Do you like those ooey, gooey, delicious chocolate caramel treats called turtles? Today I’m going to show you how to make Homemade Gluten-Free Turtles, aka Rolo Turtles. I think they are actually better than the boxed variety. This version takes 10 minutes tops from start to finish and you only need three ingredients! (Okay, one of those ingredients is made up of several itself, but still only three things for you to buy, and it’s possible you already have two of them on hand if you are like me.) This recipe not only has the requisite ooey, gooey factor, but it also has a little bit of saltiness. Don’t you love that combo of sweet and salty? Here’s how you can make some homemade gluten-free Rolo Turtles for the ones you love for Valentine’s Day. 🙂
How to Make Gluten-Free Rolo Turtles
Homemade Gluten-Free Turtles (Rolo Turtles)
You are sure to be the most popular person at the party when you show up with these Homemade Gluten-Free Turtles or as we like to call them Rolo Turtles! Bonus: You can make them in 5 minutes!
Ingredients
- Small gluten-free pretzels (I typically use pretzel twists or Wylde pretzels, which are rings)
- Rolos (not minis; minis are not listed as gluten free on Hershey's website)
- Pecan halves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Grease lightly or spray the foil with non-stick spray.
- Place pretzels on the cookie sheet about an inch or more apart.
- Top each pretzel with an unwrapped Rolo.
- Place in oven for no longer than 2 minutes.
- Remove and immediately press a pecan half down firmly in the center of the Rolo.
- Set cookie sheet aside for turtle treats to cool (about 30 minutes). Then serve to anyone you love!
Notes
Again, do not use Mini Rolos for these treats. They are not listed as gluten free on Hershey's website. Regular-sized Rolos are. Hershey lists the following under "U.S. Gluten-Free Products": "Rolo® Caramels in Milk Chocolate Candies – All Except Rolo® Minis.
Courses Dessert
Note: I think this recipe has been circulating for a good while, but I don’t know the origin. It was passed on to me by a gluten-free friend. However, as you can see it can be made by anyone—gf or not. I didn’t provide amounts for the ingredients because it’s up to you how many Homemade Gluten-Free Turtles you will make. I used about half a bag of Rolos this evening, which made 28 treats.
I am in the final throes of preparing for our big Valentine’s Day bash tomorrow night and these Rolo Turtles will be one of several treats on one dessert tray. To borrow (badly, I might add) from Robert Frost, “I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.” No snow here in our woods, but lots to do before I reach “home.” Sitting down to write this post might not have been the best idea … getting up will be very tough! I’m not kidding …
Oh, one more treat for you … I have updated my initial “Waiting” post with the Banana Maple-Nut Muffins recipe to now include pictures! I just made them yesterday for our overnight guests and they are even better than I remember. All (except that “test” one) are in the freezer until Sunday morning. Perhaps a little breakfast treat for you is in order soon?
Happy Valentine’s Day all! Whether you are staying in with the ones you love, heading out to a fancy dinner, or having a get together with dear friends, I hope you will have as good a time as we will on the big night!
xo
glutenfreeforgood says
Thanks for the muffin reminder. I have to bring a snack to a meeting next week and I think your muffins might be it. The new picture looks yummy. As for the turtles — they look deceivingly decadent. It’s a good day for it!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Melissa
Maureen "Hold The Gluten" says
Hope you had a WONDERFUL Valentine’s Day 🙂 These look delicious – the perfect mixture of sweet and salty! And no one needs to know that the pecans are quite healthy for you 🙂
Shirley says
Melissa–We had the muffins as part of our breakfast this morning and they were so good. 🙂 (BTW, our Vermont friends just brought us a big jug of maple syrup which be used for future batches—somuch better than what we can get here in the store!) I hope you and all your meeting buddies enjoy them. The turtles were all eaten up last night. They are just a small bite of decadence. 😉
Shirley
Shirley says
Hi Maureen–Thank you! It was a terrific Valentine’s Day … just could not have been better. Hope yours was great, also! Try making those treats with your children. They are just so easy and everyone will enjoy them. A mom at the party last night told me her daughter makes them all the time to take to events … she’s quite pleased with herself and the recipients are very grateful. 🙂
Shirley
noble pig says
What an awesome idea. I absolutely love them…the perfect size to just bite into!
Shirley says
noble pig–Thanks, Cathy. That’s exactly right … pop one in your mouth and you’re good to go! Very good to go. 😉
Shirley
Christine says
Shirley these look awesome, thanks for sharing! I’m going to remember these for my next “bring a dish” event. I love Rollo’s so I can’t wait to try them!
Shirley says
Hi, Christine–Welcome to GFE! Thank you. 🙂 These turtles are so easy to take to a gathering. Many will easily fit in a small container and then you can put them on a lovely plate once you arrive (if you wish). The presentation is always surprisingly impressive … not to mention the feedback once they are eaten. 😉
Shirley
RobinSue says
I make these too and they are delicious and such a hit anywhere I take them. Nope I don’t think anything like this is cheating!! Well cheating on my diet but not cheating as in cutting corners!!
Matt says
Shirley,
Hope your Valentine’s Day party went well.
I want to thank you again for all of your support. I just found yesterday that my issue is in fact a parasite! Which is exciting because it’s something I can fix. I have been GF for three plus weeks now and it has certainly weakened the pain. I’m still not sure if I’ll remain GF, but it will be interesting to do some testing after this is all over. Thanks,
Matt
Shirley says
Hi, Robin Sue! Thanks so much for sharing your own experience with these turtles. A personal endorsement is always the best! LOL on the clarification on which type of cheating it is (per the latest discussion on your wonderful blog, Big Red Kitchen).
