Description
Sweet and salty butter toffee pretzels deliver a nostalgic crunch that melts hearts with each bite. Caramel-glazed pretzels offer a simple yet irresistible treat you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Pretzels:
- 4 cups pretzels
- 1 cup salted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
Coating:
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
Topping:
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup chopped almonds (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, ensuring complete coverage for easy cleanup and non-stick surface.
- In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar together over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture becomes smooth and begins to bubble, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Remove the caramel mixture from heat and quickly stir in vanilla extract and salt, creating a rich, glossy toffee sauce.
- Pour the warm toffee sauce over pretzels in a large mixing bowl, gently folding and tossing to ensure each pretzel is evenly coated with the golden caramel mixture.
- Spread the toffee-coated pretzels in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, avoiding clumping or overlapping.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, stirring once halfway through to promote even caramelization and prevent burning.
- Remove from oven and allow pretzels to cool completely at room temperature, which will help the toffee harden and create a crisp coating.
- Melt milk chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, heating in 30-second intervals and stirring between each interval until smooth and fully melted.
- Drizzle melted chocolate over cooled toffee pretzels, creating a decorative pattern across the surface.
- Sprinkle chopped almonds over the chocolate layer for added crunch and texture, if desired.
- Refrigerate for 10-15 minutes to set the chocolate, then break into clusters and serve.
Notes
- Prevent burning by stirring pretzels midway through baking, ensuring even golden-brown caramelization without scorching.
- Create dairy-free version by substituting butter with coconut oil and using dairy-free chocolate chips for a vegan-friendly treat.
- Control sugar content by using coconut sugar or monk fruit sweetener as alternative caramelizing agents with lower glycemic impact.
- Enhance flavor complexity by adding a pinch of smoked sea salt or ground cinnamon to the toffee mixture for unexpected depth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-23 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 279
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 362mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 30mg