Description
Sweet and salty caramel pretzel bark delivers a perfect blend of crispy pretzels, rich chocolate, and silky caramel. Homemade dessert enthusiasts will discover an irresistible treat that combines crunchy textures with deep, indulgent flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
Crunchy Base:
- 3 cups mini pretzels
Finishing Touch:
- 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper, allowing extra material to hang over the edges for effortless removal. Arrange mini pretzels in a uniform layer across the entire surface.
- Create the caramel sauce by melting butter in a saucepan over medium temperature. Incorporate brown sugar and intensify heat until the mixture reaches a rolling boil. Continuously stir for 3-4 minutes, watching the color transform into a deep golden hue and the consistency thicken.
- Gently drizzle the hot caramel across the pretzel landscape, using a spatula to distribute the molten mixture evenly, ensuring complete pretzel coverage.
- Heat the oven to 350F. Transfer the caramel-coated pretzels and bake until the caramel begins to bubble and dance, approximately 5-7 minutes. Allow a brief cooling period of 2-3 minutes after removing from the oven.
- Cascade chocolate chips uniformly over the warm caramel. Permit the chips to soften for 2-3 minutes, then smooth them into a seamless chocolate blanket using a spatula.
- While the chocolate remains warm, delicately scatter flaky sea salt across the surface. Allow the bark to cool naturally at room temperature or accelerate setting by chilling in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.
- Once completely solidified, fracture the bark into rustic, irregular pieces ready for indulgence.
Notes
- Select high-quality pretzels for maximum crunch and flavor, ensuring they’re evenly distributed across the baking sheet.
- Work quickly when pouring caramel to prevent uneven coating and potential burning of the mixture.
- Use a candy thermometer for precise caramel consistency, aiming for a golden amber color without scorching.
- Experiment with different chocolate types like dark, milk, or white chocolate to customize the bark’s flavor profile.
- Enhance the recipe by adding crushed nuts, dried fruit, or drizzling additional melted chocolate for extra texture and visual appeal.
- Store the bark in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting pretzels with gluten-free alternatives or using crushed rice crackers for a similar crunch.
- Consider reducing sugar content by using a sugar substitute or cutting back on the amount of brown sugar in the caramel.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 215
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg