Turtle Cruffins
If you love everything about turtle candy—rich caramel, crunchy pecans, and melty chocolate—get ready to fall hard for these Turtle Cruffins! Made with crescent roll dough, they’re ridiculously easy to throw together and taste like something straight from a fancy bakery.
Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a quick sweet treat, these gooey, caramel and pecan swirls will have everyone reaching for seconds. So good with a cup of coffee or enjoy it with an iced caramel macchiato.
Quick Snapshot
- Ready in: 30 minutes
- Servings: 12 cruffins
- Best For: brunch, bake sales, holiday treats, coffee breaks
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Shortcut Dough = Bakery Flavor Fast: Crescent dough gives these cruffins a buttery, flaky texture without the fuss.
- All the Turtle Candy Vibes: Caramel, pecans, and chocolate chips baked into golden rolls for the ultimate gooey bite.
- Perfect Make-Ahead Treat: Bake a batch in the morning or the night before—just rewarm or enjoy at room temp!
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Ingredients for Turtle Cruffins Recipe
- Crescent dough
- Caramel sauce
- Chopped pecans
- Chocolate chips
- Flake salt (optional, for garnish)
Step-by-Step Directions for Cruffins
- Unroll and Press Dough: Open each can of crescent dough and unroll onto a clean surface. Press the seams together to make one large sheet per can.
- Spread Caramel: Spoon and gently spread caramel evenly over the dough.
- Add Pecans & Chocolate: Sprinkle chopped pecans and mini chocolate chips over the caramel layer.
- Roll and Slice: Roll up each dough sheet from the short side into a tight log. Slice each roll into 4 equal pieces.
- Fill Muffin Tin: Line a muffin pan with paper liners or grease it well. Place each roll cut side up into the tin.
BAKING TIP: The caramel may bake over – place muffin tin on a parchment lined baking sheet to catch any spills.
- Bake: Bake at 375°F for 16–20 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Garnish: Let cool slightly. If desired, sprinkle with flake salt before serving for that sweet-salty bite.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Want extra gooeyness? Drizzle with more caramel right out of the oven.
- Make it nut-free: Swap pecans for crushed pretzels or leave them out altogether.
- Storage: Store cooled cruffins in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Warm in the microwave for 10–15 seconds before serving.
Don’t Miss This Easy Treat!
Turtle Cruffins are the kind of treat that feels a little fancy but takes almost no time to make. Whether you’re hosting brunch or need a quick dessert to wow your friends, these gooey caramel rolls hit the sweet spot.
Try these Caramel Pecan Cruffins Recipe this week and let us know what you think—don’t forget to leave a comment and star rating below!
Turtle Cruffins
Ingredients
- 3 cans refrigerated crescent dough
- 1 cup caramel sauce
- 1 cup pecans chopped
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- Line a muffin tin with paper liners. Place muffin tin on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to catch any spills.
- Open each can of crescent dough and unroll onto a clean surface. Press the seams together to make one large sheet per can.
- Spoon and gently spread 1/3 cup caramel evenly over the dough.
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- Place liners in muffin tin.
- Open each can of crescent dough and unroll onto a clean surface. Press the seams together to make one large sheet per can.
- Spread 1/3 cup of caramel over each dough rectangle.
- Sprinkle with 1/3 cup of pecans and 1/3 cup of chocolate chips over each rectangle.
- Roll dough up from the short side.
- Cut each roll into 4 slices.
- Place into lined muffin tin.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from oven and cool 2- 3 minutes in the muffin tin. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
Notes
- Want extra gooeyness? Drizzle with more caramel right out of the oven.
- Make it nut-free: Swap pecans for crushed pretzels or leave them out altogether.
- Storage: Store cooled cruffins in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Warm in the microwave for 10–15 seconds before serving.
Nutrition
More Cruffin Recipes to Try
- Peach Pie Cruffins – Flaky crescent dough filled with sweet peach preserves and warm cinnamon sugar, then baked until golden and finished with a buttery glaze—just like your favorite slice of peach pie in a handheld treat.
- Maple Bacon Cruffins – The ultimate sweet and savory combo! These cruffins are layered with crispy bacon and rich maple syrup, baked to perfection for an irresistible breakfast or brunch pastry.
- Coconut Cruffins – Loaded with coconut and mini chocolate chips, these candy bar-inspired cruffins are tender, buttery, and perfect for coconut lovers.
- Sopapilla Cheesecake Cruffins – Inspired by the classic dessert these croissant muffins are coated with cinnamon sugar and have a gooey cheesecake filling.
- You’ll also love our Quick and Easy Crescent Roll Desserts for more easy ideas.