Kitchen Serf

menu icon
search icon

Make Caramel Apple Pretzel Bark

Updated: by This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe

This caramel apple bark has everything you want in a fall treat sweet and salty, crunchy and gooey and impossible to stop eating. This no-bake treat is made with pretzels, caramel and chunks of fresh apple.

Satisfy your caramel apple craving minus the stick and stress over getting the caramel to stick to the apple.

Chocolate bark topped with green apple pieces, pretzels, caramel, and a drizzle of chocolate on a black tray.
Read more: Make Caramel Apple Pretzel Bark
Jump to:

Recipe Notes

The most common question with this apple bark recipe is how to keep the apples as fresh as possible until the bark is all gone.

Use an apple variety known for it's crispness, such as Granny Smith or Honey Crisp (my fave).

Or you can use an apple variety called Opal, which resists browning. Opals have a pale yellow skin and white flesh.

Seriously, I've sliced an Opal in half, eaten one half and saved the other in the fridge for the following day--no browning at all.

The best apples for making caramel apple bark are the same really as the best apples for baking.

Ingredients

  • 2 medium Granny Smith apples
  • 2 ¼ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup crushed pretzels
  • 11 oz caramels
  • Sea salt
Caramels, chocolate chips, pretzels, green apples, and a bowl of white salt on white background.
All you need for this no-fall treat are fresh, crisp apples, caramel, chocolate chips, pretzels and sea salt.

How to Make Caramel Apple Bark

  1. Chop the apples into bite size pieces. Peel first if you plan to leave the peel on. Pat them dry.
  2. Melt the chocolate in a microwave or stovetop in a double boiler.
  3. Pour chocolate on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  4. Top with pretzels
  5. Melt caramel.
  6. Scatter apple chunks across the pretzels
  7. Drizzle caramel over the bark.
Chocolate bark topped with apple pieces, caramel, and pretzels on a black tray, with pretzels scattered around.

How to Make Caramel Apple Bark

A baking sheet lined with white parchment paper on a white background.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup effortless. Set it aside. This will be your base for building and setting the next layer of your recipe.
A spoon drips melted chocolate into a clear container against a white background.
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt 2 cups of chocolate chips in 30-second intervals, stirring between each burst until silky smooth.
A baking sheet with parchment paper topped with swirled melted milk chocolate.
Once melted, pour the chocolate onto your prepared baking sheet and use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread it into an even layer.
A sheet pan with melted chocolate topped with broken pretzel pieces on parchment paper.
While the chocolate is still soft and glossy, sprinkle the crushed pretzels evenly over the surface.
Diced green apple pieces on a white cutting board against a white background.
Chop the apples into small, bite-sized pieces and pat them thoroughly with paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible. This step is key to keeping your bark crisp and preventing any soggy spots.
A black spatula drips melted orange candy coating into a clear plastic bowl.
In a separate microwave-safe bowl, melt the caramels in 30-second intervals, stirring between each round until completely smooth and pourable.
Chocolate bark topped with chopped apples, pretzels, and caramel on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Evenly scatter the chopped, dried apples over the pretzel layer, ensuring they’re well distributed for a bite in every piece. Then, using a spoon or piping bag, drizzle the warm, melted caramel generously over the top.
Chocolate bark topped with apple pieces, pretzels, and a drizzle of caramel and chocolate on a baking sheet.
Melt the remaining ¼ cup of chocolate chips in 30-second intervals until smooth. Using a spoon or piping bag, drizzle the chocolate over the entire bark to add a finishing touch of richness and visual flair.
Chocolate bark topped with apple pieces, pretzels, and caramel on a black tray, with pretzels scattered nearby.
If desired, sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt over the top to enhance all the sweet, salty, and tart flavors. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator and chill for at least 3 hours, or until the bark is fully set and firm enough to break into pieces.

Tips for Success

Be sure to pat the apples very dry. This helps the bark stay crisp and prevents it from getting soggy.

Storage and Make Ahead

This bark is best enjoyed the same day it’s made.

Store leftovers tightly wrapped in the fridge, but note that the apples may start to soften after 24 hours.

PIN TO SAVE FOR LATER

Caramel apple pretzel bark topped with fresh apple chunks, caramel drizzle, and chocolate on a black serving board.
chunks of apple drizzled with caramel and chocolate on a black tray with text for Pinterest.

Want to Save This Recipe?

Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!

Save Recipe

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Kitchen Serf.

Recipe

Yield: 12

Caramel Apple Bark

Chocolate bark topped with apple pieces, pretzels, and caramel on a black tray, with pretzels scattered nearby.

Make this easy caramel apple bark with pretzels, apple chips, and gooey caramel. A no-bake fall snack perfect for parties, gifts, or late-night cravings. So simple, so good!

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Additional Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 medium Granny Smith apples
  • 2 ¼ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup crushed pretzels
  • 11 oz candy caramels
  • Optional: sea salt

Instructions

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt 2 cups of the chocolate chips in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth.
  3. Pour the melted chocolate onto the prepared baking sheet and spread it into an even layer.
  4. While the chocolate is still soft, sprinkle the crushed pretzels evenly over the top.
  5. Chop the apples and pat them very thoroughly dry with paper towels to help prevent excess moisture.
  6. In another microwave-safe bowl, melt the caramels in 30-second intervals until smooth.
  7. Scatter the apples over the pretzel layer, then drizzle the melted caramel on top.
  8. Melt the remaining ¼ cup of chocolate chips and drizzle over the bark.
  9. If desired, sprinkle a pinch of sea salt on top.
  10. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or until fully set.

Notes

  • Be sure to pat the apples very dry. This helps the bark stay crisp and prevents it from getting soggy.

    • Nutrition Information

    Yield 12 Serving Size 1
    Amount Per Serving Calories 295Total Fat 10gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 0mgSodium 116mgCarbohydrates 54gFiber 3gSugar 37gProtein 2g

    Nutrition information is just an estimate because I am not a registered dietician.

    Did you make this recipe? Please give it a rating

    Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

    © Jennifer Osborn
    Cuisine: American / Category: Bark
    chunks of apple drizzled with caramel and chocolate on a black tray with text for Pinterest.

    More bark recipes to try include Chocolate Banana Pretzel Bark, White Chocolate Pistachio Cranberry bark.

    More candy

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Skip to Recipe