Description
Delight in the sweet and salty flavors of this Caramel Apple Bark, featuring crunchy pretzels, tart Granny Smith apples, rich dark chocolate, and luscious caramel sauce. This no-bake treat is perfect for satisfying your dessert cravings with a perfect balance of textures and tastes.
Ingredients
Scale
Prep Ingredients
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, finely chopped
Pretzel Crust
- 1 1/2 cups mini pretzels, divided
Chocolate and Toppings
- 2 cups (340 g) dark chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup store-bought or homemade caramel sauce
- Flaky sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Soak the Apple: In a medium bowl, mix the kosher salt with 1 cup of water. Add the finely chopped Granny Smith apple and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. After soaking, strain the apple pieces through a fine-mesh sieve and rinse them under cold water to remove excess salt and bitterness.
- Prepare Pretzel Base: Place 1 cup of mini pretzels into a resealable plastic bag. Use a rolling pin or a heavy skillet to crush the pretzels into fine crumbs. Then, spread the crushed pretzels evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet to create the base layer of the bark.
- Melt the Chocolate: Transfer the dark chocolate chips to a medium heatproof bowl. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth, which should take about 1 minute total. Avoid overheating to prevent burning the chocolate.
- Assemble the Bark: Use an offset spatula or butter knife to spread the melted chocolate smoothly over the crushed pretzel layer. Then, sprinkle the remaining mini pretzels and the soaked, drained apple pieces evenly over the melted chocolate.
- Drizzle Caramel and Add Sea Salt: In a small heatproof bowl, microwave the caramel sauce for about 30 seconds until it reaches a drizzling consistency. Drizzle the caramel generously over the assembled bark, then sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired for an extra touch of flavor balance.
- Chill to Set: Place the bark in the refrigerator and chill until fully set, at least 20 minutes and up to 1 day. Once set, break the bark into pieces and serve.
Notes
- Soaking the apple in salty water helps to mellow its tartness and prevent browning.
- Microwaving chocolate in short bursts and stirring prevents it from burning or seizing.
- For homemade caramel, gently warm it before drizzling to achieve the perfect texture.
- This bark can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Optional flaky sea salt enhances the contrast between sweet and salty flavors.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece (approx. 40g)
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
