We can’t think of many things more indulgent and delicious than pretzels with caramel and chocolate. What makes our version truly OMG!-worthy is the added flavor and light, airy crunch our seasoned sourdough pretzel nuggets lend to these chocolate caramel pretzels. The fun element comes in when you use more than one of our sweet varieties and then get a taste surprise when you pop the chocolate and caramel covered pretzels into your mouth!
Pairing Pretzels with Chocolate and Caramel
When it comes to making chocolate and caramel covered pretzels, you can change things up to make the treats more unique. Here are some pretzel-tastic pairing ideas:
- Sweet Chili OMG! Pretzels with white chocolate and orange-infused caramel
- Sweet & Salty OMG! Pretzels with milk chocolate and vanilla bean-infused caramel
- Sweet & Spicy OMG! Pretzels with dark chocolate and cayenne-infused caramel
- Salty Butterscotch OMG! Pretzels with milk chocolate and salted caramel
How to Make Caramel and Chocolate Covered Pretzels
To make chocolate caramel pretzel bites, there are a few basic steps to follow. You can take the easier approach or the more challenging one, depending on how much time you have, how comfortable you are in the kitchen and how much control over ingredients you want.Â
Melting the Chocolate:
- Microwave option - This method of melting chocolate is fairly fool proof. In a microwave safe bowl, add your chopped chocolate or chocolate chips. Heat in 30-second intervals until the chocolate is melted. Stir in between each microwave session. Be careful not to overheat the chocolate as it will seize up and you won’t be able to use it.Â
- Double-boiler option - This method of chocolate is also pretty easy, but does require more attention. First, add about 3 inches of water to a saucepan and heat on medium low heat. Place a bowl on top of the saucepan; be sure the bowl isn’t touching the water. Place your chocolate inside the bowl and stir frequently until the chocolate is melted and smooth. The stirring will help prevent the chocolate from burning.Â
Whichever melting method you use, once the chocolate is pliable, you are ready to add the coconut oil. This helps to keep the chocolate stable and create a shell for the chocolate caramel pretzels once it cools.
Choosing the Caramel:
- Store-bought options - Caramel is difficult to make, so getting some help from the store is a nice option to have. For this purpose, you can opt for canned dulce de leche, a jarred caramel sauce as long as it’s thick (we like the Trader Joe’s one) or melt unwrapped caramel candies with 1tbsp of water in the microwave for about a minute or until smooth.Â
- Homemade option - Like we said, making homemade caramel isn’t the easiest task. If you’re up for the challenge, we like this recipe from the Barefoot Contessa. You need to let the caramel set up for the full 4 hours before you use it or it will be too runny for the chocolate and caramel covered pretzels.Â
Assembling the Chocolate and Caramel Covered Pretzels:
Step 1 - Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.Â
Step 2 - If you are making your own caramel, make it first. If you are infusing a store-bought caramel, prep the ingredients for that and simmer on low for 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently.Â
Step 3 - Choose your variety of chocolate and melt it with the method from above you think will be best.Â
Step 4 - Submerge OMG! Pretzels into warm caramel - about 5 pretzel nuggets at a time - and coat using a small spoon. You need to work quickly while the caramel is warm. If you need to reheat it, do so but for only about 15 seconds in the microwave. Spoon the caramel covered pretzels onto the prepared baking sheet.
Step 5 - Cover the caramel covered pretzels in the melted chocolate with a spoon.Â
Step 6 - Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you have a tray full of bite-sized pretzel-tastic treats.Â
Step 7 - Let the chocolate caramel pretzel bites cool in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour so that the chocolate will set. Allow them to stand at room temperature for about 5 minutes before serving so that the caramel won’t be too hard.
Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bites Recipe
Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bites Recipe
Equipment
- Sheet pan
- parchment paper
- Double-Boiler
Ingredients
- 1½ cups dark chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 11 oz soft caramel candies, unwrapped
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 bag of Sweet & Salty OMG! Pretzels
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat.
- Unwrap the caramels and place in a microwave safe bowl with 1 tbsp of water. Heat for about a minute or until the caramel is warm and smooth.
- Melt the chocolate chips over a double boiler until smooth, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in coconut oil until well dissolved and chocolate is glossy.
- Dunk the OMG! Pretzels, about a handful at a time, in the caramel until coated.
- Using a spoon, transfer the caramel covered pretzels to the prepared sheet pan.
- Then, spoon chocolate over the sourdough pretzel nuggets until covered.
- Let the treats set in the refrigerator, about an hour. Before serving, let chocolate and caramel covered pretzels come to room temperature for about 5 minutes.
