Description
Caramel Apple Bark is a delightful treat combining the tartness of Granny Smith apples, the crunch of mini pretzels, and the rich sweetness of dark chocolate and caramel. This no-bake, easy-to-make dessert is perfect for snack time or sharing at gatherings, offering a perfect balance of flavors and textures.
Ingredients
Scale
Apple and Salt Mixture
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, finely chopped
Crunchy Base
- 1 1/2 cups mini pretzels, divided
Chocolate and Caramel
- 2 cups (340 g) dark chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup store-bought or homemade caramel sauce
- Flaky sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Apple: In a medium bowl, mix kosher salt with 1 cup of water. Add the finely chopped Granny Smith apple and let it soak for 5 to 10 minutes. This process helps to mellow the apple’s tartness. After soaking, strain the apples through a fine-mesh sieve and rinse them thoroughly under cold water to remove excess salt.
- Crush Pretzels: Place 1 cup of the mini pretzels into a resealable plastic bag. Using a rolling pin or heavy skillet, crush the pretzels into fine crumbs. Spread these crumbs evenly onto a parchment-lined baking sheet for the chocolate layer.
- Melt Chocolate: Transfer the dark chocolate chips into a medium heatproof bowl. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth, which should take about 1 minute total.
- Spread Chocolate: Using an offset spatula or a butter knife, spread the melted chocolate evenly over the crushed pretzel layer on the baking sheet. Immediately top with the remaining whole mini pretzels and the prepared chopped apples, distributing them evenly.
- Drizzle Caramel: In a small heatproof bowl, microwave the caramel sauce for about 30 seconds or until it reaches a drizzling consistency. Drizzle the warm caramel generously over the chocolate bark. For a finishing touch, sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired.
- Chill to Set: Place the completed bark in the refrigerator and let it chill until set, which takes at least 20 minutes and can be extended up to 1 day for convenience. Once set, break the bark into pieces and serve.
Notes
- Soaking the apples in salted water reduces their tartness and prevents oxidation, keeping the bark fresh.
- Using dark chocolate provides a nice balance to the sweetness of caramel and tartness of apples.
- Flaky sea salt is optional but enhances the flavor contrast in the bark.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
- You can substitute pretzels with other crunchy snacks like crushed graham crackers for texture variation.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece (approx. 1/10 of the bark)
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
