Turtle Pie is a quick and easy dessert recipe for anyone to try out. This no-bake pie combines chocolate, caramel, and pecans, in a delightful cold and creamy pie form.
Check also my creamy pumpkin custard pie recipe.
It all starts with a crunchy crust, followed by a creamy cheesecake filling. Take note, the crust is homemade, and you can absolutely alter it any way you like! More whipped cream, chocolate, and caramel sauce, and pecans are strewn around the top of the cake. Budget-friendly and freezer-friendly, Turtle Pie can indeed be a favorite in the household.
This delicious pie can be served at any time of the year! Cold holiday season? Bring out this pie for your family to enjoy while binge-watching Christmas movies! Hot and humid summer? Let the family devour this pie in the heat and light of the sun from your front or backyard while children are running around soaking in the vacation air.
Turtle Pie contains ingredients that make the whole recipe one of a kind in its simplest way. Chocolate, pecans, caramel, nuts; need we say more? Yes, you will be amazed at how effortless it is to make this pie in no time.
The Origin of Turtle Pie
A Turtle Pie is a type of dessert pie that has its origins in the United States. Due to the usage of chocolate, caramel, and nuts to decorate the tops of the pies, This pie earned its nickname. This is because Turtle candies have the ingredients of caramel, chocolate, and pecans that people love. In most cases, the pie is created with a cookie crumb crust and is filled with mousse, custard, or a cheesecake-like filling.
This pie is noted to have been cultivated as a specialty pie by the now-defunct gourmet dining establishment— The Velvet Turtle. However, there are still a lot of food companies that manufacture already prepared and frozen Turtle Pies. These brands include Marie Calendar's and Edwards.
Why Does This Recipe Works?
Turtle Pie has made its name among those who fancy a simple recipe but with a mouthwatering result. Hands-on mommies on the internet have their own recipe versions of this pie to match their children's liking as well. Truth be told, you will be baffled by how many recipes for this pie you will find on the internet. However, this recipe is the best out there because:
- There may be quite a lot of ingredients to tick off from the list, but all of them are budget-friendly and easy to find.
- The step-by-step process of preparing this pie won't take long to finish! No need to wait and starve for you to finally taste the heavenly taste of this dish.
- This pie, in general, is a versatile dish that you may have at breakfast or at snack time.
- Children will love it, and the adults will have a fun time tasting this mouthwatering pie.
What's In This Turtle Pie Recipe?
Crackers. Since crackers are dry baked food without much flavor in them, they will serve well as the base ingredient for the crust of your pie since it will not overshadow the flavor of the filling.
Butter. Add melted butter to your crushed crackers since butter helps in creating the light, flaky texture desired in pie crust. Butter will also help in holding the crust together.
Granulated Sugar. You will not be adding granulated sugar for the mere sweetness of it. You will add granulated sugar into the crust mixture because it will help the crust become the flatter, crispier, and lighter-colored pie crust.
Heavy Whipped Cream. In this recipe, you are trying to achieve a creamy and thick filling, and heavy whipped cream is your key to doing just that. Heavy whipped cream will impart that smooth and creamy texture that you desire.
Cream Cheese. The flavor of cream cheese is mild and cheese-like. It is the main flavor of your filling for this recipe and will provide a softer and creamier-to-touch texture. Cream cheese also allows a mild sweetness and lovely tang for the filling.
Powdered Sugar. Powdered sugar provides a sweeter flavor for the filling; it also helps in texturing the cream cheese mixture by making it more tender and soft when mixed. You will also need powdered sugar for the toppings.
Chocolate Chips. Choose the semi-sweet chocolate chips or those that have a mild chocolatey flavor so that the filling will still have its cheesecake main taste.
Whipped Cream. Finish your pie with toppings made out of whipped cream for a creamier and richer texture.
Pecans. This pie isn't Turtle Pie without the sweetly nutty and buttery flavor of pecans.
Chocolate Sauce. Complement your cheesecake filling with chocolatey goodness by drizzling chocolate sauce on the top.
Caramel Sauce. Also complete your Turtle candy-inspired toppings by drizzling caramel sauce on top as well. Caramel sauce will add a mild and buttery taste to the toppings.
How to Make Turtle Pie?
