Caramel Pretzel Magic Bars
There are many names for these bars & many variations, so naturally, I love this type of recipe. You can change anything you want & make it yours.
These bars are known as magic bars, kitchen sink bars, million dollar bars, etc.
You basically have a crust (grahams, chocolate grahams, crushed oreos, crushed vanilla wafers, etc), a binder (sweetened condensed milk), & toppings (chocolate chips, nuts, coconut, candies, pretzels, etc). Easy!
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These magic bars are great for holiday cookie parties and neighbor gifts.
Caramel Pretzel Magic Bars
Yields squares
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup (156 g) graham cracker crumbs
- 6 Tbsp (85 g) butter, melted
- 14 oz (396 g) can sweetened condensed milk
- 50 mini pretzels, (I used Snyder's Snaps)
- 20 caramels*, unwrapped & cut in fourths
- 1 cup (170 g) milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup (120 g) sweetened coconut flakes
Instructions
- Mix graham cracker crumbs with melted butter & press in a sprayed 13x9in pan.
- Pour about half the can of condensed milk over crust.
- Layer your pretzels as close together as you like over the condensed milk/crust.
- Sprinkle caramels, chocolate chips, & coconut flakes.
- Pour remaining half of condensed milk on top.
- OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED: Break up some extra pretzels & sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top so you can see all the colors & have crunchy pretzels above the condensed milk.
- Bake at 350˚F for 20-30 min until lightly brown. Let cool completely before cutting & serving.
Notes
*They now sell caramel bits at the store near the chocolate chips! So much easier than unwrapping & cutting up caramel squares. I would try 1 cup of caramel bits if you aren’t using the squares.
Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated using a third-party tool and are provided as an estimation only.
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Love the pretzel layer, you get that yummy salty, crunch in each bite! Great combo!
Does it work to use wax paper on the bottom and how about caramel ice cream topping?
Wax paper should be fine. I you can try the caramel ice cream topping if that is what you have at home, but you probably won’t get the same type of results as if you were to use the caramel bits/cut up squares. If you try it & it works out, please come back & share your results so others can benefit from it. Thanks!
I am going to use your recipe to make a batch for our tailgating picnic at the University of Georgia game Saturday 9/21. Headin’ to the store now for ingredients. Wondering about how many of those “caramel bits” to use to replace the twenty wrapped caramels.(Found you on FB, via “Oh So ShAbBy By Debbie Reynolds”.)
I would use at least one cup (same as the chocolate chips.) Or eyeball it and add as many looks good to you. 🙂 There can never be too much caramel 🙂
If my Publix has the caramel bits, I didn’t see them. Guess I’ll start cutting caramels. (Things could be worse!) I will note how much 20 weigh, so we’ll know for next time.
@ Marcia, I was at the UGA game today tailgating too!!! How funny…just made these for my ALTA tennis match tomorrow.
Yes please! Saved to Pinterest!
We call the original “Hello Dolly Bars” on one side of the family, and “Magic Cookie Bars” on the other but everyone loves them. I’ve made them with various nuts, left out the (yuck) requisite butterscotch chips — caramel bits would be so much better! I once made them in a 9″ square pan and they were wonderful. Thanks for the salt (pretzel) and caramel version here!
Gail at 2createincolor.com
Hi. I’m new here. I found your site while looking for a sweetened condensed milk recipe on Pinterest. You have some really good looking recipes! I just saved your blog to my favorites. Can hardly wait to try the caramel pretzel magic bars.
These look delicious! I can’t wait to try the recipe. I’m featuring you today on Favorite Pins Friday! http://www.waittilyourfathergetshome.com/2012/06/29/favorite-pins-friday-7/
Could you use a homemade caramel recipe? And if so, what would 20 caramels equal to a homemade recipe?
You can try it. I am not sure how it will turn out because it might not mix well with sweetened condensed milk. I was at the store the other day & they have these caramel bits now that make melting the caramel squares easier, because obviously, the bits are like chocolate chips & not wrapped in plastic. I want to make this again with the bits! Anyway, if your homemade caramel recipe is THICK, you should be fine. Marble it with the condensed milk. I would maybe do the equivalent of 3/4-1 cup caramel. No more than that. Good luck! Let me know how it turns out 🙂
I just made the original recipe last night. I love the additions you made. Going to try your version next time. I love the name of your blog!!
I think this is actually something I would make. Looks delicious. 🙂