Description
Easy, no-bake Caramel Pretzel Crack Bars are a delightful combination of sweet caramel, crunchy pretzels, and rich chocolate. These bars are incredibly addictive and perfect for any occasion!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Base:
- 2 cups pretzels, crushed
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- Sea salt, for sprinkling (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal. - Prepare the Pretzels:
Spread the crushed pretzels evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. - Make the Caramel:
In a medium saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is smooth and starts to bubble, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. - Combine Caramel and Pretzels:
Pour the caramel mixture over the pretzels in the baking dish, spreading it out evenly. - Bake:
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the caramel is bubbly and golden brown. - Add Chocolate:
Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips over the hot caramel layer. Let the chocolate chips sit for a few minutes to soften, then use a spatula to spread them evenly over the caramel. - Sprinkle with Sea Salt (Optional):
If desired, sprinkle sea salt over the melted chocolate layer for a sweet and salty contrast. - Cool and Cut:
Allow the bars to cool completely in the baking dish at room temperature or in the refrigerator until the chocolate is set. Once cooled and set, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the baking dish and transfer them to a cutting board. Cut into bars of your desired size and enjoy!
Notes
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 130mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg