Christmas Toffee Pretzel Bark
Crunchy and sweet Christmas toffee pretzel bark combines buttery caramel, melted chocolate, festive M&M's, and sprinkles for a perfect holiday treat ideal for gifting or cookie exchanges.
Equipment
- 1 large baking sheet
- 1 parchment paper or nonstick foil Use Reynolds Heavy Duty Nonstick foil if choosing foil
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 6 cups small pretzel twists about 1/2 bag
- 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup red and green M&M's
- Christmas sprinkles as needed
- 2 squares almond bark about 2 ounces, divided and melted (optional)
- Red food coloring preferably gel, as needed (optional)
- Green food coloring preferably gel, as needed (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or nonstick foil; spray thoroughly with cooking spray.
- Evenly spread pretzels over the prepared baking sheet and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring continuously until bubbling; simmer gently for 1 minute to thicken caramel.
- Pour the caramel sauce evenly over the pretzels on the baking sheet.
- Bake in the oven for approximately 7 minutes, optionally rotating the pan midway.
- Remove the baking sheet and immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over the caramel; spread evenly with a spatula to cover all pretzels.
- If the chocolate chips do not melt easily, return the sheet to the oven for 1-2 minutes, then spread again.
- Sprinkle M&M's and Christmas sprinkles over the melted chocolate before it sets.
- If desired, melt almond bark in two bowls, tint one with red and the other with green food coloring, then drizzle over the bark using spoons or piping bags.
- Allow the bark to cool completely at room temperature until set, about 1 hour.
- Break the bark into pieces or slice carefully with a sharp knife for serving.
Notes
- Store bark airtight at room temperature for up to two weeks; better than refrigerating.
- Chilling in fridge or freezer prolongs shelf life but may dull chocolate appearance and harden bark.
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant almond bark drizzle.
- Trader Joe's or Hershey's chocolate chips melt better than Nestle Tollhouse.
- Perfect for gifting or cookie exchanges during holidays.