Turtle Pie Filling

Aug 18, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Pies tarts Origin: Madagascar Vanilla: Extract Easy

A classic turtle pie filling for one 9-inch pie. Best with Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic); any pure vanilla works. Makes one 9-inch pie (8 servings).

Prep 25 min

Cook 5 min

Chill 3 hr

Total 3 hr 30 min

Servings 8

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

1.09-inch chocolate cookie crust, homemade or store-bought
8.0 oz (227.0 g)cream cheese, softened
½ cup (60.0 g)confectioners' sugar
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)VanillaGoods pure vanilla extract
⅔ cup (200.0 g)thick caramel sauce, divided
1.0 cup (100.0 g)pecan halves, toasted and chopped
4.0 oz (113.0 g)dark chocolate, finely chopped
⅓ cup (80.0 ml)heavy cream

Make it at home

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Instructions

Beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla until smooth and spread in the crust.
Spoon 1/2 cup of the caramel over the cream cheese and scatter with the pecans.
Heat the cream until simmering, pour over the chocolate, and stir until smooth. Cool for 10 minutes, then drizzle over the pecans with the remaining caramel.
Refrigerate until set, at least 3 hours.

Tips

Vanilla swap: use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.
Best vanilla for this: Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic), or Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy). Any pure vanilla works.
Storage: Refrigerate for up to 4 days.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make turtle pie filling?

Plan on 25 minutes of prep and 5 minutes of cooking, plus 3 hours to chill. It makes one 9-inch pie (8 servings).

How should I store turtle pie filling?

Refrigerate for up to 4 days.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.

A classic turtle pie filling for one 9-inch pie. Best with Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic); any pure vanilla works. Makes one 9-inch pie (8 servings).

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

543 Calories / serving

36.0g Fat

53.1g Carbs

5.4g Protein

37.0g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~4344 cal · 288g fat · 425g carbs · 43g protein · 296g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 543 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 103 min·6.0 mi·~12050 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 74 min·3.7 mi·~7400 steps
Moderate cycling 55 min·11.0 mi
Swimming laps 76 min
Jogging 53 min·4.4 mi·~8500 steps
Stair climbing 50 min·~4500 steps
Dancing 88 min
Bodyweight circuit training 55 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 126 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.