Salted Caramel Pretzel Bark
A quick and easy dark chocolate bark studded with crunchy pretzels and drizzled with luscious salted caramel, perfect for gifting or snacking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: About 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) dark chocolate (60-70% cocoa)
- 2 cups (~60 g) mini pretzels
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 6 tbsp (85 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) heavy cream
- 1 tsp flaky sea salt, plus extra for sprinkling
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Chop the dark chocolate into small, even pieces. Melt in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals stirring in between, or melt using a double boiler over simmering water until smooth.
- Pour the melted chocolate onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and spread evenly with a spatula. Chill in the fridge for 15 minutes until firm but not fully set.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine granulated sugar and unsalted butter. Stir constantly until sugar dissolves and turns deep amber (5-7 minutes). Remove from heat and whisk in heavy cream and vanilla extract carefully.
- Stir in flaky sea salt into the caramel. Let caramel cool for 2-3 minutes until thick but pourable.
- Pour caramel evenly over chilled chocolate layer. Immediately sprinkle pretzels over caramel, pressing gently so some stick but don’t submerge. Sprinkle extra flaky sea salt on top.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour until fully firm. Remove bark from parchment and break into pieces. Store in airtight container at room temperature or fridge.
Notes
Use a heavy-bottomed pan to prevent burning caramel. Stir constantly when cooking caramel. When adding cream, pour slowly and whisk quickly to avoid bubbling over. Chill chocolate layer before adding caramel to keep layers distinct. Press pretzels gently to keep crunch. Sprinkle sea salt just before bark sets for best texture. For dairy-free, substitute butter with margarine or coconut oil and heavy cream with coconut cream. For gluten-free, use certified gluten-free pretzels and chocolate.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 oz (28 g) piece
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 2
Keywords: salted caramel, pretzel bark, dark chocolate, easy dessert, holiday treat, sweet and salty snack