Spiced Pecan Chocolate Turtles (Turtle Doves)

Ingredients:

Spiced Pecans: 

3 cups pecan halves 

1 teaspoon Fleur de Sel

¼ teaspoon black pepper

Pinch cayenne pepper 

1 ½ tablespoons dark brown sugar 

1 tablespoon Rosemary Infused Olive Oil 

1 tablespoon Blood Orange Infused Olive Oil 

Remaining:

14 to 16 soft caramel candies 

1 ½ cup dark chocolate chips 

Flaky sea salt, for garnish (optional) 

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place pecans, salt, pepper, cayenne, brown sugar, rosemary olive oil, and blood orange olive oil in a large bowl and toss to coat and combine. Transfer the seasoned pecans to the prepared baking sheet and spread out in an even layer. Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool at room temperature. 

Once the pecans have cooled, make little clusters or mounds of 5 pecans on a wax paper-lined baking sheet. 

Place the caramel candies in a microwave-safe bowl and warm in 20 second intervals until melted. Spoon approximately 1 ½ tablespoons of melted caramel over the pecan mounds. Set aside to cool at room temperature until the caramel is no longer runny. 

Place the dark chocolate chips in another microwave-safe bowl and warm in 20 second intervals until melted. Spoon approximately 1 ½ tablespoons of the melted chocolate over the caramel. 

Once all the chocolate has been divided, sprinkle each turtle with a small pinch of salt. 

Set the sheet pan aside to cool completely and serve once the chocolate has hardened. Serves 12