Sweet, salty, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious, these no bake salted caramel pretzel bars are made without flour, butter, or refined sugar, but you’d never be able to tell! Easily customized to be gluten-free, vegan, and/or nut-free, they make the perfect healthy snack!
I’m honestly not sure whether to say “you’re welcome” or “I’m sorry.”
You’re welcome because today’s recipe is all sorts of amazing. I’m sorry because today’s recipe also happens to be all sorts of addicting. I literally “just a sliver”-d my way through half the pan, but if I have to struggle with my newly developed dependency, then I’m taking you down with me.
I’m sorry.
And…. you’re welcome.
So remember those sweet & salty trail mix granola bars that I posted a while back? I may or may not have accidentally, on purpose dipped some pretzels into [almond] butter while I was making those… and I may or may not have rekindled a long forgotten addiction in the process. Can we say pretzels and AB for lunch? And sometimes dinner?
The addiction is real, my friends. And it.is.GOOD.
But you know what’s even better? Adding a touch of sweetness… and a whoooole lot of chocolate…
It’s no secret that I have a huge sweet tooth, and while I’ll occasionally get hit with a craving for something salty/savoury to snack on between meals, I’m not really one to reach for things like chips, crackers, or pretzels on a regular basis. Unless we’re talking tortilla chips and salsa, in which case… don’t even get me started on how many of those I can put away in a single sitting.
But for the most part? My snacks of choice tend to be things like chocolate, bars, cookies, fruit, jelly beans, and pretty much anything else with some kind of sugar in it… which is why I do my best to try and choose more natural/unrefined forms of sugar.
These bars are sweetened with dates and a touch of brown rice syrup (or honey). This not only eliminates the need for processed sugar, but gives them a slightly caramel-ly taste that pairs perfectly with the saltiness of the pretzels.
The pretzels are what make up the majority of the base, along with a cup of oats for some extra fibre and textural perfection. Seriously. Perfection. The base of these bars actually reminds me of a [sweet and salty] shortbread cookie in the way it crumbles and melts in your mouth… except that it’s made without flour or butter and doesn’t need to be baked.
You just toss the ingredients into your food processor, transfer the dough into a pan, toss the pan in the fridge, [wait], and voila! You have yourself a batch of delicious salted caramel pretzel bars…
So if you’re in the mood for a sweet and salty snack bar that’s ridiculously easy to whip up and equally as easy to make vegan, gluten-free, and/or nut-free, do yourself a favour by making these bars. And then proceed to “just a sliver” your way through half the pan.
I’d love to know if you make this recipe! Leave a comment and rating down below to let me know what you think, and subscribe to our mailing list to receive new recipes in your inbox!
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No Bake Salted Caramel Pretzel Bars
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
Ingredients
- 2 cups (68 g) pretzels, crushed*
- 1 cup (80 g) oats
- 3/4 cup (150g) Medjool dates
- 6 Tbsp (96 g) nut or seed butter**
- 2 Tbsp (40 g) brown rice syrup***
- 1 – 2 (15-30 ml) Tbsp. non-dairy milk
- 1 cup (175 g) dairy-free chocolate chips
- 1 tsp (5 ml) coconut oil
Instructions
- Line an 8×8 (20×20 cm) baking pan with a sheet of aluminum foil or parchment paper, leaving a few inches of overhang on the sides to allow for easy removal. Set aside.
- Add pretzels and oats to the bowl of a food processor and process until the pretzels have broken down into small pieces and the oats resemble a flour. Add dates, nut/seed butter, and liquid sweetener, and continue processing until a dough begins to form and stick together. If it seems too crumbly or dry, add non-dairy milk, one tablespoon at a time until the dough sticks together when you pinch it between your fingers.
- Transfer dough to your prepared baking pan and use a spatula or your hands to spread it evenly in the pan, making sure to press down firmly. Set aside.
- Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl and heat on high in 30 second increments until melted and smooth, making sure to stir between each. Pour chocolate over bars and use a spatula to spread it out evenly. Top with crushed pretzels, if desired, and transfer pan to fridge for at least an hour to allow the bars to set.
- When bars have set, remove from fridge and allow to thaw for a few minutes before using a sharp knife to cut into bars. Store in an airtight container, either in the fridge or at room temperature, depending on how warm it is and how the bars behave.
Notes
* Use gluten-free pretzels if you need these to be gluten-free. ** I recommend using a no-stir nut/seed butter or the texture might be a little off. Feel free to use whichever kind is your favourite. I used both a soy nut and almond butter and both worked fine. *** Can be subbed with honey if not strictly vegan.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
Looking for more no bake recipes? Try one of these!
No Bake Sweet and Salty Trail Mix Granola Bars
No Bake Vegan Oatmeal Fudge Bars
No Bake Chocolate Sunflower Seed Butter Bars
No Bake Chunky Monkey Cups
No Bake Brownie Batter Truffles
Be sorry because these are probably the most tempting recipe I’ve come across in the past … many weeks. So: welcome me in your home having a pan of these on hand. I wonder if these would be too ‘weird’ for my parents and their coworkers [aka the people I’d hand over any leftovers because I couldn’t be left alone with a whole pan]. Definitely not for me but the combination of salty pretzels and sweet caramel + chocolate has yet to become popular over – a pity if you’re asking me.
Oh and yes: my favourite sweet snack IS chocolate, [one of] my favourite salty one[s] are pretzels – no surprise I want/need these bars in my life.
I LOVE sweet salty combo! I have yet to ever see gluten free pretzels here in UK so maybe I need to stock up on them when I visit canada 😉
Good God these are absolute PERFECTION! Seriously…the combo of flavors is ideal. Pretzels, chocolate, and nut butters were just MADE for each other. I am lusting so hard over these. I’d eat the entire pan, really, it’s not a pretty sight.
Now if only we had the perfect cup of coffee to go along with that pan, eh? 😉
When I hear/see “no bake” all I can think is: “binge fest 2015” LOL!
Cue: Finish bowl of ice cream. Scroll through Amanda’s post. Put down spoon. Go to pretzel bag. Eat.. all.. the…pretzels…..
These look ah-mazing, and knowing your recipes, I’m sure they are ridiculously simple to make. I’ve just started having the sweet and salty cravings and have even started putting salt in some of my chocolate smoothies. Maybe pregnant women are on to something when they crave pickles and ice cream??
I feel like that might be a gastrointestinal nightmare for me, but I’ll probably try it at least once in my life to see what all the fuss is about 😉
Sweet snacking all the way! Bliss balls and granola are my favorites 🙂
Oh my my, these look like pure HEAVEN!
It’s so true that sweet and salty foods have the effect of CRACK (not that I know what crack is like, but you get the point). I’m very tempted to steal my roommate’s pretzels just to dip in my peanut butter and add a drizzle of honey. Gah!
And you never fail to make chocolate look so dang delicious… #weakening
I -will- get you over to the dark side one of these days. New goal in life 😛
You had me with dates… Actually can I change my answer to your giveaway question? To heck with making a meal, let’s just whip out a huge box of dates and a massive jar of the best almond butter and dip away….we can make a meal out of that, right? 🙂
Oh you know I’d absolutely be down with that!
I will take just a sliver please, and by that I mean half the pan.
A sliver for you, and a sliver for me. Yes? I think yes.
Oh my dear these look insanely delish. And I will say, looking at them I was PLEASANTLY surprised with the ingredient list! Girl, you rock! <3 Pinning for later. These look like they'd make the perfect treat to "trick" my coworkers into thinking they're eating something super sugary and bad for you 😉 Haha, if they only knew!
