The 2nd Day of Christmas - Turtle candy

 The second day of Christmas I made my loved ones 2 turtle candies.

and a pear muffin 

I made a second batch (for me, neither pecans nor oil). That recipe is at the bottom

Ingredients 

chocolate:

• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (vegan)
• 1-2 Tbsp virgin coconut oil

Date Caramel:

• 10 Medjool Dates (I used Natural Delights)
• 2-3 Tbsp warm water (as needed to blend)
• 2 Tbsp virgin coconut oil
• 2 Tbsp coconut milk cream
• pinch of salt (optional)

Also

• 1 cup whole raw pecans
• parchment paper lined (small size) baking dish or tray

Instructions

1. Pit your dates. Soak them in warm water 2-3 minutes.
2. Add all caramel ingredients to a high speed blender, including the soaked dates. Discard soaking water.
3. Blend the caramel until smooth. You will need to stop blender to scrape down sides a few times and use a tamper if using a Vitamix. Use the tall skinny container if you have one.
4. When caramel is done, spoon it into a small bowl and place the bowl in the freezer to chill. Also place the baking sheet you will be using for the turtles in the freezer to get cold.
5. Create a double broiled for melting you chocolate. Melt chocolate until silky sooth. Pour chocolate into a small bowl and place that bowl in the freezer to cool a bit.
6. Pull your baking sheet from the freezer and line it with parchment paper.
7. Pull the caramel and chocolate from the freezer as well and start assembling your turtles. Create a turtle design with the pecans. Then add a dollop of caramel to each turtle. Then top with a spoonful of chocolate. The cold caramel and cold pan will help so that the chocolate does not spread too far when poured. Continue until all turtle are done. Note: If you are using a small baking pan -- you will probably need two pans for all your turtles.
8. Place the turtles back in the freezer and in 5-15 minutes they will be fully hardened and ready to enjoy! Store leftover in the fridge or freezer.

Cindy's version for walnut (oil-free) turtles

Ingredients 

chocolate:

• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (vegan)

Date Caramel:

• 10 Medjool Dates (I used Natural Delights)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• pinch of salt (optional)

Also

• 1 cup whole raw walnuts
• parchment paper lined (small size) baking dish or tray

Instructions

1. Pit your dates. Soak them in warm water 2-3 minutes.
2. Add all caramel ingredients to a high speed blender, including the soaked dates. Discard soaking water.
3. Blend the caramel until smooth. You will need to stop blender to scrape down sides a few times and use a tamper if using a Vitamix. Use the tall skinny container if you have one.
4. When caramel is done, spoon it into a small bowl and place the bowl in the freezer to chill. Also place the baking sheet you will be using for the turtles in the freezer to get cold.
5. Create a double broiled for melting you chocolate. Melt chocolate until silky sooth. Pour chocolate into a small bowl and place that bowl in the freezer to cool a bit.
6. Pull your baking sheet from the freezer and line it with parchment paper.
7. Pull the caramel and chocolate from the freezer as well and start assembling your turtles. Create a turtle design with the walnutss. Then add a dollop of caramel to each turtle. Then top with a spoonful of chocolate. The cold caramel and cold pan will help so that the chocolate does not spread too far when poured. Continue until all turtle are done. Note: If you are using a small baking pan -- you will probably need two pans for all your turtles.
8. Place the turtles back in the freezer and in 5-15 minutes they will be fully hardened and ready to enjoy! Store leftover in the fridge or freezer.
9.