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Caramel Pretzel Crack Bars Recipe

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3.9 from 71 reviews

  • Author: admin
  • Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
  • Yield: 16 bars 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

Caramel Pretzel Crack Bars are a delightful sweet and salty dessert featuring a crunchy pretzel crust topped with luscious caramel, melted chocolate, and a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk. This easy-to-make treat delivers a perfect balance of textures and flavors, making it an irresistible American dessert favorite.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust

  • 2 cups crushed pretzels
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Topping

  • 1 cup caramel sauce, plus extra for drizzling
  • 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Prepare the pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper to ensure easy removal of the bars.
  2. Make the crust: In a mixing bowl, combine the crushed pretzels, melted unsalted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Stir until all the pretzels are evenly coated with the butter and sugars. Press this mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form a solid crust layer.
  3. Bake the crust: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes. This step helps set the crust and starts caramelizing the sugars for added flavor.
  4. Add caramel layer: Remove the hot crust from the oven and immediately drizzle 1 cup of caramel sauce evenly over the surface to cover the crust.
  5. Top with chocolate and milk mixture: Sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly over the caramel layer. Then, drizzle the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract on top of the chocolate chips to add richness and sweetness.
  6. Bake again: Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 12 to 15 minutes, until the chocolate is fully melted and the mixture looks bubbly.
  7. Finish with salt and cool: Remove from the oven and lightly sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of salt over the top to enhance the sweet and salty flavor balance. Let the bars cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up before slicing.

Notes

  • For extra crunch, reserve a handful of crushed pretzels and sprinkle them on top before chilling.
  • Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

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Find it online: https://mamabrisrecipes.com/caramel-pretzel-crack-bars-recipe/