Caramel Pretzel Squares

These Caramel Pretzel Squares bring a perfect mix of sweet, salty, and crunchy to your holiday celebrations. With layers of pretzels, pecans, caramel, and chocolate, each square is loaded with festive flavors and textures. They are a stunning addition to any dessert table or cookie tray and are perfect for gift-giving.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword candy, carmael, chocolate, pecans, pretzels

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Total Time 40

Servings

Calories 248kcal

Ingredients

2 teaspoons butter softened
4 cups pretzel sticks
2 1/2 cups pecan halves toasted
2 1/4 cups brown sugar packed
1 cup butter cubed
1 cup corn syrup
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 package 11 1/2 ounces milk chocolate chips
1 tablespoon (plus 1 teaspoon) shortening divided
1/3 cup white baking chips

Instructions

Line a 13x9-inch pan with foil and coat it with the softened butter. Evenly spread the pretzel sticks and pecan halves across the bottom of the pan.
In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the brown sugar, cubed butter, corn syrup, condensed milk, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously until the mixture reaches 236°F (soft-ball stage) on a candy thermometer.
Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract, then pour the caramel over the pretzels and pecans in the prepared pan, spreading it evenly.
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the milk chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon of the shortening, heating in 30-second intervals and stirring until smooth. Spread the melted chocolate over the caramel layer.
In another microwave-safe bowl, melt the white baking chips with the remaining teaspoon of shortening, heating in 30-second intervals and stirring until smooth. Drizzle the white chocolate over the milk chocolate layer, then drag a knife or wooden skewer through the layers to create a swirl pattern.
Allow the squares to sit at room temperature until fully set. Once firm, use the foil to lift the candy out of the pan, then peel away the foil. Cut into bite-sized squares with a buttered knife.

Nutrition