Guest Post #1: Turtle Hand Pies

Hi everyone, can you believe it? Finally, I am this close to Graduation (Imagine me pinching my pointer finger with my thumb) 😀 – And with graduation comes performances, baking, class parties, baking, muck up days and lots of baking!

Before I graduate though, here I am ploughing through my workload because before every beautiful part of life, comes this hideous, clawing at your neck part known as my final exams. Eep! And because I cannot bake my butt off right now, I would like you to enjoy a huge range of wonderful guest posters especially chosen just for you! 

So close to the end of school, I can taste it! Au revoir mes cheris!

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Turtles. Tuuuurtles. TURTLES! The first word which pops in my head when I think of the super creative, super fabulous Kim from Cravings of a Lunatic – if you have not heard of  her blog, her insanely delicious and crazy blog, where have you been? 😉

A blogging Willy Wonka if you will, you really have to wonder where she gets her ideas for the insane desserts she shares with her readers!
I am sure you guys are going to enjoy this post to kick off my guest posts 😀 – Go Kim! Go Turtles (you shall see why…)

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Hi folks. Let me introduce myself before things get a little nutty here. I’m Kim and I blog at Cravings of a Lunatic. It’s a bit of an indulgent blog, I make things like Trix Krispies and Pink Popcorn. I bake way too much and have a serious penchant for anything sweet. I blog savoury food too, but sweets tend to be my first love.

When Uru asked for some of her peeps to help her out by providing guest posts I was thrilled to offer up my services. I love this girl. Her love for food makes me super happy, and her zest for life and writing styling keep me coming back to visit her time and time again. She’s just good people, and it’s a pleasure to know her. I think she’s one of the most supportive bloggers I’ve ever met. I sent her an email asking if she had any requests and she said something turtle related would be great. Ah, a girl who knows me and my obsessions. I love it.

Turtle Hand Pies by Cravings of a Lunatic 6

You see I’m a Canuck, and we have these chocolates here called Turtles which are chocolate, caramel and pecans shaped into a bit of a cluster. They resemble little turtles, hence the name. I’m wildly addicted to them and love any excuse to turn something into a turtle inspired treat. I have everything from Turtles French Toast, to Turtle Tailgate Mix, and even Turtle Apples for Halloween. I think my all time favourite is my Turtle Popcorn Gone Wild. It’s sort of addictive and not good for your waistline at all. So when Uru mentioned turtles my mind was spinning with possibilities. Even though I already have oodles of turtle recipes on my site, I knew I could come up with more. It’s a never-ending journey for me. I will never run out of ideas for my beloved turtle recipes.

Turtle Hand Pies by Cravings of a Lunatic 7

I mulled over some ideas and finally settled on hand pies. I was not too sure how they would turn out, but I’m very adventurous so I knew I had to try. They are actually super easy to make. I was sort of surprised how easy to be honest. I almost felt bad about it, but I was just too busy shoving turtle hand pies in my own pie hole to really care all that much. These things are freaking amazing. I loved them hot out of the oven, when everything was ooey and gooey. I could barely contain myself while taking photos. And let’s be honest, I did not contain myself very well at all. I was eating the hand pies before I even glazed them. I mean who wouldn’t. Just look at these things.

Turtle Hand Pies by Cravings of a Lunatic 12

Since it’s smack in the middle of a hot, humid summer here I opted to cheat and use pre-made pie dough. You can totally make your own. But if you don’t make your own don’t feel bad about it. We all cheat from time to time. Life man, you gotta do what you gotta do. And this girl was battling weather and a busy schedule while coming down with a summer cold. So I took the easy way out and it left more time for gobbling these bad boys up. I may have even hidden a few before the family came home. Survival of the fittest, and fastest in our household. Blink and your food disappears. So hiding some is always a good option here at the B household. Not going to lie. My family members are like rabid wolves some days. Rabid wolves who like chocolate, and caramel, and pecans.

Turtle Hand Pies by Cravings of a Lunatic 11

Turtles Hand Pies:

Ingredients:

  • 1 package of pre-made refrigerated pie dough
  • 1 package of caramel candies
  • 1 package of chocolate chips, or wafers
  • 1/2 cup chopped, or crushed pecans

Directions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C)
  2. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  3. Roll out your dough onto parchment paper. Use cookie cutters, or biscuit cutters to cut small shapes. I did half with hearts and half with rounds.
  4. For me this made 10 hand pies. So you will need double that amount of shapes since you have a top and a bottom.
  5. Once you cut them out you can roll out leftover dough to cut more shapes.
  6. Lay half of your shapes on top of the parchment lined cookie sheets.
  7. Fill each pie dough with a small amount of chocolate, I used two wafers per pie. Don’t over-stuff or they’ll leak. If using chips I’d say use about 1 tablespoon per pie dough.
  8. Add one to two pieces of caramel to each mini pie shape. I found cutting the caramels into smallish pieces really helps to keep them from getting too much height that it would be hard to get the top pie piece on later.
  9. Now add about one to two pecan halves, crushed or broken into each pie dough.
  10. Place your top piece of pie dough over top and smooth out.
  11. Press down gently and then go around the edges with your fingers to press them tight so nothing leaks out.
  12. Take a fork and press the edges again so they are tight. Go around the entire edge with the fork. Then poke little holes in the top of the pie dough so steam can release out the top as the cook.
  13. You can brush them with egg wash if you like, I oddly was out of eggs so I didn’t worry about that.
  14. You can also sprinkle them with sugar at this point if you like. I tossed some Demerara sugar on half of mine.
  15. Place them in a preheated 400 degree F (204 degrees C) oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
  16. While they cook you can prep some drizzle for the top.
  17. Take about 1/2 cup of chocolate and melt it in the microwave (or use a double boiler if you prefer that method) for about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Check and stir every 15 to 30 seconds since every microwave cooks differently. You wanted it melted and smooth for drizzling.
  18. Take about 1/2 cup of caramels and melt them the same way. (If you over cook it try adding a touch of cream to loosen it up a bit.)
  19. Crush some extra pecans, about 1/4 cup, for tossing over top of the hand pies.
  20. Once the hand pies are out of the oven drizzle them first with chocolate, then caramel. Now you can toss pecans over top.
  21. Serve with big old Turtles smile! 😀

