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Salted Chocolate Pretzel Toffee – mini pretzels covered in my homemade toffee sauce made with butter, brown sugar, and a small touch of cream and vanilla to make this even more special for the holidays. Each piece of toffee has a salty chocolate bite with just the right amount of crunch – a holiday classic! Make this toffee to both eat and gift this holiday season!
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I didn’t know I could love a recipe so much, but this simple toffee is addicting. I can’t stop making it!
Originally, I had the idea of sharing a basic chocolate-covered pretzel. In fact, I may still share the recipe for those because, in our family, no Christmas is complete without a tin of homemade chocolate pretzels. And if they’re not homemade, then they’re the chocolate-covered pretzels from Malley’s Chocolates in Cleveland. Our friends, the Harveys, send us a yummy box each year.
Mom’s Chex mix, chocolate-covered pretzels, lots of cookies, cinnamon rolls, Death by Chocolate, and beef tenderloin. We have to have all of our family favorites at Christmastime!
But I love to add new recipes to the mix too! This season, it’s salty-sweet chocolate toffee!
When I was a kid, my mom and I were always baking cookies or putting gift baskets together for teachers. But we never made anything like toffee. So when I discovered how easy a toffee bar is to make, I knew immediately I wanted to share the recipe!
However, I wanted my toffee to have a softer texture instead of something that cracks down hard when you bite into it. This is kind of like a toffee, but also like my praline sauce from last week.
We are ALL loving these Praline Cookies right now, so you might like this recipe even more!
Ok, these are the details
The Ingredients
- salted butter
- dark brown sugar
- heavy cream
- vanilla extract
- mini salted pretzel twists
- semi-sweet chocolate chips
- flaky sea salt
Special Tools
Nothing new here, just some parchment paper, a 9×13 inch baking pan (or something similar in size), and a pot to make the toffee in.
Step 1: make the toffee sauce
The sauce is a mix of salted butter, dark brown sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla.
Everything but the vanilla simmers on the stove until the sauce bubbles and thickens. Then, remove from the heat and mix in the vanilla.
Most toffee recipes do not have cream, but as I mentioned I wanted more of a soft, chewy toffee. It turned out so great! And you can’t mess it up!
Step 2: bake the pretzels
Arrange the pretzels inside of a parchment-lined baking pan. Pour the toffee over the pretzels and bake until the toffee is bubbling again.
Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the toffee and return them to the oven for another minute, but no longer! You just want to give the chocolate a head start on melting. If you bake too long, the chocolate could get scorched.
Step 3: spread the chocolate on and chill
Now, spread the chocolate over the toffee. Then top with peanuts, or whatever nut you enjoy, and add some flaky sea salt.
Next, place these in either the fridge or freezer to set. Once set, break the toffee into pieces and EAT. This chocolate toffee is yummy both cold, right from the fridge, and at room temperature.
Make these for gifting
This is the time of year we’re all looking for desserts to bake and gifts to give; a homemade toffee is perfect for both. I’ve always loved gifting more personal gifts, especially for things like a hostess gift or as a gift for any family members who may be missing the holidays this year. Or even just to bake and bring along with you to your next holiday party.
Find a cute holiday tin. Target has cute options (1, 2, 3, 4) or head over to Amazon and order their Christmas tins. Zara has some cute oven paper to fit inside. I’d suggest doubling the recipe and gifting this toffee. Everyone will love it! Plus, it’s so cute!
Looking for other holiday cookies? Here are my favorites:
Easy Vanilla Bean Christmas Lights Cookies
Easy Hot Chocolate Lace Cookies
Lastly, if you make this Chocolate Pretzel Toffee, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Chocolate Pretzel Toffee
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons salted butter, cubed
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup salted mini pretzel twist
- 2-3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup roasted salted peanuts, (or any other nut, optional)
- sea salt
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Arrange the pretzels in an even layer in the pan.2. Melt together the butter, brown sugar, and cream in a pot set over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook until the mixture is bubbling, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla. Pour the sauce over the pretzels. Bake for 5 minutes, until the sauce is baked onto the pretzels. 3. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and bake for another 1 minute to melt. Spread the chocolate evenly, top with peanuts, and then sea salt. 4. Freeze or chill for 1 hour or until set. Break into small pieces for serving.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Hey, do I have to refrigerate this toffee when storing it or can I just leave it out on the counter in an air tight container?
