A homemade biscotti recipe that’s filled with caramel, pecans AND dipped in dark chocolate! Turtle Biscotti makes your morning coffee even better.
Our readers love turtle desserts. From our turtle brownies to our classic homemade turtles, we’ve got the perfect treat for you!
Why This Recipe is Best
Let me just say, biscotti is awesome. Turtle biscotti is better than awesome. Add a cup of coffee and you have complete perfection.
And, like I have said before, our homemade cinnamon biscotti is easy to make. So if you love a good Nonni’s biscotti, try making your own at home!
So what is biscotti anyway?
Biscotti are hard crunchy cookies with Italian origins. You’ll find them served alongside espresso at Italian cafes and in your nearby coffee chain.
These cookies are a little different from the norm because they’re twice baked. You bake the dough first like a loaf, then slice and bake again. This creates a toasted cookie that’s perfect for dunking in coffee!
- The “turtle” moniker here means we have dark chocolate, caramel and pecans – a winning trio!
- Twice-baked means extra crisp on the outside while still tender, such a great combo!
- These are also very shelf stable, so you’ll be able to store and enjoy them for a couple of weeks.
If you love Turtle Fudge and turtle cheesecake, this is the biscotti recipe for you!
Be sure to try some of our other biscotti flavors. From pumpkin biscotti to eggnog biscotti, we’ve got a dozen flavors on the site!
Ingredient Notes
- Unsalted Butter – Butter gives these biscotti a deliciously rich flavor. Be sure to let it soften at room temperature before using so it’s easier to incorporate into the dough. Use our tips and tricks on how to soften butter quickly.
- Sugar – Regular granulated sugar is the sweetener and it also plays a critical role in hydrating the biscotti dough. We’re also using a coarse sugar, such as turbinado or demerara, to sprinkle on top of the biscotti. Learn about the types of sugar here.
- Vanilla Extract – Be sure to use PURE vanilla extract, not the imitation kind. Try our homemade vanilla extract for the best flavor.
- Caramels – You need the small caramel bits for this recipe, since they are folded into the dough. Kraft brand works great, but another similar type of caramel bits would be fine, too.
- Pecans – These add great flavor and texture to the biscotti. You could also substitute walnuts. Or you can leave them out if you need a nut-free biscotti.
- Dark Chocolate – You can chop up a bar of dark chocolate to melt or use dark chocolate melting wafers, which will result in a smoother shiny finish.
Easy Instructions
STEP 1. Make the dough. Beat the butter and granulated sugar together until creamy. Beat in eggs and vanilla then add flour and baking powder. Fold in caramel bits and 1/4 cup chopped pecans. The batter will be very sticky.
STEP 2. First bake. Divide the dough in half and form each into a log about 10 inches long and 3 inches wide. Put the logs on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
Bake the dough in a 350 degree F oven for 25-30 minutes then let the logs cool for about 10 minutes until you can handle them.
STEP 3. Second bake. Cut the biscotti logs into 1-inch wide slices, and arrange upright in pan. Bake the sliced biscotti for an additional 20 minutes and then let cool completely.
STEP 4. Dip and decorate. While the biscotti are cooling, melt your chocolate in the microwave or according to package directions. Dip the bottom of biscotti in melted dark chocolate and sprinkle immediately with remaining cup of chopped pecans. Allow to set until the chocolate is firm, about 15 minutes.
Tips & Tricks
- When melting chocolate in the microwave, do so in 30 second increments, stirring after each interval until the chocolate is smooth and no lumps remain.
- When cutting your biscotti after the first bake, slice through it gently using a serrated knife for clean-edged cuts.
- Make sure to leave some space between biscotti when you lay them on the baking sheet for their second time in the oven. This will help them bake evenly on all sides.
- If you have a cooling rack, letting your finished biscotti cool there will allow it to dry out even better.
- Toast the pecans for best flavor!
- Drizzle the melted dark chocolate over the biscotti instead of dipping if you prefer, but drizzle generously so the chopped pecans can stick.
Serve these amazing copycat Nonni’s Biscotti during coffee hour and everyone will be your new best friend! Not a coffee drinker? They pair well with black tea or milk, too.
