!

Chewy: These have the perfect soft, chewy texture you want and the right ratio of caramel to cashew and chocolate. They will WOW any friends and family!

Best part of these chocolate caramel candies is that it needs just 5 ingredients and its a no bake recipe too. Do give this a try.

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Healthy Clean Eating

Keyword cashew caramel clusters, chocolate caramel cashew clusters, clean eating candy, clean eating candy recipe, clean eating dessert or snack, healthy cashew caramel turtle candy

Servings 20

Ingredients

Date Caramel

• 1 1/2 cups dates, soaked 30 minutes and drained
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cashew Clusters

• 1 1/2 cups cashews, roughly chopped
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

Topping

• Flaky sea salt

Instructions

Date Caramel

• First, make the date caramel (you can even make this a day or more ahead of time, but you don't need to).

  Put the dates and vanilla in a food processor and process, scraping the sides of the bowl down if necessary until your "caramel" is thick and creamy

   

Cashew Clusters

• To lightly toast your chopped cashews for more flavour (optional), put them in a skillet over medium heat, stirring, until lightly browned.

  Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and spoon small scoops of the cashews about 2 inches apart - I made 20 total.

  Top with a small scoop (about a tablespoon) of date caramel, over each pile of cashews, gently sticking the loose nuts to the caramel.

  Next, place the tray in the fridge or freezer for about 10 minutes to allow the caramel to firm up while you melt the chocolate.

  Melt Chocolate: Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in small dish and microwave at 50% power with 30 second bursts stirring between each one until melted and smooth. 

  Or use double boiler method - (pot of boiling water with a bowl resting on top) melt the chocolate chips and the coconut oil together.

  Carefully spoon or pour the melted chocolate mixture over each cluster, using up all the chocolate, then chill the clusters on the baking sheet in the refrigerator until the chocolate hardens to form a shell.

  Leftover date caramel should be kept in the refrigerator in a lidded container for up to two weeks.

   

   

   

   

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If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites