Sweet Treats (Print Version)

Ingredients:

01 - 2 cups pretzels, crushed.
02 - 1 cup unsalted butter.
03 - 1 cup brown sugar, packed.
04 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.
05 - 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips.
06 - Sea salt, for sprinkling (optional).

Instructions:

01 - Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
02 - Spread the crushed pretzels evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a medium saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is smooth and starts to bubble, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
04 - Pour the caramel mixture over the pretzels in the baking dish, spreading it out evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the caramel is bubbly and golden brown.
05 - Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips over the hot caramel layer. Let them sit for a few minutes to soften, then spread them evenly over the caramel.
06 - If desired, sprinkle sea salt over the melted chocolate layer for a sweet and salty contrast.
07 - Allow the bars to cool completely in the baking dish at room temperature or in the refrigerator until the chocolate is set.
08 - Once cooled and set, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the dish. Transfer to a cutting board and cut into bars of your desired size.

Notes:

01 - These Caramel Pretzel Crack Bars are easy to make with only a few ingredients. The bars combine crunchy pretzels, gooey caramel, and rich chocolate for a deliciously addictive treat.