Salted Caramel Pretzel Bark

So, I thought that those Rolo Turtles were good but... Wow, this is even better. I could reach my limit with the caramel turtles but sadly (for my ars) I haven't found it with these yet. These are super easy but a bit more labor intensive than the Rolo Turtles, worth it though. This was a total Pinterest item and as you can tell it came through. I got it from Legume Loyalist. She has some awesome step by step pics if you want to see it in detail for any reason.


Salted Caramel Pretzel Bark

makes 1 sheet of bark

Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) of butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 bag of mini pretzels
12-oz bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
sea salt

1. Wrap a baking sheet with tin foil.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. NOTE: use a cookie sheet with sides or your caramel will boil and ooze and set off your smoke alarm!  Or foil the sides up to contain the bubble. If you don't you will have to evacuate your children and hubby as you clean up burnt sugar and pretzels...not fun.
2. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. As it melts, cover a cookie sheet in an even layer of mini pretzels.
3. Once the butter is melted, add the sugar and stir to incorporate. Let the sugar and butter to softly simmer and bubble, but don’t let it boil, so adjust the heat accordingly. Stir occasionally. The browning process should take about three minutes from when it starts to bubble.

4. Once the sugar and butter have caramelized, pour the mixture evenly over the pretzels on the baking sheet. I used a small ladle and kinda dumped it in each one and spread it all over after with a spatula. The caramel does hardens pretty quickly. Bake the pretzel-caramel mixture in the oven for 5-7 minutes.

5. In the meantime, set up a double boiler. Fill a saucepan about a quarter ways full with water. Place the pot over a medium flame. Take a large, heatproof bowl and set it on top of the saucepan. Be sure that the water in the pot will not touch the bottom of the dish, otherwise your chocolate will burn! Also if any water gets in there it will be ruined so make sure the bowl is super big. Pour the chocolate chips into the bowl and stir constantly until they’re completely melted. If your chocolate is a bit old (like from the mega pack at Costco) it won't get creamy but it will melt and you can kinda spoon it out and spread it all over.

6. So, pour the chocolate over the pretzel-caramel mixture evenly.
7. Spread any remaining thick spots of chocolate with a spatula. Sprinkle sea salt evenly over the bark. Place it in the fridge to cool and harden for about an hour. Once it’s done, the tin foil should pull off easily and you can break the sheet into smaller, bark-like pieces.

Rolo Pretzel Turtle Bites

I first heard about these tasty treats from my Favorite Aunt Judy. Then I saw them on Pinterest and my "interest" was renewed. These little desserts are tricky looking and tasting but they are my new go-to dessert because they are so, so, so easy! If you run in my circle of parties this Christmas, don't even try to steal this treat. I will be bringing them whenever I can since I have 1 1/2 bags of white chocolate chips my hubby bought and small amounts of time. Perfect dessert for a crazy season! I hope you love them too.


1/2 bag small mini pretzels
1 bag chocolate covered caramel candies aka Rolos
60ish pecan halves
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
2 TB Crisco


Rolo Pretzel Turtle Bites
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.


Arrange the pretzels in a single layer on a parchment lined cookie sheet and put one chocolate covered caramel candy on each pretzel. Bake for 4 minutes.


While the candy is warm, press a pecan half onto each candy covered pretzel.


In a pan mix white chocolate chips and yum, Crisco. Mix until melted and smooth. Put in a snack bag and barely cut the corner. Beware it will be hot! I burnt my hands a bit...wrap a paper towel around the bag if you are a softy like me.


Drizzle the white chocolate zig zaggy on top & you'll feel like a culinary genius! I did :)


Cool completely before storing in an airtight container to gift or serve...or just eat them.