No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars Easy Homemade Recipe with Salted Caramel
These no-bake bars combine crunchy pretzels, creamy peanut butter, smooth chocolate, and a salted caramel drizzle for a sweet-salty, crunchy-chewy treat that’s quick and easy to make without an oven.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups mini pretzels or crushed pretzel pieces
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter (natural or traditional)
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup salted caramel sauce
- Pinch of flaky sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine peanut butter, softened unsalted butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Gently fold in the mini pretzels or crushed pretzel pieces until evenly coated.
- Press the peanut butter and pretzel mixture firmly and evenly into the lined pan.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each, until smooth and glossy.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture evenly over the peanut butter base and smooth out quickly.
- Warm the salted caramel sauce slightly to make it pourable, then drizzle over the chocolate layer. Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top if desired.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours until bars are firm and chocolate is set. Alternatively, chill in the freezer for 1 hour, watching carefully.
- Use the parchment overhang to lift bars from the pan and cut into 12 squares with a sharp knife.
Notes
Use room temperature butter and peanut butter for a smoother base. Microwave chocolate in short bursts to avoid burning. Press the base firmly to prevent crumbling. Warm caramel sauce if too thick for easy drizzling. Chill bars fully before slicing for neat cuts. For vegan version, substitute dairy-free chocolate, plant-based butter, and coconut caramel sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (1 of 12)
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 6
Keywords: no-bake, chocolate, peanut butter, pretzel bars, salted caramel, easy dessert, sweet and salty, snack bars