Description
Delightful caramel apple bites featuring crunchy pretzel snaps topped with soft caramel squares, fresh Granny Smith apple cubes, chopped peanuts, and a decadent drizzle of melted chocolate. Perfect as a sweet and salty snack or a festive treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 50 pretzel snaps
- 50 Kraft caramel squares, unwrapped
Apple Topping
- 3 Granny Smith apples, cored and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice or salt water (to soak apples)
Nut & Chocolate Topping
- ¼ cup finely chopped peanuts
- ⅓ cup semisweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate melting wafers
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Tray: Preheat your oven to 275°F (135°C) and line a baking tray with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Arrange Pretzels: Place the 50 pretzel snaps in a single layer on the prepared baking tray, spacing them about 1-inch apart to allow room for caramel expansion.
- Add Caramel Squares: Top each pretzel snap with one unwrapped Kraft caramel square, positioning them carefully for even melting.
- Bake Caramel Pretzels: Bake the tray in the oven for 10-15 minutes until the caramels soften and slightly expand, being careful not to overbake or let caramel fully melt and spill over the pretzels.
- Prepare Apple Cubes: While baking, core and cut the Granny Smith apples into 1-inch cubes. Soak these cubes in lemon juice or salt water briefly to prevent browning.
- Drain and Dry Apples: Remove the apple cubes from the soak, drain the liquid, and pat them dry gently with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Top Pretzels with Apples: Remove the tray from the oven and immediately press one apple cube onto each softened caramel pretzel to adhere while caramel is warm.
- Melt Chocolate: Place the semisweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate melting wafers into a microwave-safe piping bag. Heat on low or defrost setting in short intervals, massaging the bag between heating to ensure smooth melting.
- Drizzle Chocolate and Add Peanuts: Cut a small tip from the piping bag and drizzle melted chocolate over each caramel apple pretzel bite. Quickly sprinkle chopped peanuts over the top before the chocolate sets.
- Cool and Serve: Transfer the finished bites onto clean parchment paper or let the chocolate set on the tray, then break off any excess chocolate pieces. Allow to cool completely before serving for best texture and flavor. Enjoy your treat!
Notes
- Soaking apples in lemon juice or salt water prevents browning and keeps them fresh-looking.
- Be careful not to overbake caramel so it remains soft enough to stick but does not melt completely.
- Use a piping bag for easy and neat chocolate drizzle; alternatively, use a spoon if not available.
- These bites are best served the same day but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- For variation, try using different types of apples or nuts such as walnuts or pecans for added flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snack, Dessert
- Method: Baking, Drizzling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite (approximate)
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg
Keywords: caramel apple bites, pretzel caramel bites, caramel snacks, apple dessert bites, chocolate drizzle snacks, salty sweet treats
