These Clean Eating Vegan Chocolate Covered Turtles are special not only because they don’t contain a lot of refined sugar and dairy, but for another reason.
Instead of making them the traditional way, with solid pecan halves, I used chopped pecans. And a lot of them!
So you have a crunchy, caramel pecan mixture with pecans in every single bite.
I like them better this way because you get a true pecan flavor.
These are really simple to make and takes less than 15 minutes to prepare using only 6 clean ingredients.
Traditional turtles (either store-bought or homemade) are made with lots of refined sugar and dairy.
S.A.D. (Standard American Diet) Homemade Chocolate Covered Turtle Ingredients:
Typical Ingredients: 7 1/2 cups pecan halves, 8 tbs butter, 2 cups corn syrup, 1/2 cup milk, 2 cups sugar, 1 twelve-ounce can evaporated milk, 1 pound semisweet chocolate
S.A.D. (Standard American Diet) Demet’s Original Turtles Ingredients:
Ingredients: Sugar, Pecans, Corn Syrup, Nonfat Milk, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate, Palm Oil, Invert Sugar Syrup, Milk Fat, and, Less Than 1.5% of: Lactose, Sodium Caseinate, Soy Lecithin, Salt, Artificial Flavors, Caramel Color
Homemade version contains butter, dairy and a LOT of sugar (both white and corn syrup). Store-bought also contains refined sugar and GMO’s (corn syrup, soy lecithin), dairy and artificial flavors.
This healthier version is made with clean, real food ingredients and are “almost raw”, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, no-bake, paleo-friendly and contain no refined sugar. And you can even make them lectin-free by substituting the semi-sweet chocolate chips with dark chocolate morsels (containing 69% cacao).
Want more healthy dessert recipes? Check out my Healthy Peanut Butter Cups, Crispy Peanut Butter Protein Cups, Clean Eating Chocolate Crunch Bars or my Clean Eating Cookbook with an entire chapter of 20 healthy, clean eating dessert recipes just like this one that you will love!
5 Fast Facts About Pecans:*
- contains naturally occurring anti-oxidants
- helps to lower cholesterol
- high quality source of protein
- contains more 19 vitamins and minerals
- excellent source of vitamin E
5 Fast Facts About Medjool Dates:*
- natural energy booster
- high in iron content
- rich in potassium
- good source of dietary fiber
- excellent source of vegan protein
5 Fast Facts About Coconut Oil:*
- super high in lauric acid
- rich in antioxidants
- contains natural microbial and anti-bacterial agents
- helps to improve metabolism
- improves cholesterol levels
5 Fast Facts About Almonds (Almond Butter)*
- helps to regulate cholesterol and blood pressure
- energy booster
- loaded with calcium and fiber
- 1/4 cup contains 8 grams of vegan protein
- high in anti-oxidants
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Tip #1: This recipe can be made with homemade almond butter using your Vitamix. For more recipes you can make with a Vitamix, visit my Vitamix Recipe Index page for more inspiration! I like to make my own homemade almond butter because I have control over the quality of almonds that are used (raw, unpasteurized) and there are no unnecessary ingredients added.
Tip#2: These are best right out of the freezer and will need to be kept cold or they will get soft and lose their shape at room temperature.
Clean Eating Vegan Chocolate Covered Turtles
Prep
Inactive
Total
Yield 14 - 16 pieces
"Almost Raw" / Vegan / Gluten-Free / Dairy-Free / Lectin-Free / No-Cook / Paleo-Friendly / No Refined Sugar
Ingredients
For the caramel mixture:
- 1 1/2 cups organic medjool dates (pitted)
- 2 tablespoons organic almond butter
- 2 tablespoons water (filtered/purified)
- 1 tablespoon organic coconut oil
- 1 pinch Himalayan pink salt
For the mix-in:
- 1 cup organic pecans (chopped)
For the chocolate coating:
- 1 cup Enjoy Life mini-chocolate chips*
- 1 tablespoons organic coconut oil
*Lectin-Free: substitute with Enjoy Life dark chocolate morsels
Instructions
Prepare the caramel mixture:
- Add all ingredients for the caramel mixture to a Vitamix and blend on "high" speed until it becomes a thick, pasty-type consistency. You may need to stop and scrape the sides a couple of times.
- Transfer the caramel mixture to a medium sized bowl and add the chopped pecans. Gently stir in until they are evenly distributed.
- Take out a spoonful at a time, gently roll them into the palms of your hands into a ball shape and then gently press them down into a flat disk shape. Set aside.
Prepare the chocolate coating:
- Add the ingredients for the chocolate topping to a small saucepan and melt on the lowest heat setting, stirring until it is melted and smooth and taking care not to burn it.
Assembly:
- Take each turtle and gently place it in the saucepan with the melted chocolate and use a fork to gently flip it over to coat the other side.
- Lift each turtle out of the chocolate mixture with a fork underneath it, letting the excess chocolate drip off before moving it to the baking sheet.
- Transfer the chocolate covered turtles to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Put them in the freezer for approximately 30 - 60 minutes, or until they become hardened.
- Store in the freezer in an air-tight BPA-free container until you are ready to serve because they will get soft and lose their shape at room temperature.
- Enjoy!
Notes
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The recipe and photographs for "Clean Eating Vegan Chocolate Covered Turtles" by Karielyn Tillman of The Healthy Family and Home website are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives 4.0 International License and cannot be used without my written permission.
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