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Large Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Hearts

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I’m so excited to share these large chocolate caramel pretzel hearts! They will be the perfect treats to make and give for Valentine’s Day.

I think these are much better than those caramel and chocolate pretzel rods. These large chocolate caramel pretzel hearts have a much better ratio of caramel to pretzel.

Large Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Hearts

Now, let me tell you how I discovered these. I work for our local school district, and someone made these to share with us at Christmas time. Trays of these were just chilling in the break room.

I grabbed one. I had never seen anything like them before. They were divine.

So, I came home that day to try and find how to make them on the internet. I could find anything. I took this as a challenge.

  • SNYDER’S OLDE THYME PRETZELS
  • SUGAR
  • DARK CORN SYRUP
  • BUTTER
  • SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK
  • VANILLA
  • SEMI-SWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS

The first thing you need is the pretzels. The ones I found at my store to use for these are Snyder’s Olde Thyme pretzels. Try to pick a bag with the least number of broken pretzels.

Lay the pretzels out on a cookie sheet lined with parchment or waxed paper. You can try to puzzle-piece the broken pretzels together to give you more pretzel hearts. The caramel will hold them together.

Instead, put the broken pieces together and add caramel in the middle. They won’t make the pretty hearts, but it will give you the same taste. They will be more like the store-bought Snappers caramel and pretzel clusters I have purchased before from Costco.

I used my homemade creamy caramel recipe for this, and it worked perfectly. It’s a nice thick caramel when it comes off the heat. You do need to try and work quickly. The caramel will start to cool and thicken.

If it does get a little bit too thick, you can place it back on the stove on that burner you cooked it on. It will still be warm. So, set it there to give the caramel a little heat again to thin it down.

Just put a spoonful of the caramel in the middle of the pretzel to fill that center with caramel. I use a silicone spoon to do this.

If you have extra caramel left over from filling the pretzels, you can pour it into a greased loaf pan. This way, you can enjoy it as regular caramels at a later time. Allow them to sit for about 30 minutes.

The last thing you do is melt some semi-sweet chocolate chips. Just microwave in 30-second increments and add them to a Ziploc bag. Snip the corner of the bag to make a small hole. Then, pipe the chocolate over each pretzel.

You can always change up the chocolate to milk chocolate or white chocolate if you prefer. You could even do dark chocolate!

I love, love, love these. You have plenty of gooey caramel encasing that crunchy, salty pretzel. Then you have that sweet, chocolaty goodness drizzle on there, too. Heavenly, I tell you!

How do I package a large chocolate caramel pretzel heart for gifting?
I like to use some clear cellophane bags and tie them up with some curling ribbon.

How do I store a large chocolate caramel pretzel heart?
Store your large chocolate caramel pretzel heart in an airtight container at room temperature for several days. For longer storage, you can keep them in the fridge.

What occasions are large chocolate caramel pretzel hearts good for?
Large chocolate caramel pretzel hearts are perfect for occasions like Valentine’s Day, Christmas, anniversaries, birthdays, or as a sweet gift for a loved one.

What are some creative ways to decorate a large chocolate caramel pretzel heart?
Use colored candy melts, edible glitter, or edible gold dust to decorate and add a festive touch to your creations. You could even add a sprinkling of sea salt. Experiment with different toppings to make this salty treat uniquely yours.

Large Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Hearts

Large Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Hearts

Real Mom Kitchen

These Large Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Hearts are a delightful combination of sweet and salty flavors, perfect for any occasion. Featuring a crunchy pretzel base topped with gooey caramel and rich melted chocolate, they’re easy to make and fun to share. These heart-shaped treats are an ideal homemade gift or festive snack that everyone will adore!
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Cooling time 10 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Candy, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 30 servings
Calories 222 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 16 oz bag Snyder's Olde Thyme pretzels
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup dark corn syrup
  • 1 cup butter
  • 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper or waxed paper. Lay the pretzels out on the baking sheets. You can puzzle piece the broken pretzels together if you want. The caramel will hold the pretzels together.
  • Make the caramel – In a 3 qt saucepan, add sugar, corn syrup, and butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until boiling. Then allow to boil for 4 minutes WITHOUT stirring.
  • Reduce heat to medium low and mix in the sweetened condensed milk. Reducing the heat is key, if you don't the sugar in the sweetened condensed milk will burn. You will need to stir this from now on. Using a candy thermometer, cook until it reaches soft ball stage (see note to figure out proper temperature to reach soft all stage where you live. For where I live in the Salt Lake Valley it's 230 degrees). If it does burn by accident, no fear. It will still taste good; you just end up with dark flecks in your caramel.
  • Remove from heat and mix in the vanilla.
  • Working quickly, spoon some of the caramel into the center of each pretzel to fill the center.
  • If the caramel starts to cool and gets little bit too thick, place it back on the stove on that burner you cooked it on. It will still be warm. Set it there to give the caramel a little heat again to thin it down. Then continue finishing the pretzels.
  • If you have extra caramel left over from filling the pretzels, you can pour it into a greased loaf pan. This way, you can enjoy it as regular caramels later.
  • Allow the pretzel to cool for 30 minutes. Then microwave the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second increments, stirring after each one, until fully melted.
  • Add the melted chocolate to a Ziploc bag. Snip the corner of the bag to make a small hole. Then pipe a zig zag line on the top of each pretzel. Makes 30 pretzels.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 114mg | Potassium: 133mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 225IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 1mg
Keyword Caramel Pretzels
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5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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