Description
Caramel Apple Bark is a delightful no-bake treat featuring a crunchy pretzel base layered with rich dark chocolate, crisp Granny Smith apples, and drizzled with luscious caramel sauce. Finished with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, this sweet and salty dessert is perfect for snacking or sharing at gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Apple Preparation
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, finely chopped
For the Bark Base and Toppings
- 1 1/2 cups mini pretzels, divided
- 2 cups (340 g) dark chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup store-bought or homemade caramel sauce
- Flaky sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Soak the Apples: In a medium bowl, mix the kosher salt with 1 cup of water. Add the finely chopped Granny Smith apple and let it soak for 5 to 10 minutes. Then strain the apples through a fine-mesh sieve and rinse them under cold water to remove excess salt and bitterness.
- Crush the Pretzels: Place 1 cup of mini pretzels into a resealable plastic bag. Use a rolling pin or a heavy skillet to crush them until fine crumbs form. Spread these pretzel crumbs evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet to create the bark’s base.
- Melt the Chocolate: In a medium heatproof bowl, microwave the dark chocolate chips in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth. This typically takes about 1 minute total.
- Assemble the Bark: Spread the melted chocolate evenly over the crushed pretzel base using an offset spatula or butter knife. Then sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of whole mini pretzels and the soaked, drained chopped apples on top of the chocolate layer.
- Drizzle Caramel and Add Sea Salt: Microwave the caramel sauce in a small heatproof bowl for about 30 seconds until it reaches a drizzling consistency. Drizzle the caramel sauce over the bark evenly. Finish by sprinkling flaky sea salt on top if you like an extra salty crunch.
- Set the Bark: Refrigerate the assembled bark until the chocolate and caramel are fully set, for at least 20 minutes and up to 1 day. Once set, break into pieces and serve.
Notes
- Using Granny Smith apples provides a tart flavor that balances the sweetness of caramel and chocolate.
- Make sure to thoroughly drain the soaked apples to prevent sogginess in the bark.
- If you prefer, you can substitute milk chocolate chips for a sweeter bark.
- Store the bark in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Flaky sea salt is optional but adds a nice contrast to the sweet ingredients.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece (approx. 1/10 of recipe)
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
