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Easy Desserts

Caramel Apple Bites

Crisp pretzels topped with soft caramel, fresh apple, dark chocolate, and roasted peanuts make a sweet and salty holiday bite.

Pedro TeixeiraBy Published November 3, 2026 · Updated November 3, 2026
MakesAbout 20 bites
Bake5 min
DifficultyEasy
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Close-up of pretzel bites topped with caramel, apple, dark chocolate, and chopped peanuts

After a big Thanksgiving dinner, sometimes all you want is a bite of something sweet. I’d set a plate of these next to the pie for anyone who’s too full for a whole slice. The apple and pretzel give you a little crunch, and the caramel in between stays soft.

What I like about these is that you can still see the little red edges of the apple under the dark chocolate. The apple stays fresh and crisp. If you’re in the mood for the soft cinnamon-apple filling you’d get in a pie, try my Soft Apple Pie Cookies.

Ingredients for Caramel Apple Bites

I use soft caramel candies so each apple cube has something to stick to. The dark chocolate balances the sweetness of the caramel, and the roasted peanuts add crunch.

Apples, pretzels, soft caramels, dark chocolate, and chopped peanuts
The five ingredients for the pretzel bites.
  • 20 pretzelsabout 40 g
  • 20 soft caramel candiesabout 110 g, or use 10 large candies cut in half
  • 2 apples
  • 50 g dark chocolate
  • 20 g roasted peanutschopped

How to Make Caramel Apple Bites

Get the pan ready

I preheat the oven to 285°F (140°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Pretzels spaced out in rows on a parchment-lined baking sheet
Leave a little space between the pretzels on the sheet.

Top the pretzels

I space the pretzels out on the lined sheet and top each one with a soft caramel. If the candies are large, I cut them in half and use one half per pretzel.

Pretzels on a baking sheet with a piece of caramel on each one
Each pretzel gets one piece of caramel.

Soften the caramel

I bake the pretzels for about 5 minutes, until the caramels are soft but haven't melted completely.

Dice the apples

While the pretzels are in the oven, I wash and core the apples, then cut them into small cubes that fit on the pretzels.

Small cubes of apple in a bowl on a wooden cutting board
Cut the apple into cubes small enough to fit on the pretzels.

Press on the apple

I take the sheet out of the oven and gently press one apple cube into each caramel while it's still warm and soft.

Apple cubes pressed into caramel-topped pretzels on a baking sheet
Press the apple into the caramel as soon as the sheet comes out of the oven.

Melt the chocolate

I melt the dark chocolate in a double boiler or microwave it in short bursts, stirring until it's smooth enough to drizzle.

Drizzle the chocolate

I drizzle the melted chocolate in thin lines over the bites.

Add the peanuts

I sprinkle the chopped peanuts on right away so they stick to the chocolate while it's soft.

Pretzel bites on parchment topped with chocolate drizzle and chopped peanuts
Scatter the peanuts over the bites while the chocolate is still soft.

Let the bites set

I leave the bites to rest until both the caramel and chocolate have set.

Serve the bites

I serve them soon after they've set, while the pretzels are crisp and the apple still has its crunch.

Tips that make a difference

  • Keep the apple cubes small enough to sit on the pretzels so each bite holds together when you pick it up.
  • Press the apple into the caramel while it's still warm so the pieces stick.
  • Have the chopped peanuts ready before you drizzle the chocolate so they stick while it's soft.

A Plate to Pass Around

I'd set these out once the chocolate has firmed up. You can pick up a whole bite by the pretzel and get crisp apple, soft caramel, and a few bits of peanut all at once.

A plate piled with caramel apple pretzel bites on a wooden board
The bites are ready to pass around once the chocolate and caramel have set.
Overhead view of caramel apple bites with thin chocolate drizzles and chopped peanuts
From above you can see the chocolate and peanuts scattered over the fresh apple.

Save this recipe

Caramel Apple Bites

Crisp pretzels topped with soft caramel, fresh apple, dark chocolate, and roasted peanuts make a sweet and salty holiday bite.

Close-up of pretzel bites topped with caramel, apple, dark chocolate, and chopped peanuts
Bake5 min
DifficultyEasy
YieldAbout 20 bites

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. 1
    Get the pan ready

    I preheat the oven to 285°F (140°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  2. 2
    Top the pretzels

    I space the pretzels out on the lined sheet and top each one with a soft caramel. If the candies are large, I cut them in half and use one half per pretzel.

  3. 3
    Soften the caramel

    I bake the pretzels for about 5 minutes, until the caramels are soft but haven't melted completely.

  4. 4
    Dice the apples

    While the pretzels are in the oven, I wash and core the apples, then cut them into small cubes that fit on the pretzels.

  5. 5
    Press on the apple

    I take the sheet out of the oven and gently press one apple cube into each caramel while it's still warm and soft.

  6. 6
    Melt the chocolate

    I melt the dark chocolate in a double boiler or microwave it in short bursts, stirring until it's smooth enough to drizzle.

  7. 7
    Drizzle the chocolate

    I drizzle the melted chocolate in thin lines over the bites.

  8. 8
    Add the peanuts

    I sprinkle the chopped peanuts on right away so they stick to the chocolate while it's soft.

  9. 9
    Let the bites set

    I leave the bites to rest until both the caramel and chocolate have set.

  10. 10
    Serve the bites

    I serve them soon after they've set, while the pretzels are crisp and the apple still has its crunch.

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