Pecan Clusters

Pecan clusters combine a gooey date caramel with melted dark chocolate and a sprinkle of sea salt for an irresistible no-bake treat! With only 5 ingredients, you can make these decadent desserts in 20 minutes, perfect for when a chocolate craving hits. 🙂

If you’re looking for a gift to make during the holidays, these pecan clusters are just what you need. They’re festive, allergy-friendly, and super simple to prepare – all you need is five ingredients! Wrapped in a box lined with parchment paper and tied with a red ribbon, they are just such a cute gift that your friends and family are sure to appreciate.

Are Pecan Clusters and Turtles the same thing?

Originally, chocolate turtles were made with peanuts topped with caramel and chocolate. Now, people often use pecans in place of peanuts for chocolate turtle candies. These pecan clusters are very similar to chocolate turtles, except that they use homemade date caramel instead of caramel candies.

How do you keep Pecan Clusters from sticking?

An easy way to keep pecan clusters from sticking together is to make them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. When you store the pecan clusters in an air-tight container, make sure to put a sheet of parchment paper between layers of clusters so that they don’t stick to each other. Keeping them in the freezer will also help the chocolate from melting.

Tips for making Pecan Clusters

• If you’re having a difficult time blending the dates, just add a bit more warm water to the mixture. You can also start and stop the blender, scraping the insides of the blender down as needed so that the date mixture becomes smooth.
• Need to make these dairy-free? Just use your favorite dairy-free chocolate chips. Lily’s has great vegan chocolate chip options that taste just as good.
• Store these pecan clusters in the fridge for up to 1 week in an air-tight container. You can also keep them in the freezer. Just let them thaw in the fridge for a bit, so you don’t chip a tooth. 🙂

Tools you will need

To make these pecan clusters, you just need a blender, measuring cups and spoons, a baking tray with parchment paper, a microwave-safe bowl, and a spoon.

Ingredients you will need:

You only need 5 ingredients to make these yummy pecan treats!

• 1 cup pecans – They can be toasted or just raw, whichever you prefer.
• 1 cup pitted dates – I used Deglet Noor dates, but you can really use any variety you like.
• 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips – Dark chocolate is the best! We always have a stock of Trader Joe’s dark chocolate chips on hand for treats like these.
• 1 tsp vanilla – This just adds a little extra sophistication to the date caramel 🙂
• 1 tsp salt – I used kosher salt, but you could also use Himalayan sea salt if you like.

That’s it – only 5 ingredients!

How to make Pecan Clusters

To make the date caramel, soak the dates in warm water for 15 minutes to soften them.

Once the dates have softened, put them in a blender with the vanilla and 1-2 tbsp of the warm water. Blend until the dates form a smooth consistency. If the caramel is too chunky, add a bit more water, and keep blending it until it becomes smooth. You can also use a spatula to push the date caramel down if it goes up the sides of the blender.

Arrange the pecans in 15 clusters on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

Put a spoonful of the date caramel in the middle of each nut cluster. You can use your fingers to press the pecans into the caramel a bit so that they hold together.

Place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave them at 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until they are completely melted.

Put a spoonful of the melted chocolate over the top of each pecan cluster. You can use your spoon to smooth the chocolate out a bit.

Sprinkle a pinch of salt over each pecan cluster before the chocolate cools.

Freeze the pecan clusters for at least 30 minutes, so that the chocolate and the date caramel harden. Enjoy your pecan clusters!

Looking for more no-bake treats?

If you are, make sure to head over to the Kitchen Counter for lots of simple and yummy desserts. Here are some you might enjoy:

• Stovetop Candied Pecans
• Peanut Butter Protein Cookies
• Banana Bites
• Fruit and Nut Bars
• Pumpkin Protein Bites

If you make this recipe and enjoy it, let me know in the comments section below! You can also tag me on instagram @oldfashionedinspiration with a picture of your creation.