This delicious Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bark is the perfect sweet and salty treat for any occasion! Homemade caramel sauce drizzled over chocolate covered pretzels, M&M's, and chopped nuts! It's easy to make and always a hit with guests.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Making chocolate caramel pretzel bark is one of the easiest and most versatile recipes around. You can use any combination chips, pretzels, and candies that you like, and it’s a great way to use up odds and ends of sweet and salty snacks in your pantry.
It's also a perfect treat to make for holidays, just change the candies to match up with your holiday theme! All you need are some pretzels, chocolate, and caramel, and you'll have a delicious snack in no time!
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bark Ingredients
- How to Make Pretzel Bark
- How To Serve Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bark
- Related Recipes
- Substitutions
- Variations
- Equipment
- Storage
- Tips for Success
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Food Safety
- Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
- 📖 Recipe
- Connect with Smells Like Delish!
Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bark Ingredients
M&M's, peanuts, and caramel are perfect for any time of the year. Switch to Holiday M&M's for Christmas, Valentines, and Easter to make this easy chocolate caramel bark fit any season you want to serve it in!
Chocolate caramel pretzel bark is a favorite during the Holiday season. We also have a great selection of Holiday Recipe Ideas for many of the popular holidays.
- Semi sweet chocolate chips
- M&M candies - (any color combination)
- Peanuts - chopped.
- Pretzels - any shape.
- Butter - cubed.
- Sugar
- Heavy Cream
- Salt
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Pretzel Bark
We are making chocolate caramel pretzel bark, but you can easily change that to white chocolate on pretzels, or any color of candy melting wafers (there is Grinch Green and Purple too!).
Create the Pretzel Base
- Place parchment paper on a rimmed cookie sheet. Don't use wax paper! Spread pretzels out, any shape of pretzels work, even sticks.
- Carefully melt the semi sweet chocolate in the microwave in short bursts. Stir and pour on top of the layer of pretzels. Spread out.
PRO TIP: For foolproof tempered chocolate, use a Wilton Candy melter to prevent your chocolate from seizing if it gets too hot in the microwave.
Add the Toppings
- Sprinkle the M&M's or other candies of choice (Candy Corn? Ike & Mike candies?, the options are limitless).
- Sprinkle the chopped peanuts on next. Again, you can use your favorite nuts.
Making A Homemade Caramel To Drizzle
- In a medium saucepan heat the sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly.
- The sugar will begin to form clumps and turn light amber color. Reduce the heat and continue stirring as the sugar can easily burn.
- Once the sugar is completely melted, add the butter. The butter will bubble so be careful.
- Stir the butter into the sugar until it is completely melted. Use a whisk to stir the sugar and butter. Drizzle the heavy cream into the mixture and stir.
Drizzle With Homemade Caramel
- Let the caramel boil for 1 - 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the sea salt, allowing the caramel to set up a little.
Pour On the Chocolate Covered Pretzels
- Pour hot caramel over the chocolate pretzel bark and then sprinkle on the chopped peanuts and the M&M candies. Let cool for several hours and then snap into chunks.
PRO TIP: If you refrigerate this chocolate caramel pretzel bark, or set it to firm up in the freezer, it will 'snap' in clean breaks.
How To Serve Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bark
Serve this sweet and salty pretzel bark any time of the year, with any toppings. Caramel pretzel bark is especially popular during holidays, with M&M's to match the occasion! Be sure to see our other great Holiday Recipes. For more candy recipes, see:
- Our 3 Minute Fudge recipe for PERFECT Fudge!
- Homemade Peppermint Patties - Just like BIG York Peppermint Patties!
- Strawberry Swirled Fudge
- Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Almond Clusters
- Chocolate Covered Pretzels - change the colors for ANY Holiday.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Related Recipes
Substitutions
You can substitute the semi sweet chocolate morsels or any color of candy melting wafers instead of chocolate. Additional fun toppings include mini marshmallows, chopped pecans, raisins, green pistachios, etc. Make pretzel bark for every holiday!
Variations
Here are a few pretzel bark ideas for other times of the year:
- Valentines Pretzel Bark - Pour white candy melting wafers on the pretzels, then sprinkle a Valentines blend of M&M's. Drizzle with red candy melts.
