Ingredients
Base
- 50 pretzel snaps
Caramel Layer
- 50 Kraft’s caramel squares, unwrapped
Fruit Layer
- 3 Granny Smith apples, cored and cut into 1-inch cubes
- Juice of 1 lemon (optional, for soaking apples to prevent browning)
Toppings
- ¼ cup finely chopped peanuts
- ⅓ cup semisweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate melting wafers
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 275°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Arrange Pretzels: Lay the pretzel snaps onto the prepared baking tray in a single layer, spacing them about 1 inch apart for even heating.
- Add Caramel: Place one unwrapped caramel square on top of each pretzel snap.
- Bake Caramels: Transfer the tray to the preheated oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, watching closely so the caramels soften and expand without fully melting and spilling over the pretzels.
- Prepare Apples: While the pretzels and caramels bake, core and cut the Granny Smith apples into 1-inch cubes. To prevent browning, soak them in lemon juice or salt water briefly, then drain and pat dry with paper towels.
- Top Pretzels: Remove the tray from the oven. Immediately top each softened caramel pretzel with an apple cube, gently pressing it into the caramel so it adheres well.
- Melt Chocolate: Microwave the semisweet chocolate chips or melting wafers in a microwave-safe piping bag on a low or defrost setting. Heat in short intervals, massaging the bag between each to ensure even melting until smooth.
- Drizzle Chocolate and Add Peanuts: Cut a small tip off the piping bag and drizzle the melted chocolate evenly over the caramel apple bites. Quickly sprinkle chopped peanuts on top while the chocolate is still wet.
- Set and Serve: Transfer the prepared bites onto a clean parchment paper to allow the chocolate to set. Alternatively, let the chocolate harden on the tray, then break off any excess pieces. Allow the bites to cool completely before serving to enjoy the perfect texture contrast.
Notes
- Soaking apple cubes in lemon juice or salt water prevents browning and maintains a fresh appearance.
- Be careful not to overbake the caramels as they can melt too much and lose their shape.
- If you prefer, you can substitute peanuts with other chopped nuts or seeds for garnish.
- Use a microwave-safe piping bag or a small plastic sandwich bag to melt and drizzle chocolate easily.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature; best consumed within 1 to 2 days for freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
