Chocolate & Salted Caramel Pretzel Bars

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2

Pulse the bread into fine crumbs using a food processor.

Note: if you forget to leave the bread out overnight, you can dry it out in a 300 degree oven for 10-15 minutes.

Step 3

In a medium bowl, stir together bread crumbs, melted butter, sugar and salt until combined. Press the crumbs into an even layer of a 9×13 pan greased with baking spray.

Step 4

Bake bread crumb crust for 10 minutes.

Step 5

Meanwhile, in a medium pan over low heat, stir together sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips until melted and smooth.

Step 6

Pour chocolate mixture over baked crust and top with pretzels, gently pressing them into chocolate.

Step 7

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until set. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with a pinch of coarse sea salt, if desired.

Step 8

Cool completely and then refrigerate or freeze until chilled and completely set. Once set, drizzle with caramel sauce in a lattice pattern. Alternatively, you can add pieces of caramels (alongside the pretzels) on top of the chocolate mixture at the start of the baking process.

Step 9

Cut into bars, about 3×3 inches, and serve.