I cannot even begin to describe how good these are. They are also remarkably easy to make. Which is good since there’s nothing worse than taking all day to make something and the family inhales it in 1.39 seconds. This is a dessert I can feed them and feel like I got some bang for buck time wise. That rarely happens around here. Mostly because I inhale everything myself in 1.31 seconds so I can beat them to the punch. A girls gotta eat people. If it means inhaling food, hiding food or even stealing food out of my family’s hands I’m down with it. Happy Mama, Happy Family is my motto.

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I’d like to thank my lovely friend, Uru, for allowing me the great pleasure of being here today. I am thrilled to do this and hope the turtle recipe makes her wildly happy. I also hope she passes her exams with flying colours.

Thanks to all you Go Bake Yourself readers for allowing me into your world today. I hope you get a chance to make these amazing Turtles Hand Pies. You will become as wildly addicted to Turtles as I am.

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What a way to kick off guest posts right? Bet you don’t miss me at all 😉 – Thank you so much for Kim for sharing your expertise on Turtles and such a delicious dessert – being a hand pie means it should constantly be held/devoured right?

To see more crazy fabulous creations, head on over to  Cravings of a Lunatic 😀

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76 Comments

  9. Kim Bultman says:

    There are so many reasons to smile about this post. Uru’s intro. Kim’s writing & photography. All things turtle. Turtle hand pies! Thank you both for blessing my day (and sweet tooth.)

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  18. Amy Tong says:

    These Turtles Hand Pies are simply beautiful. I love it. SO glad that you’re getting closer to graduating, that must be super excited. I wish you all the best on exams and all those baking and celebrations! 😉

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  19. gottagetbaked says:

    Kim, you are truly the queen of turtles! Your ingenuity when it comes to baking/cooking with these things is unparalleled! I’d push my own grandmother over to get to these hand pies! Uru, you’re almost there girl. It’s the home stretch and I’m sure you’re kicking butt with all of your exams.

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  26. Edible Celebrations (@lavesta) says:

    Nice to “meet” you Kim. I’m mighty tempted to indulge in these sinful pies. The fact that pre-made pie crust is possible to use makes me almost as happy as actually eating two or three! (see how I skipped just one, lol)

    Thank you so much for sharing and thank YOU Uru for keeping our tummies full while you finish your exams. Good Luck!

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  36. Pingback: Turtle Hand Pies | homethoughtsfromabroad626

  41. A_Boleyn says:

    I have to admit that the heart shapes were the first thing that drew my eye and then the oozing caramel filling. The glaze really makes it.

    Fingers still crossed about your exams, CCU.

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    • Kim Beaulieu says:

      Thank you so much Maureen.

      ps I got your reply to my email but my son is visiting so I’m not balancing work and life really well right now. Be in touch when I have some down time. xx

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    • Kim Beaulieu says:

      Ha, it’s like a sickness at this point. I cannot help myself. I swear my tongue got lit on fire with these but I figured oh well, no pain no gain. Wait, that can’t be right.

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  48. Kim Beaulieu says:

    Thanks so much for allowing me to take over your site for the day Uru. I really am so pleased to be here. It was so much fun to dream something up that was Go Bake Yourself worthy. I’m so glad you liked these. I wish we lived closer so I could bring you over a study picnic basket. I hope you’re kicking butt in your exams. Thanks so much for being such a supportive blogger and friend. I’ve never met anyone as kind and thoughtful as you. I’m lucky to know you. xx

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  50. Curry and Comfort says:

    How did I know seeing a turtle recipe had to do with Kim… well… she’s the turtle recipe queen after all. 🙂 These look spectacular!

    I can’t wait to see you graduate my dear… best of luck on your exams. 🙂

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  51. Pingback: Turtles Hand Pies | Cravings of a Lunatic

  52. Kathleen Richardson says:

    Good morning from New York State, CCU. What a great way to start off the day with these lovely little creatures(!) created by Kim. You two must be related. She certainly thinks with a sweet-focused mind like you do. I’m sure you’ll ace your exams, CCU, and thanks for thinking of us by bringing in all the guest posters.

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  53. Bam's Kitchen says:

    Good luck with your exams CCU! Kim these are just drop dead delicious looking. I am sure that CCU would like a few hand delivered to help her get through those next few weeks of final exams.

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