You can find this recipe all over the internet, but I got mine from Laura, The Cooking Photographer. Since she posted the recipe last May, I’ve made them at least a dozen times because I give a lot of food gifts and these are so easy to make that they’re perfect when I forget a birthday and have to make something at the last minute. They are also one of the most well-received food gifts I make. And of everything I’ve ever made in my life, I think these little beauties have caused me the most overall weight gain. So I’m really not sure whether or not to thank Laura or whether or not I’m doing you a favor by sharing the recipe with you.
These are heavily addicting and I’ve finally learned to make only as many as I want to give, and NOT use the whole bag of Rolos because then I will inevitably eat half the batch. (And in the case of the second to last batch I made….I ate the entire batch. Every single one. Yes, that was about fifty Rolo Turtles!) I love the salty pretzel flavor combined with the sweet chocolate and sticky caramel and the contrasting nutty crunch from the pecans. They are really easy to make but oh-so-delicious.
Laura gives many ideas for toppings (including any variety of M&Ms, peanuts & chocolate covered coffee beans) and after trying them all (plus almonds, cashews & brazil nuts), I have to say I still prefer the toasted pecans. If you’re making these for children, I’m sure they would love the splash of color from M&Ms and you could also use holiday M&Ms to make these for Independence Day, Halloween, Christmas, Valentines Day, Saint Patrick’s Day, Easter, or any other holiday party.
If you decide to try them, don’t try to say I didn’t warn you. You will gain at least one pant size.
Rolo Pretzel Turtles
Printable Recipe
Printable recipe with picture
Rolos
Mini pretzels (regular or square)
Toasted pecans
Preheat oven to 220 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil. Place the pretzels on the cookie sheet and top with one Rolo each. Bake for three minutes. Remove from the oven and press on topping of choice. Then slide the foil onto the counter and let the chocolate set up. For faster set up, you can move the pan with the candy to the freezer, and chill for about 20 minutes or until firm.
Notes: To toast pecans, spread them out on a plate and microwave for 30 seconds at a time. Stir the pecans around with your hand in between cooking times until toasted.
Veronica’s Notes: To package these for gifts, I wrap them in foil candy wrappers (can be found at hobby stores, cake supply stores and Wal-Mart) or pieces of waxed paper and put in cello bags, tying the tops with raffia or curling ribbon. They could also be given in tins.
Recipe source: slightly adapted from The Cooking Photographer
Veronica's Cornucopia 
Funny you should feature Rolos- A co-worker of mine opened up a bag at work today, and I ate about a half dozen- hadn’t had them in years. Your creations look yummy and I guess I’ll have to make some for work!
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Well you’d better buy some bigger pants! ;)
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Ha! Funny you should mention bigger pants! I’m wearing a pair today that I picked up last week that are a size bigger! But, I have also started a diet, (which is kind of a contradiction)- my thought is that I may as well be comfortable until my waist reduces to manageable proportions!
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I think that is good logic! So many times I’ve put off buying bigger pants b/c I was starting a diet and then ended up with my pants too tight for months on end…b/c I never started the diet–lol! I hope such is not the case with you. I will be posting some healthier recipes soon (b/c I really need to fit into my bathing suit by our June vacation) so hopefully that will help!
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And! You’re treats are on Foodgawker- very cool!
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I was surprised they accepted the pic! They’ve been rejecting them all lately. I’m just too lazy to put more effort into the photos and too cheap to get a better camera so I can’t complain, I guess!
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ohdearrrr….this is not good, not good at all…I know I am going to like these too, too much…dang it…wellllll, I might as well give in…off to the store to buy rolos and pretzels…gotta make a practice batch, right? shoooooot…and my pants are size ohmygod already.
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LOL–I’m familiar with that pant size but I have to admit the turtles were only a small part of the current pant-size dilemma. Just be sure to share and you’ll be OK!
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I saw these sometime around last Christmas and soooo badly wanted to make them but didn’t get around to it. I like how you packaged them up — very cute!
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They’re perfect for Christmas but I make them year-round. They’re so easy–you should try them, Faith!
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Yum!! These sound awesome!
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I spied you on Tastespotting my friend!
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And these are evil. Very very evil.
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I may have to bring rolos back into my life after this!
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Oh my these are amazing!! I love to bake but I have PCOS so I can’t eat alot of sweets. But my hubby has a poker game at our house every week and I always make a snack for the guys. This week I figured I would try these. Well one fell over as I was putting the pecan on them so I ate it. WOW I was surprised they are delicous. I know I shouldn’t have but 5 more disappeared before they made it to the guys. haha.
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I warned you–they are so addictive! Glad you liked them. :)
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Wow pecans and pretzels, mmmmmm I love this one
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These turtles are so cute! We don’t get pecans here in Italy but a friend of mine sent me two kgs. of them for Thanksgiving so I will try this recipe.
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Yum yum yum. I love rolos, and pretzels and chocolate is probably my favorite combination of all time.
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mmm these look great. cute lil gifts too :)
monica
http://www.spicediary.com
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As the room mom for my son’s class I think these look PERFECT to bring for a treat. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe.
Kathy
http://www.KidCulture.wordpress.com
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YUM!!!! I’m making something similar, but with chocolste disks instead of rolos. Those look delicious, though!
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I don’t even know what to say. Who knew something so simple could be so… evil. I can’t wait to try these. I make a variation at my house – it’s called “pop a pretzel in your mouth at the same time as a couple of m&ms.” hahaha
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how many candies do you put in each cellophane bag?
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I have no idea. Buy your bags according to how many gifts you’d like to give from one batch. Get small bags if you want to give several people. I think I divided the whole recipe into two for the bags pictured (minus the dozen or more I ate myself-lol).
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