Chocolate Caramel Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars
These no-bake bars deliver the ultimate sweet and salty combo with layers of crunchy pretzel crust, rich caramel, creamy peanut butter, and smooth chocolate. Easy to make and impossible to resist!
Ingredients
Pretzel Crust
- 3 cups pretzel twists or sticks coarsely crushed
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Caramel Layer
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into pieces
- ½ cup heavy cream warmed
Peanut Butter Layer
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter or chunky
- 2 cups powdered sugar sifted
Chocolate Topping
- 1½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil or vegetable oil
Optional Garnishes
- Sea salt flakes
- Chopped peanuts or mini pretzels
- White chocolate drizzle
Instructions
- Crush pretzels into coarse crumbs and mix with melted butter until coated. Press into a lined square pan and chill.
- In a saucepan, melt the sugar over medium heat until it turns amber. Add butter, then slowly pour in warm cream while stirring. Let the caramel cool slightly, then pour over the chilled crust and spread evenly. Chill again.
- In a bowl, combine peanut butter and powdered sugar until a thick dough forms. Spread this over the caramel layer and return to the fridge.
- Melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in the microwave in short bursts until smooth. Pour over the peanut butter layer and smooth with a spatula.
- Add garnishes if desired, then chill until firm. Once set, lift from the pan and slice into bars. Serve chilled or slightly softened.
Notes
- Use fresh pretzels for maximum crunch.
- Always warm the cream before adding to caramel to avoid seizing.
- For cleaner layers, chill between each step.
- Prevent chocolate bloom by pressing plastic wrap onto the top layer while chilling.
- Bars can be frozen for up to a month—wrap individually and thaw before serving.