Old-Fashioned Chocolate Caramel Turtle Fudge

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Caramel Turtle Fudge is a real winner in my book. It's fudgy, chewy, and requires only 15 minutes to make.

For everyone out there with a sweet tooth, this Old Fashioned Chocolate Caramel Turtle Fudge with Pecans that I'm sharing for the final week of #Choctoberfest 2016 has got your name written all over it. Well, not really, but I double-dog-dare you not to love everything about it!

Welcome back to my third recipe post celebrating #Chocotoberfest 2016. #Choctoberfest is an awesome annual food blogger event where your favorite food bloggers (70 to be exact), come together to celebrate all things chocolate, share our best recipes, and even throw in a sweet giveaway! To learn more about the GIVEAWAY, and for your chance to ENTER to WIN the FABULOUS PRIZE PACKAGE (made possible by our generous sponsors), please visit my previous #Choctoberfest recipe post found HERE for my Deliciously Easy White Chocolate Ghost Pops.  While you're at it, why not follow Allison from The PinterTest Kitchen on pinterest? Without her, none of this #choctoberfest deliciousness would be happening. Thanks so much, Allison!!

At the end of this post, please make sure to click on all the link photos to be taken to all the other wonderfully sinful (in a good way) chocolate recipes from all your favorite food bloggers. But now, back to the recipe for Old Fashioned Chocolate Caramel Fudge with Pecans...

Turtles are on the top of my list of favorite candies. I've made traditional turtle candy many times before, but they're rather time-consuming and are a real labor of love. I used to make them for my dad because they were his favorites, too.

My dad used to request that I make them for him from time to time, and I was always happy to oblige. As we all know, there is nothing better than giving a gift of food, with love as the main ingredient.

I've not made traditional turtle candy since my dad passed away last April. It just wouldn't feel right. I'm sure that someday I will make them again, but it will have to be a VERY special occasion for me to do so. Food memories are strong. Stronger than I am, and I'm not sure I can handle the flood of emotion making them would bring. Until that time, this recipe for Old Fashioned Chocolate Caramel Turtle Fudge is the next best thing. I'm sure my dad would approve, and that makes me happy!

Since this recipe calls for using individually wrapped store-bought caramel candies, the time involvement needed to make this Old-Fashioned Chocolate Caramel Turtle Fudge is minimal.

So put away the candy thermometer! And while you're at it, why not make a few extra batches because a box of this chewy, fudgy, chocolaty confection will make the perfect homemade food gift of love this holiday season.

The step-by-step photo instructions:

• Assemble your ingredients and equipment; aluminum foil, 8" x 8" baking dish, caramels, chocolate chips, medium saucepan, sweetened condensed milk, butter, pecans, salt, vanilla extract, and baking spray.
• Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and spray it liberally with baking spray. Set aside.
• Unwrap approximately 20 caramel squares and place them in a bowl. Set aside.

• Place the chocolate chips in the saucepan along with the can of sweetened condensed milk.
• Melt the chocolate over medium-low heat, stirring frequently so as to not scorch the chocolate.
• Once thoroughly melted remove the chocolate from the heat and stir in vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
• Stir in the butter and chopped pecans. Once slightly cooled, but not hardened, stir in the caramel squares.
• Spread the fudge mixture in the aluminum foil-coated pan and press additional pecans on the top.
• Chill the fudge for at least 60 minutes.
• Once chilled, lift the fudge from the pan using the foil.
• Peel back the foil and cut the fudge into squares before serving.