Hi Makenna,
I would recommend keeping it in the fridge.
Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe!
I made this twice this week and it came out so great! Thank you for the recipe
Hey Lincoln,
Love to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it and your comment!
Happy Holidays!🎄
So so easy and damn delicious!
Always love your recipes!
Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and yours🙏
Hey Lynnece,
Happy Friday!! I’m so glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it and your comment!
Have a wonderful holiday season!🎄
Hi- I made this tonight and it’s been in the fridge for over 3 hours and nothing has hardened. You say it’s sticky but there is no way I’ll be able to cut it. You could eat it with a spoon. It’s a little disappointing.
Hi Julie,
Thanks for trying this recipe. It sounds like you need to pop it in the freezer. I hope this helps!
Happy Holidays!
The recipe turned out delicious but my homemade toffee was soooo sticky. I followed the recipe and froze it for 3 hours but it was still very sticky. Any advice on where I can improve?
Hey Michelle,
Thanks so much for making this recipe!! It is definitely a sticky toffee. For a less sticky toffee, just boil a bit longer in step 2.
I hope this helps! Happy Holidays!
How long do they stay fresh and pretzel stay crunchy?
Can they be made ahead of time and freeze?
Hi Virginie,
Yes, you can make ahead of time and freeze. Out of the freezer they are good for 1 week in an airtight container.
I hope you love this recipe! Happy Holidays!
Hi Tieghan, can this pretzel toffee be frozen?
Hi Andrea,
You bet! Please let me know if you have any other questions!
How many pieces does it make?
Hi Cindy,
It really just depends how large or small you break the pieces.
I hope you love this recipe!
Hi! I’ve made this twice and it’s so yummy and easy! The only issue I have is I got chocolate bloom both times. I thought maybe the first time I put it in a container too quickly. This time I waited a while but the same thing happened. Any advice?
Hi Heather,
Fantastic! Thanks so much for making this recipe and your comment, so glad it turned out nicely for you! I’m so sorry, what is chocolate bloom? Happy Sunday! XxT
Its when the chocolate turns a little whitish on top. It almost looks dusty
Hello Teighan,
Once done, how long do you keep toffee in a sealed container?
Thank you. 🙂
Hi Virginie,
This recipe is good for 1 week in an airtight container. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
wowwwwwwwww!
Thanks so much, Louise!!
So delicious! I just started following you and I am so glad I did! I have made this three times over the holidays. Everyone I have made this for has loved it. We are pecan lovers and so I used roasted salted pecans and it is excellent! Happy New Year! 🙂
Hi Joanne,
Awesome!! Thanks a lot for trying this recipe and your comment, love to hear it turned out nicely for you! Happy New Year!!🎆 xxT
Hi there! I have a question regarding the sugar/butter mixture. The recipe reads to bring mixture to a boil until the mixture is bubbly (about 4 min.) From my understanding, a mixture is boiling when it’s bubbly. Could you clarify this step? Thank you!
Hi Alexa,
Yes, that is correct, bring to a boil until it is bubbly:) I hope you love this recipe! xx
This toffee was perfect! It was delicious and I love that it was not hard like most traditional toffees, and has a great mix of sweet and salty. I made it for Christmas Eve and everyone loved it and wanted more! Now to the next batch!
Thanks so much, Lisa! So glad to hear this recipe turned out well for you, I appreciate you making it! Happy Holidays! xx
Super delicious- perfect combo of salty and sweet. The toffee is great- chewy and doesn’t break your teeth! Really easy to make
Thanks so much, Grace!! Love to hear you enjoyed this recipe, I appreciate you making it! Happy Holidays! xT