- Fourth of July Pretzel Bark - Pour white candy melting wafers on the pretzels, then sprinkle with red hots and drizzle with blue candy melting wafers.
- Halloween Pretzel Bark- pour milk chocolate morsels over the pretzels, then scatter candy corn and candy eyeballs on the bark for a Hocus Pocus look.
Equipment
- Large Rimmed Cookie sheet with cooling racks
- Wilton Candy Melter - Foolproof, regulated melting heat to temper chocolate.
- Clip On Candy Melter - alternative for melting chocolate chips so they don't seize.
Storage
Store this pretzel bark in plastic bags or a plastic storage tub. You can also make it ahead of time and freeze it, but set it out on a cookie tray to defrost, and so any condensation can evaporate.
Tips for Success
- When microwaving the chocolate to melt it, use a microwave safe bowl and start with a 1 minute interval on defrost mode. Stir and use 30 second intervals afterward, stirring each time until melted. Be careful not to overheat.
- If chocolate or candy melts start to stiffen, or seize, from too much heat, add a teaspoon of coconut oil to help smooth it out again.
- Short cut caramel tip: Melt about 10 wrapped caramels in the microwave on low for 30 seconds and drizzle on the chocolate pretzel bark at the very last.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, and it is actually easier to control the heat and prevent the chocolate morsels or melting wafers from seizing when you do. Not everyone has a candy melter, so a double boiler will recreate one.
You can melt the chocolate in a double boiler over a pan of simmering water, melt in the microwave on the 'defrost' setting.
Chocolate can seize if it gets too hot or if it comes into contact with water. To prevent the chocolate from seizing, make sure to melt it slowly and carefully. Avoid letting the chocolate get too hot, and do not add any water to the chocolate.
You can use any type of chocolate you like, but I recommend using semisweet chocolate chips. Semisweet chocolate chips have a rich, deep flavor that pairs well with the salty pretzels.
Food Safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bark
Ingredients
For the Pretzel Bark
- 2 cup semi sweet chocolate morsels or any color of candy melts
- 1½ cup mini pretzels salted, any shape
- ½ cup M&M candies any color
- ½ cup chopped peanuts or any nuts you prefer
For the Homemade Caramel
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- ½ cup butter cubed in small pieces
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
For the Chocolate Pretzel Bark
- Begin by lining a rimmed baking or cookie sheet with parchment paper. Don't use wax paper, the pretzel bark will stick and be a mess.
- Spread pretzels over the parchment paper in a layer.1½ cup mini pretzels
- Melt the semi sweet chocolate morsels (or candy melting wafers) over a double boiler, a candy melter, or in the microwave. Pour the melted chocolate over the layer of pretzels on the cookie sheet.2 cup semi sweet chocolate morsels
- Sprinkle the M&M candies on the melted chocolate. Next, sprinkle the chopped peanuts over the melted chocolate.½ cup M&M candies, ½ cup chopped peanuts
- Make the homemade caramel and drizzle over the pretzel bark. Let set up until firm in the refrigerator. Remove and snap or crack the pretzel bark into chunks. Serve on a platter or in plastic bags.
For the Homemade Caramel
- In a medium saucepan heat the sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly. The sugar will begin to form clumps and turn light amber color. Reduce the heat and continue stirring as the sugar can easily burn.1 cup white granulated sugar
- Once the sugar is completely melted, add the butter. The butter will bubble so be careful.½ cup butter
- Stir the butter into the sugar until it is completely melted. Use a whisk to stir the sugar and butter. Drizzle the heavy cream into the mixture and stir.½ cup heavy cream
- Let the caramel boil for 1 - 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the sea salt, allowing the caramel to set up a little. Pour over the chocolate pretzel bark.¼ teaspoon sea salt
Video
Notes
- Short cut caramel tip: Melt about 10 wrapped caramels in the microwave on low for 30 seconds and drizzle on the chocolate pretzel bark at the very last.
- If chocolate or candy melts start to stiffen, or seize, from too much heat, add a teaspoon of coconut oil to help smooth it out again.
- When microwaving the chocolate to melt it, use a microwave safe bowl and start with a 1 minute interval on defrost mode. Stir and use 30 second intervals afterward, stirring each time until melted. Be careful not to overheat.
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