Chocolate Caramel Crunch Bars

I made this easy-to-eat dessert recently to share with lifelong friends at a reunion at Hocking Hills State Park. We had 6 cabins filled with familiar faces from across the country. Many of us brought sweet treats to share with others. I wanted to take something crunchy and rich, but easy to assemble. Chocolate Caramel Crunch Bars require no baking and were a big hit at our get-together!

During my college years at Bowling Green State University, I became a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. It has provided me with a group of sisters that have become dear friends, a group of women that I bonded with and will remain friends for life. Every few years, we gather to reconnect and reminisce, remembering the past and looking to the future.

This year we shared desserts around the campfire at Hocking Hills in eastern Ohio. We munched on sweet treats while catching up with our friends. I made Chocolate Caramel Crunch Bars, which are made on a large sheet pan and require no baking. Graham crackers, melted caramel, pretzels, honey-roasted pistachios, peanuts and melted chocolate are layered together to make this tasty dessert. Salty, sweet and delicious!

Chocolate Caramel Crunch Bars

Makes 24 bars.

• 12 whole graham crackers
• 11 ounces (1 package) Kraft Caramel Bits, melted
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 cup salted peanuts
• 1/2 cup honey roasted pistachios
• 2/3 cup broken pretzel pieces
• 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
• 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted

How to make Chocolate Caramel Crunch Bars?

• Cover a 15×10 sheet pan with foil. Lightly spray the foil with cooking spray.
• Lay the graham crackers in a row on the bottom of the pan to cover it completely, cutting to fit if necessary.
• Microwave the caramel bits and the milk in a bowl on high for 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Stir until mixture is melted and well blended. Pour the caramel over the graham crackers.
• Sprinkle on the peanuts, pistachios, pretzels and marshmallows. Press slightly so toppings stick to the caramel.
• Using a double-boiler or the microwave, melt the chocolate chips. Drizzle chocolate over the top. Refrigerate for one hour to set the chocolate. Cut the dessert into bars or break into large pieces to serve.

How to melt chocolate chips?

There are a couple of ways to melt chocolate chips. The safest way is to use a double boiler. Put your chocolate chips in a glass or metal bowl. Then place the bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water. You only need an inch or two of water in the saucepan. The steam from the simmering water will slowly melt the chocolate without burning it. Stir the chocolate while melting to make it smooth. Remove it from the heat when melted. This is my preferred method for melting chocolate.

Another way to melt chocolate is by using the microwave. Place the chocolate chips in a microwaveable bowl and heat on high for 30 seconds. Stir and heat for another 30 seconds. Stir well until melted. Microwaves vary, so be careful not to overheat the chocolate chips.

For more no bake recipes, check out these tasty desserts for Chocolate Scotcheroos, No-Bake Peanut Butter Crunch Cookies, and Chocolate Chipzels. These recipes are all quick and easy to make and won’t heat up your kitchen.

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Chocolate Caramel Crunch Bars

5 from 1 vote

Graham crackers, caramel, pretzels, peanuts and pistachios layered together and drizzled with chocolate for a deliciously easy dessert.

Servings: 24 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 20 minutes mins

Ingredients 

• 12 whole graham crackers
• 11 ounces 1 package Kraft Caramel Bits, melted
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 cup salted peanuts
• 1/2 cup honey roasted pistachios
• 2/3 cup broken pretzel pieces
• 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
• 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted

Instructions 

• Cover a 15×10 sheet pan with foil. Lightly spray the foil with cooking spray.
• Lay the graham crackers in a row on the bottom of the pan to cover it completely, cutting to fit if necessary.
• Microwave the caramel bits and the milk in a bowl on high for 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Stir until mixture is melted and well blended. Pour the caramel over the graham crackers.
• Sprinkle on the peanuts, pistachios, pretzels and marshmallows. Press slightly so toppings stick to the caramel.
  
• Using a double-boiler or the microwave, melt the chocolate chips. Drizzle chocolate over the top. Refrigerate for one hour to set the chocolate. Cut the dessert into bars or break into large pieces to serve.
  

Equipment

• 1 15×10 sheet pan

Notes

How to melt chocolate chips?

There are a couple of ways to melt chocolate chips. The safest way is to use a double boiler. Put your chocolate chips in a glass or metal bowl. Then place the bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water. You only need an inch or two of water in the saucepan. The steam from the simmering water will slowly melt the chocolate without burning it. Stir the chocolate while melting to make it smooth. Remove it from the heat when melted. This is my preferred method for melting chocolate.

Another way to melt chocolate is by using the microwave. Place the chocolate chips in a microwaveable bowl and heat on high for 30 seconds. Stir and heat for another 30 seconds. Stir well until melted. Microwaves vary, so be careful not to overheat the chocolate chips.