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Turtle Cookies

Turtle Cookies (Mckenzie's Bakery~ N.O.LA recipe image
These Turtle Cookies are a nostalgic treat inspired by New Orleans-style bakery favorites. The dough is rich with brown sugar, vanilla, and a hint of maple, yielding a soft, chewy texture that holds its shape beautifully. Each cookie is adorned with pecan halves to resemble a turtle's shell and feet, then topped with a glossy, sweet chocolate frosting. Perfect for holiday gatherings, cookie exchanges, or as a special afternoon indulgence, these cookies combine classic baking techniques with playful presentation.
Cooking Method:
Cuisine:
Courses:
Difficulty: Advanced
Servings: 2
Calories: 743.8
Dietary: Vegetarian
Description
These Turtle Cookies are a nostalgic treat inspired by New Orleans-style bakery favorites. The dough is rich with brown sugar, vanilla, and a hint of maple, yielding a soft, chewy texture that holds its shape beautifully. Each cookie is adorned with pecan halves to resemble a turtle's shell and feet, then topped with a glossy, sweet chocolate frosting. Perfect for holiday gatherings, cookie exchanges, or as a special afternoon indulgence, these cookies combine classic baking techniques with playful presentation.
Ingredients
  • Butter or margarine
  • Light brown sugar, packed
  • Egg
  • Yolk
  • White
  • Vanilla
  • Maple flavoring
  • All-purpose flour
  • Salt
  • Baking soda
  • Pecan halves
  • Solid baking chocolate
  • Milk
  • Butter
  • Powdered sugar
Directions
  1. 1
    Cream the 1/2 cup butter with the brown sugar until light and fluffy.
  2. 2
    Beat in the whole egg, egg yolk, vanilla, and maple flavoring until well combined.
  3. 3
    Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda in a separate bowl.
  4. 4
    Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, mixing until a smooth dough forms.
  5. 5
    Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
  6. 6
    Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  7. 7
    On a greased cookie sheet, arrange groups of 5 pecan halves for each cookie: one for the head and four for the feet, leaving space in the center for the body.
  8. 8
    Shape tablespoon-sized portions of chilled dough into oval bodies.
  9. 9
    Dip the bottom of each dough oval into the reserved egg white.
  10. 10
    Press the egg-white-coated dough onto the cookie sheet, nestled among the pecan halves to form the turtle's shell.
  11. 11
    Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cookies are set and lightly golden.
  12. 12
    Remove from oven and let cool completely on the baking sheet.
  13. 13
    For the frosting, melt the baking chocolate, 1/4 cup milk, and 1 tbsp butter together over low heat or in short microwave bursts, stirring until smooth.
  14. 14
    Beat in the powdered sugar until the frosting is thick and smooth.
  15. 15
    Drizzle or spoon the chocolate frosting over the cooled cookies.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 2 cups

Amount Per Serving
Calories 743.8kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 29.1g45%
Saturated Fat 9.0g45%
Cholesterol 274.9mg92%
Sodium 1601.7mg67%
Total Carbohydrate 102.7g35%
Dietary Fiber 2.6g11%
Sugars 30.7g
Protein 16.4g33%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Keywords: turtle, cookies, pecan, chocolate, frosting, baking, dessert, holiday, nola, brown sugar, maple, vanilla, chewy, traditional, new orleans, cookie exchange, shell, indulgent
Read it online: https://www.chefs-mate.com/recipe/turtle-cookies-mckenzies-bakery-n-o-la/