No-Bake Caramel Pretzel Crack Bars

Sweet, salty, crunchy, and irresistibly addictive

These No-Bake Caramel Pretzel Crack Bars are the ultimate sweet-and-salty dessert. With crunchy pretzels, rich caramel, and a smooth chocolate topping, they deliver maximum flavor with zero baking required. Perfect for holidays, parties, potlucks, or anytime you need a quick crowd-pleasing treat, these bars come together easily and disappear fast—hence the name crack bars!

Time & Yield

Prep time: 20 minutes

Chilling time: 1–2 hours

Total time: ~2 hours

Yield: 12–16 bars

Ingredients

Pretzel Base

2½ cups pretzel twists or sticks, crushed

¾ cup graham cracker crumbs or digestive biscuit crumbs

¾ cup unsalted butter, melted

Caramel Layer

1 cup soft caramel candies or thick caramel sauce

¼ cup heavy cream (or milk)

Chocolate Topping

1½ cups semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips

1 tbsp coconut oil or butter (for shine)

Optional Toppings

Sea salt flakes

Chopped peanuts or almonds

Mini chocolate chips

White chocolate drizzle

Instructions

1️⃣ Prepare the Base

Line an 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) pan with parchment paper

In a bowl, mix crushed pretzels and crumbs

Add melted butter and stir until evenly coated

Press mixture firmly into the pan

Refrigerate for 15 minutes to set

Make the Caramel Layer

In a small saucepan, heat caramel candies and cream over low heat

Stir constantly until smooth and melted

Pour caramel evenly over the chilled base

Spread gently with a spatula

Refrigerate for 20–30 minutes

3️⃣ Add the Chocolate Topping

Melt chocolate chips with coconut oil using microwave or double boiler

Stir until smooth and glossy

Pour over caramel layer and spread evenly

Sprinkle sea salt or toppings if desired

4️⃣ Chill & Slice

Refrigerate for 1–2 hours, until fully firm

Lift out using parchment paper

Slice into bars with a sharp knife

Tips for Best Results

Press the base firmly for clean slices

Use low heat for caramel to prevent burning

Chill layers before adding the next

Slightly warm knife for perfect cuts

Sea salt enhances the caramel flavor beautifully

Variations

🥜 Nutty Version

Add chopped peanuts or pecans to the caramel layer

🍯 Peanut Butter Twist

Swirl melted peanut butter into the chocolate layer

🍫 Extra Chocolate

Add a thin white chocolate drizzle on top

🌱 No-Bake Vegan Option

Use dairy-free butter
Coconut cream instead of heavy cream
Vegan caramel and chocolate

🍪 Cookie Swap

Replace graham crumbs with crushed Oreos or digestive biscuits

Storage

Store in an airtight container
Refrigerate up to 5 days
Freeze for up to 2 months (slice before freezing)

Serving Suggestions

Serve chilled or slightly softened
Great with coffee, tea, or milk
Ideal for dessert trays and gift boxes

Final Thoughts

These No-Bake Caramel Pretzel Crack Bars are everything a dessert should be—easy, indulgent, and impossible to resist. Once you make them, they’ll become a go-to favorite for every occasion.