Christmas Turtles

Total Time: 25 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups pecan halves (about)
• 1 1/2 cups whipping cream
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 12 ounces bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened) or 12 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

Recipe

• 1 butter 2 large nonstick cookie sheets.
• 2 on prepared sheets, arrange pecan halves in clusters resembling turtles.
• 3 combine cream, sugar, corn syrup, milk and butter in heavy medium saucepan.
• 4 stir over low heat until sugar dissolves.
• 5 clip candy thermometer onto side of pan.
• 6 increase heat to high and boil without stirring until mixture turns golden, bubbles thickly and thermometer registers 234*f, swirling pan occasionally, about 15 minutes.
• 7 remove mixture from heat.
• 8 stir in vanilla.
• 9 immediately drop 1 tbs onto center of each pecan cluster.
• 10 cool slightly.
• 11 stir chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water until melted.
• 12 drizzle 1 tbs chocolate over each candy.
• 13 chill until chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.
• 14 can be made 1 week ahead.
• 15 cover and keep refrigerated.