Caramel Pretzel Bites

I have now made these three times. The first time as an experiment, and I took them to work, the second time was because so many people were mad that I ran out the first time, and the third, I gave to a friend to deliver to our other office...they never made it (though her family thanks me for the treats)! To make a long story short: these are INCREDIBLE.

• 2 tsp plus 1 cup butter, divided, softened
• 4 cups pretzel sticks
• 2 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
• 1 cup corn syrup
• 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 package (11.5 oz) milk chocolate chips
• 1 Tbsp plus 1 tsp shortening, divided
• 1/3 cup white baking chips

Line a 13x9 inch pan with foil; grease foil with 2 tsp butter. Spread pretzels on bottom of prepared pan. In a large, heavy saucepan, combine brown sugar, cubed butter, corn syrup, milk and salt; cook and stir over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 240 degrees (soft ball stage). Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Pour over pretzel mixture. 

In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and 1 Tbsp shortening; stir until smooth. Spread over caramel layer. In microwave, melt white baking chips and remaining shortening; stir until smooth. Drizzle over top. Let stand until set. 

Using foil, lift candy out of pan; remove foil. Using a buttered knife, cut candy into bite-size pieces. 

NOTES: Make sure you've got a chair or stool to sit on during the caramel-making phase. It takes a while and you really should be stirring constantly so it doesn't burn.

The original recipe has you using pretzels AND pecans as the base, but I'm not a nutty person (despite what my family may say) and I've left them out every time. They are still amazing.

Also, I was making this in the heat of the summer so it wasn't really "setting" quickly and I needed to package it up for delivery. I just put it in the freezer for a few hours and then took it out to cut it. And 

Makes 6 dozen

Total Time: 45 minutes + cooling

Recipe from Taste of Home