Caramel Pretzel Bites


Submitted By: Mildred H. Edwards

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons butter, softened
  • 4 cups pretzel sticks
  • 21/2 cups pecan halves, toasted
  • 21/4 cups packed brown sugar
  • 1 cup butter, cubed
  • 1 cup corn syrup
  • 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 (111/2-ounce) package milk chocolate chips
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon shortening, divided
  • 1/3 cup white baking chips
  • Instructions


    Line a 9-x-13-inch pan with foil; grease with butter. Spread pretzels and pecans 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° (soft-ball stage). Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Pour over pretzel mixture.
    In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon shortening; stir until smooth. Spread over caramel. In microwave, melt baking chips and remaining shortening; stir until smooth. Drizzle over top. Let stand until set.
    Using foil, lift candy from pan; remove foil. With a buttered knife, cut into 72 bite-size pieces.