Caramel Apple Pretzel Bites

These easy caramel apple pretzel bites with peanuts and chocolate are tasty treats for parties, as an after-school snack, or as gifts, and come together in no time. They are a fun way to make apple season into a simple treat.

If you love caramel apples but would rather not go through the hassle, I have cool apple treats for you. These pretzel bites combine salty crunchy pretzels with sweet caramel candy, apple pieces, nuts, and melted chocolate.

If you know rolo pretzels, think of this recipe as an elevated pretzel bites recipe. And you’ve probably already seen this recipe – it is viral on social media!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• An easy and delicious dessert eaten fresh with your hands. Kids love it!
• Minimal prep time and ingredients list. It is super easy and fun to make with kids too.
• Burst of flavors and texture: juicy, sweet, tart, crunchy, salty – one of the many delicious recipes for holidays.
• It is a bit healthier (at least it is what I tell myself) than classic Rolo pretzels.

Ingredients Notes

• Pretzel snaps (or pretzel crisps – square pretzels that look like lattice). It will be easier to use snaps than regular mini pretzel twists. Feel free to swap them with gluten-free pretzels if needed.
• Caramel squares, unwrapped – like Kraft’s. (Kraft caramels) All the rolo pretzels recipes use Rolo candy, but I like to switch things up a bit. If you have small caramel bites you may need to use 2 per each pretzel.
• Granny Smith apples, cored and cut into 1-inch small chunks. I use tart green apples but you are free to use your fav apples here (Honeycrisps will be a great choice). You may have to squeeze a little lemon juice over cut apples to keep them from turning brown and let them stay fresh and crisp. You don’t have to peel apples especially if the skin is thin.
• Finely chopped peanuts
• Semisweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate melting wafers.
• Lemon juice or salted water to soak apples and keep them fresh.

Kitchen Equipment

• Baking tray or cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Piping bag

How To Make Caramel Apple Bites With Pretzels

1: Arrange Pretzels On The Baking Sheet

1. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
2. Spread the pretzels in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Try to space them out giving ½ “ to 1” between each pretzel to allow for the melting of the caramel.

2: Add Caramel

Top each of the pretzels with a caramel square.

3: Bake The Pretzel Bites With Caramel

1. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the caramels have softened but aren’t completely melted. They will expand a bit as they warm, but you don’t want a gooey mess with a tray full of liquid caramel.
2. Check after 5 min to make sure the caramel is not melting.

4: Soak Apples In Lemon Juice

1. Prepare the apples while the pretzels are baking. Chop and then soak in lemon juice or salt water to help keep them from browning.
2. Drain the apples from the water and pat them completely dry with a paper towel.

5: Top The Pretzel Bites With Apple pieces

1. When the pretzels are done baking, remove and immediately push an apple piece in the top of each soft caramel.
2. Press into the caramel so that once the caramel cools it will hold the apple in place. Do the same with each small pretzel.

6: Prepare The Chocolate Drizzle

1. Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl on 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each interval until smooth and glossy.
2. Transfer to a piping bag or decorating bottle fitting with a small round tip.

7: Decorate With Chocolate And Nuts

1. Drizzle melted chocolate over the top of the bites in any pattern you desire.
2. Immediately sprinkle with chopped peanuts while the chocolate is warm so that it will hold the peanuts once it sets.
3. Allow the bites to cool completely before serving.

Variations & Substitutions

• This will work with any flavor of chocolate – there are so many to choose from.
• Try changing it up by using any type of pretzels, Rolo candy instead of caramel squares, almond bark instead of chocolate chips, different candy bars, or any type of nuts you prefer. This recipe is very easy to adapt based on your preferences. You can even use a different fruit instead of an apple!
• Toppings. You can go as simple as chocolate sprinkles,
• This recipe can be adapted for any quantity you need for your event. It can be cut down in half or ¼ or expanded to double or triple – depending on your needs.
• Make sandwiches by making another batch of pretzel + caramel and sticking it on top of the apple, so you have pretzel, caramel, apple, caramel, and pretzel layers in one bite.

Storage

Because apples tend to brown when sitting out, this recipe is best enjoyed immediately after prepared.

Refrigerating is not recommended as the caramel will become too hard and the pretzels will soften in the damp air. If you have to, store these pretzel bites in an airtight container in the fridge for 1 day. Let the caramel soften at room temp before eating.

You should not freeze these caramel apple pretzel bites.

Also, the moisture of the apples will come out as they sit which can soften the pretzels. I don’t recommend making these ahead of time.

Expert Tips To Make The Best Caramel Apple Pretzel Bites

• If your apples turn brown it doesn’t mean they have gone bad, it is simply oxidation. It doesn’t really affect the taste! However, it does look less pretty so I use just a splash of lemon juice (lime juice is also fine).
• To make it easier to serve and eat you can insert a toothpick into each apple piece. You can also stick one apple piece at the end of the toothpick and then push it into the soft caramel to avoid touching everything with your fingers. You can go even further and use flavored candy toothpicks.
• Have everything prepared before you bake the caramel. It hardens quickly so we will need to work fast. If you didn’t manage to press apples into every caramel square before they hardened, don’t panic, just soften the remaining bites in the oven again. 

DON’T MISS THESE HOLIDAY E-BOOKS!

If you love this easy snack recipe, you’re going to love these other easy pretzel recipes too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

More Great Caramel Apple Recipes

Caramel Apple Cheesecake

Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Homemade Caramel Apples

Caramel Apple Turnovers

---

---