Ingredients:
2 cups pretzels, crushed
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 ½ cups chocolate chips
¾ cup caramel sauce (homemade or store-bought)
Sea salt, for sprinkling (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set it aside.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the crushed pretzels and melted butter. Mix well until the pretzels are coated evenly with butter.
Press the pretzel mixture into the bottom of the greased baking dish to form an even layer.
In a saucepan, melt the brown sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly. Allow the mixture to come to a boil and continue stirring for about 2 minutes until it thickens slightly.
Pour the caramel sauce over the pretzel crust, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
Bake the crust and caramel layer in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes, or until the caramel is bubbly and the edges are slightly golden.
Remove the baking dish from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the caramel layer while it’s still hot.
Let the chocolate chips sit for a few minutes to soften, then spread them evenly over the caramel layer using a spatula.
If desired, sprinkle a small amount of sea salt over the melted chocolate for a sweet and salty flavor combination.
Allow the bars to cool completely in the baking dish. You can speed up the process by placing them in the refrigerator for about an hour.
Once the bars have cooled and the chocolate has set, cut them into desired shapes and sizes.
Serve and enjoy! These Caramel Pretzel Crack Bars make a delicious sweet and salty treat.
Note: You can customize this recipe by adding chopped nuts, drizzling extra caramel or chocolate on top, or even adding a layer of peanut butter between the pretzel crust and caramel. Get creative and have fun with it!