Welcome to GFE! 🙂
Shirley
Shirley says
Matt–The party was fantastic! I hope to post a summary and a few pics with a recipe (of course) later. (BTW, there were several alumni from our alma mater in attendance!)
I am very happy to know you’ve found this answer. And, I love your attitude on it being a fixable problem! Of course, I still hope you will do testing to determine if gluten is an issue for you. If being GF has improved your symptoms in any way, gluten has to be playing some type of role in your situation. Unresolved gluten issues can be a factor in making one more susceptible to parasites (among so many other things). Carol at Simply Gluten Free did this post last year on the topic in regard to her own parasite issues. Worth a read …
Thanks so much for checking in … hope you’ll keep visiting GFE and keep us informed on your healing! All the best,
Shirley
Travis says
What a great idea! So simple too:) I have to say, they’ve been stepping up their game in making GF pretzels. I’ve tried quite a few GF varieties that taste no different than those polluted with gluten. Thanks for sharing this easy-to-make tasty treat!
Shirley says
Thanks, Travis! Do make these for a special treat sometimes. I agree on the latest GF pretzels. While I prefer the particular pretzels I used for this recipe for that purpose vs snacking, I tried the Glutino pretzel sticks a few months ago for a pumpkin dip recipe and I was amazed how good they tasted on their own. Best of all, for folks with multiple food issues/needs, they are gluten free, egg free, casein free, dairy free, and kosher.
Shirley
Carol, Simply...Gluten-free says
Yum and so easy!
Check out my latest blog post for a chance to win a great gluten book http://simplygluten-free.blogspot.com/2009/02/gluten-book-give-away.html
Shirley says
Thanks, Carol! And, thanks for stopping by GFE. I am sure my readers will want to visit your blog and comment to win the book by your doctors. It sounds terrific. How cool that you wrote a review in front of your friends’/doctors’ book!! 🙂
Shirley
Cindi says
Olivia and I made these this afternoon. She had a blast, especially pushing the pecan down into the gooey chocolate. They’re yummy!! And I love that the recipe is one I can do with Liv.
Shirley says
Cindi–You’ve made my day! I can just imagine you making these with Olivia—such fun. I am so glad you found the recipe to be so easy and yummy. It can be your fallback recipe for a special treat at home or one to take to an event and surprise and impress. 🙂
Shirley
Melanie says
Hi Shirley,
Thanks so much for your comment on my blog and for your help with promoting my book. I appreciate the advice and the encouraging words! I would be happy to send you a complimentary copy since you’ve shared it with others so much. Just remind me of your address! Oh, and I’m so glad to know about YOUR blog and recipes! Exciting! 🙂
Melanie
Shirley says
Melanie–Thanks for stopping by GFE! I will gladly accept your gracious offer of another copy of your wonderful book, Bagels, Buddy, and Me. It stays “checked out” from our support group all the time. 🙂 There are very few books about gluten intolerance/celiac for children. Plus, this one works for both children and adults. Sometimes we just want a simple explanation of why we need to eat gluten free … we don’t want to read a 200-page book with all the technical terms. Often, folks are just too overwhelmed at first to tackle those types of books. That’s why I have your book in my Amazon picks. It was so neat to find your blog and make this connection. 🙂
Shirley
H.Peter says
I could use some of those for my flight.
Air Canada serves good food, but they do lack in snakcs….
Shirley says
H.Peter–Oh, that would have been a pleasant surprise!! A little tasty treat on an airline. 🙂 You can’t complain much when you have any good food on an airline though. I think we flew Air Canada once, but it was a short flight and I don’t remember any food, just drinks. Mostly I remember that they didn’t get all the luggage on the plane including ours and most of the musical equipment for the band sitting next to us … but that’s a story for another day. LOL
Shirley
Diane-The WHOLE Gang says
OMG! I love the things you come up with. I’m drooling. So now you’ve got me thinking. Rice and dairy free version. I’ll just go have a bit of chocolate now and think on it. Thank you for sharing this on Friday Foodie Fix.
Shirley says
Diane–LOL Thanks! If you come up with something, let me know so I can make it and share it with my support group members. I don’t know of a rice-free pretzel, but there have to be some substitutes …
Always my pleasure to share on the Friday Foodie Fix! This Friday chocolate … Mr. Linky better be doing push-ups to get ready!!
Shirley
Shirley says
Oh, I should add that it wasn’t my original idea … I got it from the leader of the other support group that I belong to. You know how quickly great and easy recipe ideas spread!
Shirley
Diane-The WHOLE Gang says
Queen of chocolate Friday Foodie Fix.
Shirley says
LOL … There are far worse titles. 😉
Shirley
Diane {createdbydiane.blogspot.com} says
very cute! I love quick and easy, and Rolos oh how I love caramel 🙂
Shirley says
Diane–Folks are always so impressed with these easy “homemade” candies. I’ve served them many times and taken them to many parties the last few years. 🙂
Please report back if you try them—thanks!
Shirley
[email protected] says
What a perfect Valentine treat! Thanks for joining in the fun at the Valentine Party!
~Liz
Shirley says
Liz–This is a great little treat to make. Folks will think you’ve toiled for hours over these delightful little confections! 😉
Have a wonderful time at Blissdom! You’re going to make folks very happy with your cupcakes!! 🙂
Shirley
Lexie says
Num num!