🍫🥨 Oven-Baked 5-Ingredient Caramel Pretzel Crunch Bars
These sweet-and-salty caramel pretzel bars are incredibly easy to make. Crunchy pretzels are coated with buttery caramel, topped with melted chocolate, and finished with chopped nuts. The result is a deliciously gooey, crunchy treat that’s perfect for parties and holiday dessert trays.
🛒 Ingredients
- 1 bag (about 10 oz / 283 g) whole pretzel twists
- 1 cup caramel sauce
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup chopped pecans or peanuts
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the pan
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch glass baking dish.
2. Add the pretzels
Arrange the whole pretzel twists in an even layer across the bottom of the dish.
3. Add the caramel
Mix the melted butter with the caramel sauce. Pour the mixture evenly over the pretzels, making sure it gets down between the twists.
4. Bake
Bake for 8–10 minutes, just until the caramel mixture is hot and bubbling around the edges.
5. Add the chocolate
Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips over the hot pretzels. Let them sit for 2–3 minutes to soften, then spread the melted chocolate into an even layer.
6. Add the nuts
Sprinkle the chopped pecans or peanuts over the chocolate. Gently press them into the chocolate so they stick.
7. Chill and cut
Allow the bars to cool completely, then refrigerate until firm. Cut into squares or rectangles and serve.
⭐ Tips
- For easier slicing, chill the bars thoroughly before cutting.
- If your caramel sauce is very thick, warm it slightly before mixing with the butter.
- For a nut-free version, simply leave out the nuts and add a little flaky sea salt instead.
- Milk chocolate can be used for a sweeter version; dark chocolate gives a richer flavor.
Makes: About 16 bars
Prep: 10 minutes
Bake: 8–10 minutes
Chill: Until firm
🥨🍫 Crunchy pretzels + buttery caramel + chocolate = the perfect sweet-and-salty treat! ❤️