This easy Pretzel Bark recipe takes less than 10 minutes to make and is the perfect sweet and salty treat, made with layers of melted chocolate, caramel and crunchy pretzels.
Pretzel Bark is the #1 Easiest Sweet and Salty Treat
Pretzel Bark is the #1 Easiest Sweet and Salty TreatIt hits all the right notes of sweet, salty, crunchy, and chocolatey, without any complicated steps (and they're easy enough for my little kids to make!). All you need is a sheet pan (here's my favorite one), chocolate chips, caramel, and sea salt.
Pretzel Bark tastes like a homemade candy bar but only uses four ingredients, and you don’t need a candy thermometer or any special tools. It's one of our favorites for the holidays or when we want a sweet and salty snack. I like to gift pretzel toffee in these cute holiday cookie boxes or plain white boxes for any time of year.
Try my other candy recipes, like Rocky Road, Graham Cracker Toffee, Chocolate Fudge, or Chocolate Covered Marshmallows!
How to make Pretzel Bark:
Melt and Spread Chocolate: Grab some high-quality chocolate chips (Ghirardelli and Guittard are my favorite brands for smooth melting. Other chocolate chips wont melt properly.) and microwave in 30 second intervals until completely smooth. Spread melted chocolate on a lined baking sheet. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
Add Pretzels: Gently press mini pretzels into the melted chocolate. Don’t worry about making them even, just scatter them on for a fun, rustic look.
Melt and Drizzle Caramel: I use Kraft Caramel Bits but you could also use my homemade caramel recipe if you prefer from-scratch. Drizzle the warm caramel generously over the pretzels. It acts like glue to hold everything together!
Add More Chocolate and Sea Salt: Drizzle a little more melted chocolate over the top, then finish with a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt. YUM! Let the bark set in the fridge until firm (about 30 minutes). Break or cut into pieces and start snacking!
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Recipe
Pretzel Bark Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 ounce package semi-sweet chocolate chips , good quality chocolate divided into pieces (I like ghiardelli or baker's chocolate bar best for melting)
- 8 ounces mini pretzel twists , half of a regular 16-ounce bag
- 11 ounce bags Kraft Caramel Bits , or homemade caramel
- flake finishing salt for sprinkling
Instructions
- Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Melt Chocolate: Melt 8 ounces of the chocolate chips gently in the microwave (on low heat, stirring every 15 seconds) until smooth.12 ounce package semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Spread chocolate evenly over the parchment. Immediately add pretzel twists over the top (it's ok if they overlap!) and gently press them into the chocolate.8 ounces mini pretzel twists
- Melt caramel: Add caramel bits to a microwave safe bowl with 2 tablespoons water and melt according to package instructions (on high for 2 minutes). Stir well and drizzle melted caramel over pretzels.11 ounce bags Kraft Caramel Bits
- Top with remaining chocolate. Melt remaining 4 ounces of chocolate and drizzle over the caramel. Sprinkle with flake salt.flake finishing salt for sprinkling
- Refrigerate until set. Cut or tear into pieces, Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe February 2017. Updated August 2019 and November 2025.
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I checked out your caramels made from scratch, and am disappointed, because I’m allergic the protein in milk (so butter is OK–it’s 100% fat), so that rules out the evaporated milk called for in that recipe. I can’t use store-bought caramels because they include both milk products and corn syrup, to which I’m also allergic. What can I substitute for these ingredients? (I already have to use gluten-free pretzels, as I’m also a celiac!)
Thank you!
Try this caramel recipe
https://www.thespruce.com/dairy-free-caramel-dip-1000719
I’m looking for gluten free dessert recipes, does this have gluten in it?
Yes the pretzels have gluten but you can find gluten free varieties pretty easily that taste just as good as regular pretzels and substitute them!
OMG OMG OMG…..these are sooo good. Made first batch with dark chocolate, family liked but wanted me to try with milk chocolate. So much better! Thanks for sharing this.
Made these for my coworkers as a Friday treat. They looked like a mess but they tasted AWESOME! I made them with milk chocolate and used the freezer to set them quicker. They are verrry addicting.
Made these for my coworkers as a Friday treat. They looked like a mess but they tasted AWESOME! I made them with milk chocolate and used the freezer to set them quicker. They are verrry addicting.
That recipe looks amazing. Can I melt Kraft caramels instead of bites.
Sure, that should work great!
Your blog is called taste better from scratch. surprise to find the caramel is store bought. I was looking forward to real caramel made from scratch.
You can definitely make the caramel from scratch. Here’s my recipe: https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/caramel-chocolate-dipped-pretzel-rods/
Why do people have to be so bitchy? This recipe is fabulous and , for those of us busy working mom losers who choose not to make caramel from scratch, perfection.
I make this with Ghiradelli white chocolate and it is fabulous!
Good to know! Thanks Karen.
This looks like the perfect snack! Yum!
Wait, wait, wait — these are NO bake? I think I died and went to heaven — all my favorite things in one tasty treat.
Will be rushing out to buy the ingredients for these today. Thanks!! You made my weekend 🙂
Hello, I need to know how these will keep I not refrigerated?
Hi Desiree, that totally depends on your climate and temperature. If you live in a dry climate they should be fine at room temp.
I’d like to make these for my church ladies retreat. Appromately how many servings do you get out of this recipe? Thank you for sharing.
One batch makes about 15 bars