Chocolate, caramel, and toasty pecans are a beautiful combination just meant to be enjoyed.

Turtles

The famous chocolate, caramel, and pecan candy is called a turtle because the arrangement of the nuts sticking out from under the chocolate makes people think of a turtle. The four legs are the nuts, while the head and tail are formed by extra chocolate runoff.

YIELD: 1 QUART

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup agave nectar
• Generous pinch of salt
• 4 large egg yolks
• 1/2 cup half and half
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup melted sugar-free chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
• 1/2 cup sugar-free caramel sauce

PREPARATION

1. Combine heavy cream, agave nectar, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a light simmer. Remove from heat.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks. While cream mixture is hot, temper the yolks by adding half of the mixture into the eggs, whisking constantly. Add egg mixture to the saucepan, and heat until thickened.
3. Add half and half and vanilla extract. Refrigerate 4 hours to overnight.
4. Add to ice cream maker and follow manufacturer’s instructions for freezing. In the last 30 seconds of churning, slowly drizzle melted chocolate into the churning ice cream. Before storing, fold in pecans and caramel sauce.