Recipe FAQs
Store these biscotti in an airtight container or ziploc bag for up to 2 weeks. You may want to put a sheet of wax paper between layers to prevent the chocolate from sticking together over time.
Yes, you can freeze both the biscotti dough and the baked biscotti. Freezing biscotti after baking will result in a biscuit that’s less crunchy. To help them crisp up again after thawing, you can heat them in the oven for a few minutes before serving.
Absolutely. If you don’t have any pecans on hand or prefer not to use them or need a nut-free biscotti, just proceed with the recipe as directed and leave the nuts out.
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Turtle Biscotti
Ingredients
- 6 Tablespoons butter softened
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup caramel bits Kraft
- 1 ¼ cup pecans chopped, divided
- 1 Tablespoon coarse sugar
- 2 cup dark chocolate melted
Instructions
- In mixing bowl, beat butter and 3/4 cup sugar until creamy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add flour and baking powder. Fold in caramel bits and 1/4 cup chopped pecans. Batter will be very sticky.
- Divide in half, form each half in a 10inch by 3inch log on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes. Remove and allow to cool on pan 15 minutes. Cut into 1inch slices, and arrange slices upright in pan. Bake an additional 20 minutes. Cool completely.
- When cool, dip bottom of biscotti in melted dark chocolate, sprinkle immediately with remaining cup of chopped pecans. Allow to set. Enjoy.
Notes
- Melting chocolate – When melting chocolate in the microwave, do so in 30 second increments, stirring after each interval until the chocolate is smooth no lumps remain.
- Make sure to leave some space between biscotti when you lay them on the baking sheet for their second time in the oven. This will help them bake evenly on all sides.
- Store these biscotti in an airtight container or ziploc bag for up to 2 weeks. You may want to put a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper between layers to prevent the chocolate from sticking together over time.
- You can freeze both the biscotti dough and the baked biscotti. Freezing biscotti after baking will result in a biscuit that’s less crunchy. To help them crisp up again after thawing, you can heat them in the oven for a few minutes before serving.
- See blog post for more recipe tips and tricks.
Nutrition
With a layer of smooth chocolate and caramel baked right into each bite, Turtle Biscotti are guaranteed to impress. Brew yourself a big pot of coffee and go make homemade biscotti!
Absolutely delicious and so decadent. This one’s a keeper. Thanks for the recipe!
Never mind. I changed the recipe to X2 and the ingredients doubled but the numbered directions remain for a single batch..
I’m not a baker but would like to try this recipe. If I double the recipe do I need to double the cook time
No you do not double cook time.
THey were good but did not Chrisp up much.
What did I do wrong?
Aimee, this recipe for Turtle Biscotti is the BEST! Thanks
You’re welcome 🙂
Oh my goodness! These look amazing and perfect for a coffee break!
I’ve never had a caramel biscotti sounds fantastic. I used to let my kids teethe on them. Please share this on my foodie friday party today.
Delicious! Biscotti is on my bucket list – I might have to try this!
Yes, yes, and YES!!!! I’ve added this to my great homemade gifts list!!! Just perfect and of course biscotti hold up so well when packaged. I’m already picturing these treats with pretty bows and maybe a cute coffee mug for teachers this year. Yup, now just to be on the lookout for the mugs!
I love biscotti! So perfect with coffee or uh, anything 🙂 turtle biscotti sounds like a fun twist!
would you believe I’ve never had biscotti! lol yep, never had. It looks really good. I dont know what’s wrong with me!? 😉
Yum! I love chocolate turtles, but would have never thought to put the same flavors + ingredients into biscotti! I didn’t know how easy biscotti was either. Great recipe!
Yummy turtle biscotti!!! I love it so tasty as well as chocolate peppermint biscotti. Thanks! 🙂
Sounds like a crazy weekend for sure. I hope you had lots of these yummy biscotti bars packed in your purse:-) How was the meet??
I love this recipe! Turtle anything is awesome. How’d the swim meet go? I can’t imagine spending a whole weekend at sports. :/