Sweet & Salty Pretzel Caramel Blondies Recipe
Sweet & Salty Bliss is a delicious dessert bar that beautifully combines rich buttery blondies with crunchy pretzels and luscious caramel sauce, finished with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for a perfect balance of flavors and textures. These bars are easy to prepare and bake, making them an ideal treat for any occasion where you crave something sweet, salty, and indulgent.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 16 squares 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), melted
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Add-ins & Topping
- 1 cup crushed pretzels (plus extra for topping)
- 1 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- Flaky sea salt for finishing
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Whisk until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Combine Wet & Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix to keep the blondies tender.
- Incorporate Pretzels: Gently fold in the crushed pretzels until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Add Caramel Sauce: Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly. Drizzle half of the caramel sauce over the batter. Then, spoon the remaining batter on top, and finish with the rest of the caramel sauce. Use a knife to swirl the caramel gently into the batter to create a marbled effect.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle extra crushed pretzels over the top along with a generous pinch of flaky sea salt to enhance the sweet and salty contrast.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the edges start to turn golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool & Serve: Allow the blondies to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before lifting them out onto a wire rack if using parchment paper. Let them cool completely before cutting into squares to ensure clean slices.
- Enjoy: Serve these bars as a delightful dessert or pack them for a sweet and salty snack on the go!
Notes
- For easier removal, line the baking pan with parchment paper with overhang on the sides.
- You can make your own caramel sauce or use a high-quality store-bought version.
- Be careful not to overmix the batter to keep the blondie texture tender and moist.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- For a nuttier flavor, try adding chopped pecans or walnuts along with the pretzels.
Keywords: sweet and salty blondies, pretzel blondies, caramel blondies, dessert bars, easy cupcake dessert, salty sweet dessert
