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Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Cups

Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Cups

Craving something sweet and salty? Dive into these Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Cups that offer a delightful crunch from pretzels, rich caramel, and smooth chocolate. Perfect for parties or an afternoon treat, they’re sure to impress everyone!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 minutes
Total Time 19 minutes
Servings: 24 cups
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Calories: 120
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup crushed pretzel sticks
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup packed brown sugar
  • ¼ cup corn syrup
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

Equipment

  • Food Processor
  • Frying Pan
  • Wooden Spoon
  • Chef's Knife
  • Mixing Bowl

Method
 

  1. Line a mini cupcake pan with liners. If you're using pretty paper liners, consider spraying them very lightly with cooking spray. This simple step will help prevent the caramel from sticking to the liners, ensuring your cups come out easily.
  2. In a Ziploc bag, crush the pretzel sticks using a rolling pin, or place them in a small food processor and pulse a few times. Be careful not to pulverize them into dust; you want them crushed enough to hold together but still have some texture. Once done, place about 1 teaspoon of the crushed pretzels into each liner.
  3. Now let’s create the caramel layer. In a heat-proof bowl, place the unsalted butter and microwave for about 30 seconds. Note that it may not fully melt; that’s okay! Add in the granulated sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk. Stir the mixture well to combine.
  4. Microwave the mixture for a total of 3 minutes, stopping to stir every 45 seconds. This will ensure the ingredients meld well together without burning. After the final stir, pour about 2 to 3 teaspoons of the warm caramel over the pretzel layer in each cup.
  5. Next, let’s make the chocolate topping. In another heat-proof bowl, combine the semi-sweet chocolate chips with the vegetable oil and microwave for 20 seconds. Stir the mixture, then continue heating in 15-second intervals, stirring until it's completely smooth and melted.
  6. Using a spoon, divide the melted chocolate evenly among all the cups, pouring it over the set caramel layer. Get creative with toppings if you like—add festive sprinkles, chopped nuts, or shredded coconut for a fun touch!
  7. Let the cups sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour to set. This is the hardest part—waiting! But trust me, once they’re set, the flavor and texture will be worth the wait.
  8. Once set, carefully peel the liners off the cups, and serve them to family and friends. Enjoy the delightful combinations of flavors and textures!
  9. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, if they last that long!

Notes

You can place them in a fridge to speed up the setting process, but the chocolate will gather moisture on top, so I recommend keeping them at room temperature.