Yoder's Old-Fashioned Amish Turtle Candies

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Christmas means candy among the Amish and Yoder's Old-Fashioned Amish Turtle Candies are a favorite homemade treat from Amish Cook columnist, Gloria Yoder. This is probably my favorite turtle candy recipe ever, it is perfect for the holiday season! If you are looking for easy homemade turtles, this is the recipe for you.

A lot of Amish families celebrate the season through candies, pastries, and other edible treats. You don't see Santa or Christmas trees in many Amish homes. You will, however, find a lot of Christmas caroling. And exchanging Christmas cards is a pretty popular pasttime among the Amish. If you go to an Amish home this time of year, chances are you'll see pretty Christmas cards taped up on a wall or on a mantle.

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• 🍬 Old-Fashioned Amish Turtle Candies Ingredients
• 📋 Instructions
• 🍬More Amish Candy Recipes
• 🖨️ Full Recipe

The Amish Cook wrote about these candies and how they are a wonderful family tradition. She first wrote about the candies in 2016 and this is what she had to say:

You really should try some of the homemade candy that my sister Anna Faith makes at our uncle’s store. They have a mouth-watering variety of all kinds of options to choose from with the turtles probably ranking top on the popularity list. Anna Faith has helped make over a thousand of these the past several months. Why not drop in and try one for yourself? Okay, I know it’s not that easy. How about at least trying their recipe?  Yes, I do actually have permission to share their recipe with you.  Be sure you have plenty of people to share these with or you will be tempted to eat a belt-stretching amount.

Jessica was kind enough to try out these turtles, probably my favorite candy recipe, for us and, I think, did them amazing justice. Here is what she had to say:

They are pretty and taste amazing and we can't stop eating them. I also went off recipe and sprinkled sea salt on a few

Now, that sounds like a good idea!

Okay, before we get to the recipe, let's take you on a little photo tutorial.

The step that calls for boiling a can of condensed milk kind of blows me away. But, according to Jessica, it worked perfectly!

I've never been a huge white chocolate fan, but in this recipe it works so well, all the flavors meld and complement. Lay out the parchment paper on a cookie sheet just to give more support and if you have to move it from your counter, it'll be easier to do.

Who knew that to make amazing caramel all you had to do was boil a can of sweetened condensed milk for 3 hours??? And you get a nice creamy caramel, not a chewy caramel.

I can see a turtle taking shape!

These candies are a rich Christmas tradition among some segments of the Amish and you can make them part of yours too!

These yoder’s old-fashioned turtle candies, which kind of resemble pecan clusters, make a super Christmas gift for someone.  Just put them in a nice, colorful tin or airtight container and give some away. They don't need to be kept in the refrigerator or freezer, although you can (I like cold candy).   Some like to swap out the decadent pecans for almonds, but they are expensive too, and I think pecans work best and taste best.

This recipe works just fine as is - more than fine - but you can add a few splashes of flavor to the milk chocolate as you melt it.  Feel free to add a couple teaspoons of vanilla or a couple tablespoons of brown sugar.  We'll forget about calories for this one and just enjoy them as Christmas Day approaches. This candy is a nice change from the typical Christmas cookies (although you'll want to make this also). But hopefully these turtle candies will become part of your holiday traditions.

🍬 Old-Fashioned Amish Turtle Candies Ingredients

• ⅓  pound white chocolate
• 1 /2 pound pecan halves
• 1 can sweet condensed milk
• 1 pound milk chocolate

📋 Instructions

1. Melt white chocolate in double-boiler or microwave, then spoon dabs on wax or parchment paper. Dabs should be 1” in diameter.
2. Press three pecan halves side by side into each dab of chocolate.  Leave until the white chocolate is set.
3.  Place an unopened can of condensed milk in a 3 quart kettle , cover completely with water.
4. Bring to a boil and boil gently for 3 hours.
5. The can needs to be covered at all times, so keep monitoring how much water is in your kettle and add more if needed.
6. Remove from heat. Let can set in water until it is room temperature.
7. Remove from can and spread 1 rounded teaspoon of carmelized milk on top of the pecans.
8.  Melt milk chocolate in a double boiler or microwave then spoon on top of caramel, covering all but the tips of the pecans.
9. Let set and enjoy!

🍬More Amish Candy Recipes

Check out these super ones!

Christmas Cornflake Candy

Easy as a bowl of cereal!

Gloria's Guilt-Free Fudge

Indulge Guilt-Free!

🖨️ Full Recipe