Turtle Pie

This easy no bake Turtle Pie recipe has a chocolate Oreo cookie crust, caramel cream cheese filling, topped with chocolate ganache, homemade salted caramel sauce, toasted pecans and whipped cream. Add a few cherries if you like too, I know I do!

This easy pie recipe is decadent and delicious. It leaves your guests feeling like you’ve done a lot of work when really it was a pretty simple recipe that you’ll make again and again.  I promise this will be one of your favorite new recipes!

This turtle cream pie has a dulce de leche feel to it. The filling tastes similar to my Dulce de leche ice cream.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Pie is another decadent pie I like to serve. This cream pie works well in the summer months and for holidays!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s easy – Everyone loves an easy dessert and cream pies. No bake recipes are always high on my list. This no bake pie is perfectly easy and so yummy.
• No bake – You need a few no bake dessert recipes up your sleeve for days when you don’t want to turn on the oven or you just want something with less effort.
• Make ahead – This Turtle Pie recipe can be made ahead up to 48 hours. That means more time to get yourself ready and relax.

What Is Turtle Pie?

Have you ever had Edward’s Turtle Pie from the grocery store before? Or store bought or homemade turtle candies? This is a recreation of the store bought chocolate Turtle Pie you’ve had but this recipe is even better! You can’t beat homemade.

This pie recipe has a chocolate cookie crust with a smooth caramel cream cheese filling, similar to a no bake caramel cheesecake, topped with chocolate ganache sauce, homemade caramel sauce, toasted pecans and whipped cream. I add cherries to the top of mine because it reminds me of a Turtle Sundae from Culver’s

Ingredients

• Oreos – I use regular chocolate Oreos for the pie crust but this recipe also works with Golden Oreos and gluten free Oreo cookies.
• Unsalted Butter – I prefer unsalted so I can control the salt level myself.
• Kosher Salt – I’m partial to Diamond Crystal kosher salt. If using Morton’s kosher salt then reduce salt amounts by 25%.
• Cream Cheese – Full fat cream cheese works best here.
• Vanilla Extract – Pure vanilla extract is the way to go.
• Granulated Sugar – Granulated sugar is used to make a quick and easy caramel sauce.
• Heavy Cream – Heavy cream gets added to the salted caramel sauce and chocolate ganache.
• Bittersweet Chocolate – Use a good quality chocolate to make the ganache. A chocolate bar or chocolate chips work. Dark chocolate works too.
• Pecans – What’s a Turtle Pie without pecans? I toast the pecans to bring out a bit more flavor. I use whole pecans but pecan halves or chopped pecans work too.
• Whipped Cream – I use Cool Whip in this recipe for ease, plus I like the taste. You can make homemade whipped cream with heavy whipping cream.
• Cherries – Add a few Maraschino cherries to the top! This is optional but delicious and gives you that sundae look.

How To Make Turtle Pie

Making this easy Turtle Pie recipe is a cinch! This will quickly become one of your favorite desserts that’s great for holidays, summer parties and game day during football season.

Step 1: Prepare homemade caramel sauce in a medium saucepan. Pour sugar evenly over the bottom of a medium or large pot. Heat over low – medium heat until sugar starts to melt. Watch carefully so it does not burn, do not stir. Swirl the pan around from time to time until sugar is fully dissolved, it will be a medium amber color. Whisk in butter, it will sputter at you, that is normal. Keep stirring until it calms down then whisk in the heavy cream and remove from heat. Stir until mixture is combined and no longer bubbling up. Stir in salt then transfer to a heat proof container and set aside to cool or into the fridge.

Step 2: Blend Oreos and salt in food processor until you have fine crumbs. Add melted butter and blend for another 10 seconds. Firmly push the crumbs into the bottom and sides of the pie dish. Chill cookie crust while preparing filling.

Step 3: Beat the room temperature cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl for 1 minute on medium speed. Add 3/4 cup cooled caramel sauce to cream cheese mixture, blend until fully combined. Mix in vanilla and salt then beat for 2 more minutes on medium speed. Fold in the whipped cream with a rubber spatula. Smooth creamy caramel filling into cooled cookie crust then refrigerate at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.

Step 4: Preheat oven to 350°F and line sheet tray with parchment paper. Roast pecans for 5-10 minutes, until lightly toasted. Set aside to cool.

Step 5: Make chocolate ganache then drizzle melted chocolate over the top of the chilled Turtle Pie. Add crunchy pecans around the outside of pie. Drizzle salted caramel over top of pie. Pipe fluffy whipped cream on top of pie. Top this caramel turtle pie recipe with cherries if you like then serve chilled.

Substitutions & Variations

• The crust – Gluten free Oreos may be used to make this a gluten free recipe. Use the same amounts of everything, just subbing the Oreos. You can also use Golden Oreos for a vanilla crust or even buy store bought Oreo crust (although homemade is better).
• Chocolate ganache – If you have a favorite chocolate sauce, chocolate syrup or hot fudge sauce, it can be used on top of the pie. I am partial to a chocolate ganache on this Turtle Pie but the other sauces work too.
• Caramel Sauce – Store bought caramel sauce can be used in this pie recipe.
• Whipped Cream – Homemade whipped cream may be used in place of Cool Whip. Beat until you have stiff peaks before piping if making homemade.

• Sugar – Try brown sugar in the caramel no bake cheesecake filling instead of granulated sugar. 

Expert Tips

• Make the homemade caramel sauce ahead of time, up to 5 days. It can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Bring to room temperature before using.
• Make the whole pie up to 48 hours ahead of time. Store in the fridge, wrapped in plastic wrap.
• Don’t skip out on chilling the Oreo cookie crust. This helps it hold together after the filling is added.
• Make sure you chill the finished pie for at least 2 hours for it to set. Overnight is best.
• Do not use the homemade caramel sauce while it’s hot. This will ruin the consistency of the filling. Cool it to room temperature or slightly warmer before using.

• Bring the cream cheese to room temperature first. Softened cream cheese works best.

• Frozen turtle pie is delicious too, hint hint. Store it in the freezer!

Frequently Asked Questions