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Brown Butter Pretzel Salted Caramel Bites

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These brown butter pretzel salted caramel bites combine the nutty richness of brown butter, the salty crunch of pretzels, and gooey caramel for the ultimate sweet and salty snack. Easy to make and endlessly adaptable, they’re perfect for parties, gifting, or a cozy night in.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups mini pretzels (twists or sticks), roughly crushed (about 150g)
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter (226g)
  • 1 cup light brown sugar (200g)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (120ml)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (10ml)
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • Flaky sea salt, for topping
  • Optional: 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (60g)
  • Optional: 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (80g)

Instructions

  1. Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal. Lightly spray or grease the parchment.
  2. Place pretzels in a large zip-top bag and crush with a rolling pin until you have a mix of small chunks and bigger pieces. Pour into a large mixing bowl.
  3. In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir constantly as it melts, foams, and turns golden brown with a nutty aroma (about 6-8 minutes). Remove from heat immediately.
  4. Add brown sugar to the browned butter and stir to combine. Return to low heat and cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves (about 2-3 minutes).
  5. Carefully add heavy cream (it will bubble), and stir until smooth and thick, about 2-3 more minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and fine sea salt.
  6. Immediately pour the hot caramel over the crushed pretzels in the mixing bowl. Add nuts or mini chocolate chips if using. Toss until everything is evenly coated.
  7. Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan. Press down firmly and evenly with a spatula or greased hands. Sprinkle generously with flaky sea salt.
  8. Let cool at room temperature for at least 1 hour, or refrigerate for 30 minutes. Once firm, lift out using the parchment overhang and cut into 20-25 small squares.
  9. If caramel is too stiff to mix, warm gently with a splash of cream. If too runny, cook a minute longer before pouring.

Notes

For best results, use a light-colored pan to brown the butter so you can see the color change. Work quickly when mixing caramel and pretzels, as the caramel sets fast. Chill before slicing for cleaner cuts. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze for up to a month. Easily adaptable for gluten-free or dairy-free diets with ingredient swaps.

Nutrition

Keywords: brown butter, pretzel, salted caramel, sweet and salty, snack, easy dessert, party food, homemade candy, caramel bites, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser

Find it online: https://realityeats.com/brown-butter-pretzel-salted-caramel-bites-recipe-easy-sweet-and-salty-snack/