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Recipes

This Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bark is Salty-Sweet Perfection

This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at Wash U chapter.

If you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for a way to satisfy your daily caramel and chocolate cravings. Thankfully, my friend Nicole makes this super simple chocolate salted caramel pretzel bark, and it is so addictive that (unfortunately for my diet), I can’t get enough.

Between the pretzels and sugary caramel, this bark is the perfect combo of salty and sweet flavors. Nicole was kind enough to share the recipe with me, so that I could share it with the Spoon-iverse. Make the bark for a big group of friends, or keep it all to yourself for when you’re watching Netflix and need something to snack on straight from the pan (because you deserve it). 

I recommend doubling this recipe just in case you start eating it before it’s done baking—because trust me, it’s tempting.

Chocolate Salted Caramel Pretzel Bark

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 8 minutesCook time: 12 minutesTotal time: 20 minutesServings:6 servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Hope Steele

    Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. The recommended pan size is an 11×17 sheet, but feel free to use whatever you have in your dorm or apartment—it tastes delicious no matter what pan you use.

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    Line the baking sheet (or sheets if you’re making a double recipe) evenly with pretzels.

  3. Hope Steele

    Combine the brown sugar and butter in a small sauce pan, and put it on the stove.

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    Cook on medium-low heat, stirring often until the sugar dissolves and the mixture thickens. This should take about 5 to 8 minutes.

  5. Hope Steele

    Pour the sugar and butter mixture over the pretzels on the baking sheet. It’s ok if you can’t distribute it evenly—the mixture will spread out in the oven on its own.

  6. Hope Steele

    Place the baking sheet into the oven for 5 minutes to let the caramel melt, then take it out for a minute.

  7. Hope Steele

    Sprinkle chocolate chips over the pretzels and caramel. Put the baking sheet back into the oven for one minute to let the chocolate melt.

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    Use a spatula to evenly spread the chocolate and caramel over the pretzels. Add a pinch of sea salt on top to enhance the perfect salty-sweet combo.

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    Though it’s tempting to eat it all right away, it’s best to cool the mixture in the freezer for 2 to 3 hours, or until it sets completely.

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    Remove the pretzel bark from the foil and break it into pieces. Store in the fridge in a tupperware or ziplock bag, or just eat it all ASAP.

The best parts about this pretzel bark are the short cook time and ingredient list. Most of the items are common kitchen staples, so I only had to buy a bag of pretzels and some chocolate chips. 

I used semi-sweet chocolate for the recipe, but try it with milk chocolate or dark chocolate instead if you’d like—there’s really no way to go wrong with any combination of chocolate and caramel. If you’re feeling adventurous, top it off with some M&Ms or crushed Oreos, too.

Hope Steele

Wash U '20