Easy Homemade Chocolate Pretzel Toffee Bark

Salty gluten-free pretzels come together with a rich homemade buttery toffee layered with chocolate, making this easy homemade bark completely irresistible.

It's that time of year when we are starting to think about the holidays. I think this year is so weird. It has me thinking ahead about what I can do to make this holiday even more special. I know one of the things our girls love to do so much with me is making treats in the kitchen to share with all their friends and families, so this year, we are just starting a little bit earlier.

One thing that always brings everyone together is my salty-sweet Easy Homemade Chocolate Covered Pretzel Toffee Bark. This year, it's made even better because I've discovered the perfect gluten-free pretzels. Why are they perfect? They are totally grain-free, and I'm not even kidding when I say they are delicious and addicting, in a good way, of course.

Making Homemade Candy

Don't be intimidated by the thought of making homemade candy because this candy is completely easy to make. You don't even need a candy thermometer to make it. It's pretty foolproof with a few tips and tricks, and the results will impress anyone you decide to share it with.

Tools Needed

• Baking Sheet
• Parchment Paper
• Saucepan (not a nonstick pan)
• Wooden Spoon
• Spatula

See super simple things you already have on hand!

Ingredients Needed:

• Sugar
• Butter - There really isn't a good sub that I have found for butter in this recipe.
• Gluten-free Pretzels - You can use which ones you like. I recently discovered some delicious grain-free pretzel options that I love. You can use whichever gluten-free ones you prefer.
• Chocolate Chips - I like to use Enjoy Life Chocolate chips for most chocolate recipes, but you can use whatever chocolate chips you prefer.
• Vanilla
• Sea Salt - Optional
• Chopped Nuts - Optional

Let's Make Toffee Bark

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the pretzels over the parchment paper. You can break them up or leave them whole, totally preference here. I like to leave about a cup of pretzels to break up and sprinkle over the chocolate at this point.
2. Set this aside while you make the toffee.
3. Combine the butter,  sugar, and vanilla into a saucepan over medium-high heat while frequently stirring until the brown sugar is melted. The mixture is bubbly and amber in color.
4. Pour the melted mixture carefully over the pretzels on the parchment paper and spread it out with a wooden spoon as needed.
5. Spread the chocolate chips over the toffee and pretzel base and allow it to melt 1-2 minutes.
6. Once the chocolate has started to melt, spread the chocolate over the top of the pretzels and toffee until a thin layer is covering the pan.
7. Sprinkle with additional crushed pretzels and sea salt for an extra salty crunch.
8. Allow the pan to cool completely; you can place it in the fridge to help as needed.
9. When the bark has cooled, break it up into pieces as desired.
10. Share if you dare and enjoy!

Tips and Tricks

Homemade toffee can be tricky but don't worry; it's still not hard. So here are some common problems and quick fixes.

Toffee becomes separated - This can happen if the butter is not at room temperature and melts at a different rate than the brown sugar.

If this happens:

1. Remove the pan from the heat and stir until it has recombined.
2. Place it back onto a low temperature and gradually increase it.
3. If it is still having trouble, you can add up to 4 tbs (1 at a time) of HOT water to the mixture while stirring to bring it back to bubbling.

If you have already poured the mixture over the pretzels, it's a lost cause, so make sure you watch for this before pouring the toffee over the pretzels.

Make sure to use a HEAVY bottom pan - Some pans can create hot spots, increasing the chances of toffee separation.

Use room temperature butter - This will help ensure the butter melts more evenly with the brown sugar.

Gradually increase the heat - Do no place the pan over a higher heat. Start it lower and then gradually increase it to medium heat. This will help reduce the heat shot and help to keep the toffee from separating.

Storage Tips

You can store this in an airtight container at room temperature. If you want, you can put it in the fridge to keep it cold.

More Homemade Gluten-free Candy

• Homemade Rollos (Caramel Candies)
• Homemade Peanut Butter Cups 
• Meringue Cookie Pops
• Homemade Peeps
• Caramel Candy

📖 Recipe