This simple Pretzel Toffee is sweet, salty and perfect for snacking or gifting during the holidays. It takes just 5 ingredients and only a few minutes to prepare, but is sure to disappear fast.
Jump to:
“Christmas Crack” with Pretzels
This chocolate covered Pretzel Toffee has it all - salty pretzels, sweet and buttery toffee all smothered in milk chocolate and topped off with toasted nuts. Each bite has so many different flavors and textures that you will find yourself struggling not to eat every piece that is in front of you. It’s nicknamed “Christmas Crack” for a reason.
Not only does this make the perfect holiday snack, it also makes a great last minute homemade Christmas gift. It’s festive, it’s delicious and it is so incredibly simple - no mixers, candy thermometers or special equipment necessary. Wrap a little stack in wax paper with cute ribbon and a tag for friends, neighbors, kid’s teachers or anyone else you may have on your list.
Ingredients in Chocolate Covered Pretzel Toffee
- Pretzels - we recommend using mini pretzel sticks or mini pretzel twists for this recipe. Mini pretzels will give you the most pretzel per square inch, and they are the perfect height to where they will just show through the top of the toffee after it sets.
- Butter - unsalted butter works great.
- Brown Sugar - we like light brown sugar for this recipe.
- Chocolate Chips - this recipe calls for mini milk chocolate chips. However, you could try substituting all types of other chocolate chip flavors. Dark or semi-sweet chocolate, white chocolate or even peanut butter chocolate chips would all taste fantastic. Just be sure and use mini-size chocolate chips because they melt the quickest.
- Nuts - we recommend using walnuts, almonds or pecans. You’ll want to toast and chop them ahead of time. If you want your Pretzel Toffee to be nut-free, you can skip the nuts altogether.
How to Make Pretzel Toffee
- Arrange pretzels. Butter a 15" x 21" baking sheet, or line with parchment paper, then arrange pretzels evenly over the bottom.
- Cook the toffee. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter and brown sugar and bring to a boil. Continue to boil for 2 minutes while whisking.
- Pour over the pretzels. Pour the toffee mixture over the pretzels.
- Bake. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 5 minutes.
- Add chocolate chips. Remove the pretzels and toffee from the oven and sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the top. Let the hot pretzels melt the chocolate chips, then spread the melted chocolate evenly over the crackers using a spatula.
- Top with nuts. Sprinkle the chopped and toasted nuts evenly over the melted chocolate, gently pressing them in before it sets.
- Let the chocolate set. Let cool to room temperature, then transfer to the fridge until solid before breaking or cutting into pieces. Enjoy!
Recipe Variations
- Nut-free. If you want to make your Pretzel Toffee nut-free, skip the nuts and sprinkle chopped pretzels over the top instead.
- Salted chocolate. If you like your sweet things a little salty, add a dusting of coarse sea salt over the top of the melted chocolate before it sets up.
- Festive toppings. For Christmas, top with red and green sprinkles or M&Ms.
Frequently Asked Questions
You’ll want to use mini pretzels because they are the perfect width to where they will just show through the toffee and chocolate layers. If you try and use regular sized pretzels, they will stick out too far.
Yes! Just be sure and wrap the Pretzel Toffee in plastic wrap before placing it in an airtight container. Store frozen for up to 1 month, then let thaw at room temperature before eating.
The most common reason is that you did not boil the butter and brown sugar mixture for long enough. This means that not enough water has evaporated and the sugar did not reach a high enough temperature making for soggy toffee. Be sure and boil for a full 2 minutes.
Storing and Freezing
- Room Temperature: store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: if you need to store this for longer, wrap well in plastic wrap then place in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
Pretzel Toffee Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups Mini Pretzels sticks or twists
- 1 ¼ cups Butter
- 1 cup Light Brown Sugar
- 12 oz Mini Milk Chocolate Chips
- 1 cup Walnuts, Almonds or Pecans toasted and chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Butter a 15" x 21" baking sheet, or line with parchment paper, then arrange pretzels evenly over the bottom.
- To a medium sized pot over medium heat, add the butter and brown sugar and bring to a boil. Continue to boil for 2 minutes while whisking, then pour the brown sugar mixture over the pretzels.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 5 minutes, then remove the pretzels from the oven and sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the top. Let the hot pretzels melt the chocolate chips, then spread the melted chocolate evenly over the crackers using a spatula.
- Sprinkle the chopped and toasted nuts evenly over the melted chocolate, gently pressing them in before it sets.
- Let cool in the fridge for at least 20 minutes, or until solid, then break or cut into pieces. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Here are more of our favorite Christmas candy recipes:
- Saltine Cracker Toffee
- Candied Pecans
- Rolo Pretzel Bites
- Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Rods
- Buttery English Toffee
- Homemade Caramel
- More Dessert Recipes
- More Christmas Favorites
- Christmas Candy Recipes
If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest, feel free to leave a comment and photo there too. Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!
This Pretzel Toffee is made with layers of salty pretzels, buttery toffee, sweet milk chocolate and toasted nuts. It's perfect for snacking or gifting during the holidays, or any other time of year.
Nellie Tracy
This is a delicious recipe and fairly easy! Will be making often this holiday season!
Jill Baird
Hooray, I hope you love it as much as we do!
Natalie
Such a great treat idea for Christmas instead of candies. I'm adding this recipe to my Christmas list. Thanks!
Jill Baird
yes, such a fun recipe!