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Salted Chocolate Caramel Apple Bark. You don’t need to be a professional baker to make this deliciously easy fall treat. Layers of rich dark chocolate, salted mini pretzels, sweet apples, and the most delicious salty caramel sauce come together in this fun homemade candy. You can use store-bought caramel in a pinch, but my apple cider caramel (made with butter, brown sugar, and cider) makes this extra special. Each chocolate-covered caramel apple wedge is sweet, salty, crunchy, chewy — and so perfect for both Halloween and Thanksgiving entertaining!
I never thought I could love a caramel apple recipe this much. Especially because, as a kid, I didn’t even like caramel apples! My mom used to buy those sheets of caramel wrappers from the grocery store — do you remember those? They only showed up in the fall, complete with little sticks for making caramel apples at home.
I always thought the caramel was too hard to eat — it stuck to my teeth and was just too much, especially once I got braces in middle school. But without fail, my mom would make them every year. And in true chocoholic fashion, she always took things a step further by slicing the apples and dipping those caramel-covered wedges into melted chocolate. It was her signature touch!
It’s only fairly recently that I’ve come to love caramel apples again. First, with this magical caramel apple cake I made a few years ago. And now with my go-to homemade cider caramel dip that’s soft, chewy, and never too sticky.
But this bark? This bark takes things to another level. It’s so fun and easy to make. Layers of melty chocolate, buttery apple cider caramel, salty pretzels, and crisp honeycrisp apples. A final sprinkle of flaky sea salt brings everything together.
It’s the most perfect homemade fall candy — sweet, salty, crunchy, chewy, and totally irresistible!
These are the details
Ingredients
- dark chocolate chips – you can use semi-sweet too
- mini salted pretzel twist
- honeycrisp apple – though a granny smith is just fine too
- caramel sauce – store-bought is OK if you have to, but homemade is best!
For the Cider Caramel Sauce
- salted butter
- brown sugar
- apple cider
- flaky sea salt
Kitchen Tools
You’ll need a cookie sheet, parchment paper, and I use a small pot to melt the chocolate on the stove. Then, that same pot is used to make the caramel sauce.
Steps
Step 1: Melt the chocolate
Melt the dark chocolate chips, then spread the melted chocolate out on a sheet of parchment paper. I like to form it into a small rectangle — about the size of a 9×13-inch baking dish — as the base layer for the bark.
Step 2: Make the apple cider caramel
This is my no-fail, no-fuss caramel. Simply boil apple cider with brown sugar and butter for about 8 to 10 minutes, until the sauce bubbles and thickens. The longer you boil, the firmer the caramel will be. Ideally, you want a pourable sauce, so stick to that 8–10 minute window.
Once thickened, stir in a pinch of sea salt, then drizzle the warm caramel over the chocolate layer.
Step 3: Add the toppings
With the caramel in place, scatter on the pretzels and apple slices. Drizzle over a bit more caramel, then finish with an extra layer of melted chocolate — about 1 cup — to help hold everything together. Sprinkle with flaked sea salt for that perfect salty-sweet finish.
Step 4: Chill and serve
Chill the bark in the fridge until hardened, then break it into pieces. It will keep well in the fridge for a day, but I recommend freezing it after that to keep the apples from getting soggy.
When you’re ready to serve, let the bark sit at room temperature for about 5 minutes — the caramel is softest and chewiest then, which is how we love it most.
Sweet, salty, chocolatey, and just the right amount of chewy — this bark has it all. It’s the easiest treat to make and always disappears fast. Pack it up for Halloween parties, bring it to Thanksgiving, take it as a hostess gift, or keep a stash in the freezer for cozy fall and winter nights!
Looking for other fall sweets? Here are my favorites:
Black Widow Peanut Butter Bars
Hocus Pocus Spellbook Brownies
BOO! Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Milk Chocolate Stuffed Jack-O’-Lantern Cookies
Lastly, if you make this Salted Chocolate Caramel Apple Bark, 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!
Salted Chocolate Caramel Apple Bark
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Servings: 12
Calories Per Serving: 399 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Brown Sugar Cider Caramel
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1. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Melt 2 cups of chocolate chips.2. Spread the melted chocolate out into a 9×13 inch or slightly smaller rectangle. Drizzle with warm caramel, layer with pretzels, apples, and another drizzle of caramel, using around 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup. 3. Melt 1 cup of chocolate and drizzle it on top. Add flakes of sea salt. Chill in the fridge until firm, 1 hour. Break into pieces and enjoy! Keep any leftovers in the freezer to prevent the apples from getting soggy.
Brown Sugar Cider Caramel
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1. Add the butter and brown sugar to a large pot set over medium heat. Let the butter melt, then add the cider. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar has melted and the mixture is dark, bubbling, and thickened, about 8 to 10 minutes. 2. Stir in the salt. Drizzle the warm sauce over the melted chocolate.
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