Chocolate Turtle Pie – a layer of salted peanuts and caramel topped with silky chocolate mousse, finished off with whipped cream. A decadent and delightful no bake pie!
What is turtle pie made of?
Like turtle candies, turtle pie is typically made with a combination of chocolate, caramel, and crunchy pecans. However, this version uses salted peanuts in place of the pecans.
Chocolate, caramel, and nuts is always a winning combination in my book. This decadent pie features all three, so of course I love it. The layer of caramel with salty peanuts is so good I almost licked the bowl clean after I poured it in the pie pan. I said almost, don’t turn your nose up at me. 😉
Then there is the rich and creamy chocolate layer. Oh my. And of course there’s the whipped cream on the top. It really adds something, so don’t leave it off. If you do anything, add extra.
This pie is so good that my husband and I waited to eat the leftovers till our boys were at school so we wouldn’t have to share with them. Shhh, please don’t tell.
Trust me, people will fight over the last slice of this pie – it’s that good!
HOW TO MAKE TURTLE PIE
- CHOCOLATE LAYER – In a small glass bowl, melt the chocolate chips and butter, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth. Spread in the bottom of a cooled pastry crust. Chill for a few minutes or until set.
- SALTED CARAMEL PEANUT LAYER – In another glass bowl, melt the caramels and cream until smooth, stirring often. Let cool slightly, then stir in the peanuts. Spread over the chocolate.
- CREAMY FILLING – Melt the 1 cup of chips and 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over low heat, stirring often. Let sit for 15 minutes to cool slightly. Fold about 1/3 of the Cool Whip into the cooled chocolate mixture. Fold in the remaining Cool Whip. Spread filling into the pie pan. Cover and chill until set, about 2-3 hours.
- WHIPPED CREAM TOPPING – In a cold glass mixing bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Slowly beat in the powdered sugar and vanilla. Either spread over the top of the pie, or add dollops of cream to each individual slice.
- SERVE – I like to garnish the pie with chocolate shavings, or homemade caramel sauce and additional peanuts. Delish!
I don’t like Cool Whip, can I use real cream instead?
Yes you can. However, the texture with real cream is not as creamy, and if you don’t mix the cream quickly into the chocolate, you can end up with a grainy pie.
Normally I am a fan of whole ingredient, but for this pie, Cool Whip really does work better. But it’s up to you!
How to store leftover pie:
Leftover turtle cream pie must be stored in the refrigerator. I actually like it better the next day, so it’s a perfect make ahead pie. It will last for up to 5 days in the fridge if covered tightly.
Can I freeze the caramel turtle pie?
While I haven’t tried it personally, I think this pie would freeze just fine before you add the whipped cream on top. Make sure you wrap it tightly in a few layers of plastic wrap. It should last for about 2 months.
When ready to serve, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight or for 8 hours.
Easy turtle pie recipe variations:
- For more traditional turtles candy flavor, you can use chopped pecan halves instead of peanuts.
- We like the balance of the salty pastry crust with the caramel, but if you prefer you can use a chocolate cookie crust or graham cracker crust.
- You can drizzle the pie with chocolate sauce or chocolate syrup.
Try these PIE RECIPES:
- Plum Pie
- Peanut Butter Pie Recipe
- Grasshopper Ice Cream Pie
- Chocolate Pecan Pie Recipe
- Butterfinger Pie
- French Silk Pie
- Oreo Dirt Pie
Caramel Turtle Pie Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
CRUST:
- 1 pie crust, 9-inch baked & cooled
- 2 Tbsp semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1 Tbsp butter
CARAMEL LAYER:
- 20 caramels
- ⅓ cup cream or milk
- 1 ¼ cups salted peanuts
CHOCOLATE LAYER:
- 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 2 Tbsp salted butter
- 8 oz container Cool Whip
GARNISH:
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 Tbsp powdered sugar 3 if you want it sweeter
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Chocolate layer – Melt chocolate chips and butter in a glass bowl in the microwave at half power. Spread the melted chocolate evenly across the bottom of the pie crust. Chill a few minutes till set.
- Caramel nut layer – Melt caramels and cream in a separate bowl in the microwave, stirring often. Cool slightly, add peanuts, and pour over the chocolate layer. Chill while you make the filling.
- Chocolate pie filling – Melt the 1 cup of chips and 2 T butter in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring often with a heat-proof rubber spatula. Let sit for 15 minutes.
- Fold about 1/3 of the Cool Whip into the cooled chocolate mixture. Fold in the remaining Cool Whip.
- Spread carefully over the caramel layer and chill till set; about 2-3 hours.
- Topping – Whip the cream in a cold bowl until stiff peaks form, then beat in the sugar and vanilla.
- You can spread the whipped cream over the whole pie, or top individual slices with a dollop of whipped cream. To make it extra decadent, add caramel sauce and salted peanuts on top!
Notes
- You can replace the Cool Whip with 1 1/2 cup of whipping cream, whipped and sweetened with 1/2 cup powdered sugar. The texture isn’t as smooth, but it still tastes great.
Nutrition
If you love a great turtle dessert, you must try this no bake turtle pie recipe. It’s one of my favorite desserts of all time, and simply perfect for Thanksgiving or any gathering!
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