Make The Crust
- Place the crackers in the food processor and pulse them until they are fine.
- In a small bowl, mix the crumbs, melted butter and sugar until incorporated.
- Press the crust into a pie pan or a springform. Use the bottom of a flat cup to evenly press the mixture on the bottom and the sides of the pie pan.
- Place the pan in the fridge while making the filling.
Make The Filling
- In a mixing bowl, whip the heavy whipping cream until soft peak forms.
- Microwave the chocolate chips for 30 seconds or until melted, allow it to cool to room temperature before adding it to the filling.
- In another mixing bowl, whisk the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Whisk in the melted chocolate.
- Now, stir in the whipped cream, mix well.
- Spread the filling on top of the crust, then cover with plastic wrap and chill for 4-6 hours.
Topping
Use a piping bag to pipe whipped cream (use any tip you like) around the edge of the pie. Scatter chopped pecans on top of the pie and drizzle with caramel and chocolate sauce.
Top Tips
- Make sure that the crust is fully chilled before spreading your filling. It allows a more solid structure for the pie later on.
- If you are making the crust ahead of time, cover the pan with foil and put it in the freezer for 1-2 days.
- Finely crushed crackers will make a better structured flaky crust.
- You may make mini turtle pies by using a muffin tin instead of 22 cm springform.
Recipe Variations
- You may use Oreo instead of crackers for your crust for a better and more interesting flavor!
- Instead of using chocolate chips for the filling, you can add the tiniest bit of cocoa powder for a more natural chocolate flavor.
Serving Suggestions
For kids, freshly squeezed orange juice will go well with this pie. For the adults, use your fancy tea set for Earl Grey tea with lemon flavors as it goes well with Turtle Pie too. You can also serve this delicious pie with chocolate milk tea or white chocolate latte.
Storage
To store: Keep lefiovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Keeping this pie in the freezer, so long as it is inside an airtight container, will keep its shelf life longer up to two months as well.
You must have overworked the whipping cream; that is why the structure of the filling is too lumpy for the pie. Make sure to just whip the cream until a soft peak formed.
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Recipe Card
Easy Turtle Pie Recipe
Ingredients
The crust
- 2 cups crackers crumbs
- ½ cup butter , melted
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
The filling
- 225 g heavy whipped cream
- 225 g cream cheese , softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips , melted
Toppings
- 1 cup whipped cream
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoon pecans
- 1 tablespoon chocolate sauce
- 1 tablespoon caramel sauce
Instructions
To make the crust
- Place the crackers in the food processor and pulse them until they are fine.
- In a small bowl, mix the crumbs, melted butter and sugar until incorporated.
- Press the crust into a pie pan or a springform. Use the bottom of a flat cup to evenly press the mixture on the bottom and the sides of the pie pan.
- Place the pan in the fridge while making the filling.
To make the filling
- In a mixing bowl, whip the heavy whipping cream until soft peak forms.
- Microwave the chocolate chips for 30 seconds or until melted, allow it to cool to room temperature before adding it to the filling.
- In another mixing bowl, whisk the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Whisk in the melted chocolate.
- Now, stir in the whipped cream, mix well.
- Spread the filling on top of the crust, then cover with plastic wrap and chill for 4-6 hours.
Topping
- Use a piping bag to pipe whipped cream (use any tip you like) around the edge of the pie. Scatter chopped pecans on top of the pie and drizzle with caramel and chocolate sauce.
Notes
- Make sure that the crust is fully chilled before spreading your filling. It allows a more solid structure for the Turtle Pie later on.
- If you are making the crust ahead of time, cover the pan with foil and put it in the freezer for 1-2 days.
- Finely crushed crackers will make a better structured flaky crust.
- You may use Oreo instead of crackers for your crust for a better and more interesting flavor!
- Instead of using chocolate chips for the filling, you can add the tiniest bit of cocoa powder for a more natural chocolate flavor.
Recipe Variations
- You may use Oreo instead of crackers for your crust for a better and more interesting flavor!
- Instead of using chocolate chips for the filling, you can add the tiniest bit of cocoa powder for a more natural chocolate flavor.
Nutrition
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Scarlett
I can't wait to try this recipe. I will make it at the weekend.
Manwilla G
Delicious with a cup of latte in the morning.