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You are going to fall in love with this scrumptious dessert recipe! It’s a perfect dessert to make after an apple-picking trip! Layers of melted chocolate, pretzels, apples, and caramel combine to make this flavorful dessert!
Easy Caramel Apple Bark
If you love a caramel apple dessert, then you are going to love this caramel apple bark. It has all of the tanginess from the apples balanced with the sweetness of the caramel. Add in the pretzels and melted chocolate, and you have a sweet dessert that the whole family will love.
I feel like this is going to be your “go-to” autumn dessert; after all, that is when apples are hugely popular and in season. It is such a scrumptious dessert that is perfect if you have been to a “pick your own” farm or have a glut of apples from your own back garden. That being said, it is a delicious dessert to enjoy all year round.
Apple desserts are really popular, especially with children. You have that familiar tang from the apple, and the caramel sauce perfectly balances the flavors. It is a great option for a family meal and the perfect dessert to be served with cream or ice cream.
The whole family is going to love this simple yet tasty dessert idea. You have to try it! Read on for the recipe and prepare to indulge in some serious deliciousness.
Why We Love This Recipe
- Fall flavors
- Easy and delicious
- Only 4 ingredients
- Can be prepped ahead of time
- Is a showstopper dessert that will impress your guests
Ingredients
- Milk chocolate chips
- Pretzels
- Granny Smith apples
- Caramel sundae sauce
Substitute gluten-free pretzels to make this recipe gluten-free. And use vegan chocolate and caramel sauce to make vegan.
How to Make Caramel Apple Crunch
First of all, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and prepare the ingredients. Start by gently breaking the pretzels until you have 3 cups full. Dice the apples into about ½-inch cubes. Make sure you discard the seeds and core.
Set ¼ – ½ cup of chocolate chips aside, and then melt the rest. Pour the melted chocolate onto the parchment paper on the baking sheet, and spread it out across the pan, making it about a ⅛-¼ inch thick.
Get your crushed pretzels and then sprinkle them across the melted chocolate, followed by the diced apples.
Then, drizzle the caramel sauce over the top.
Melt the leftover chocolate chips. Once melted, drizzle that across the apple, caramel, and pretzel layer.
Use a fork to carefully break a piece off, and serve on a plate since it’s rather messy!
Variations
- Why not add some crushed biscuits to the dessert recipe? You could add crushed digestives, cookies, or even Oreos to this. The biscuits could replace or be in addition to the pretzels.
- You could add some marshmallows or even some of your favorite sweets if you want to jazz things up a little.
- Adding some other fresh fruit to this dessert would be a great addition. Berries would work well with this. You could also replace the apple with other fruit like pears.
Notes & Tips
- You may choose to use caramel candies and melt them, but please note it will alter the flavor and consistency of this dessert.
- To make this dish gluten-free, simply swap the pretzels for gluten-free ones.
- This is a messy dessert recipe, so be mindful of that when you are serving.
- Ensure when you are cutting up the apple that you discard any core and pips. These are not nice to eat. You can leave the skin on if you wish.
- It might help to have all of the elements ready so that you can assemble the dessert without the risk of the chocolate solidifying.
? Frequently Asked Questions
You can enjoy this dessert as it is, but I think it would make an amazing topper to some scoops of your favorite ice cream. You could add it to cakes and brownies or with a swirl of whipped cream on top.
This is a dessert that is best served straight away. If you have leftovers, you can add them to an airtight container and store them in the fridge. The apple may start to brown, so consume it within a day.
This recipe can easily be made gluten-free by substituting the pretzels for gluten-free ones. It’s also dairy-free and can be made vegan by using vegan chocolate and caramel sauce. It is such an easy recipe to adapt to suit your dietary needs.
More Fun Dessert Recipes
- Shark Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches – the perfect bite-sized treat to cool you down on a hot day!
- Pomegranate Bites – a bite-sized treat that you can serve up for a dessert or a mid-day pick-me-up treat!
- Strawberry Spring Rolls – these treats take fresh strawberries, wrap them in spring roll wrappers, and fry them to a crispy texture!
- S’mores Dessert Cups – no campfire is required to enjoy these mess-free S’mores cups!
- Caramel Apple Cream Cheese Twists – another caramel apple treat, this time using apple pie filling!
I hope you enjoy making and eating your caramel apple crunch. If so, please leave a star ★★★★★ rating and a comment below! Follow along on Pinterest, Facebook, or Twitter for more delicious recipes!
Caramel Apple Crunch Dessert
Ingredients
- 11.5 oz bag milk chocolate chips divided
- 3 cups pretzels coarsely crushed
- 2 Granny Smith apples
- ½ cup caramel sundae sauce
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Gently break the pretzels – coarse is fine, you don’t want them finely crushed. Stop when you have 3 cups full.
- Rinse and dice the apples into about ½-inch cubes. Discard the seeds and core.
- Set ¼ – ½ cup of chocolate chips aside, and melt the rest.
- Pour the melted chocolate onto the parchment paper, and spread it out across the pan, making it about a ⅛-¼ inch thick.
- Top with the crushed pretzels, and then the diced apples.
- Drizzle caramel sauce over the top.
- Melt the leftover chocolate chips, and drizzle over the top of everything.
- To serve, use a fork to carefully break a piece off, and serve on a plate since it’s rather messy!
Notes
- You may choose to use caramel candies and melt them, but please note it will alter the flavor and consistency of this dessert.
- To make this dish gluten-free, simply swap the pretzels for gluten-free ones.
- This is a messy dessert recipe, so be mindful of that when you are serving.
- When cutting up the apple, discard any core and pips. These are not nice to eat. You can leave the skin on if you wish.
- It might help to have all of the elements ready so that you can assemble the dessert without the risk of the chocolate solidifying.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, is intended to serve as an estimate only, and is provided for informational purposes. The accuracy of nutritional information is not guaranteed.