Sweet & salty is my ultimate weakness! Right after chips n’ salsa. 😉
Seriously, these look to-die-for and I love how simple and healthy the ingredient list is. They would be the perfect dessert for a football party too! Secretly healthy but no one would ever know…mwuahaha. 🙂
Don’t even get me started on chips and salsa 😯
I think my waist-line liked me better before I met your blog. Maybe if you stopped making your recipes so easy to recreate, I wouldn’t feel the urge to make everything I see on here! 😉 #kiddingnotkidding
In my defense, I always try to make my recipes healthier 😛
Is it two cups pretzels before or after crushing? How did you crush them? I prefer sweet over salty but this is the best of both. Lately, snacks have been smoothies and granola bars.
It’s two generous cups before crushing, and I just tossed them in the food processor to get crushed up.
Salty snacks are where it’s at for me. I can’t resist a good sweet/salty combo, though! I also do the “just a sliver” thing. It drives Riley nuts because by the time he gets to it, there aren’t any perfectly symmetrical pieces left for him. I don’t think he realizes just how OCD he is…
😆 I’m the same way, actually…. which is probably why I “just a sliver” it so many times — to get the edges to look just right 😛
Holy smokes do these look good!!
I go through phases of craving salt and then sweet, so you’ve covered both bases with these. I looooove salty+sweet combo. I just wish I had pretzels at home! 🙁
Usually, I am all about the sweet snacks but lately I’ve been going more salty – there was a lot of Doritos, Snappea Crisps, and pepperettes/jerky snacks at the cottage so I’ve just been keeping that going. But of course, if I can hit sweet and salty in one snack, that’s the best of both worlds.
Oh gosh, I’m in trouble. I LOVE sweet and salty combos. I think it was so smart to have the pretzels as the base. I’m going to make these and pack them up for college! I move in the 9th *duh duh duhh*
My favorite salty snack is kettle corn from Trader Joe’s, and my favorite sweet snack is ice cream. Yum yum 😀
Eee that’s so exciting! College is great times! As long as you have good snacks 😉
I reach for sweet snacks most often, too, but I love sweet & salty together. These look incredible!
Uhm I’m really mad at your for posting this. This looks SO good. And my husband wouldn’t like it (he’s weird) so I’ll be eating the whole tray alone.. thanks a lot Amanda!
I’m sorry. And you’re welcome 😉
Sweet and salty is the perfect combo! That’s why a sweet lovely apple is the perfect base for a great nut butter!
These remind me the chocolate covered pretzels we always make at Christmas….only waaaay better. Seriously, I am not sure I would have the restraint to stop at half the pan!
I will totally eat the entire first batch, pretend I didn’t make it, and then make another to share with family and friends. These sound ah-maze-ing. I’m a total salty and sweet gal, so chocolate covered pretzels are my jam… and it seems as though this is totally going to be my next favorite go-to 🙂
I’m a salty person and but also a
No bake person. And I will thank you! And then drool on you
And I will forgive you because I kind of like you 😛
I’m all about the sweet snacks… I think that’s why I love Kind bars so much – sweet AND salty!
I’m afraid to make these because I just feel like they’ll be a new addiction and I will eat them all up at once!
Like I just told Alysia… personal experience has taught me that that’s a very legitimate fear 😆
I usually am a sweets-snack person – but dang – how could I resist the combination of chocolate and pretzels in one amazing bar! I agree – these are all sorts of addicting and AH-MAZING!!!!
I’m afraid I’d never be able to stop eating these… Until they’re gone 🙂 they look soooo good!
I can say from personal experience that that is a very legitimate fear 😆
Chocolate & pretzel is one of my all-time fav pairings…. well, beer and pretzels go pretty well too,…
Um… Yum?!
These look so good and so glad you stuck with the date route 😉
Definitely a your welcome from me and my kids! They go nuts over all of your bar recipes, seriously. Plus we still don’t have our new oven yet so the no-bake is essential 🙂
I would say that I have no idea how you’re managing without an oven, but I honestly can’t even remember the last time I turned mine on 😯 Give it a few weeks and it’ll be a daily thing, though. Fall baking is my favourite!
These bars are all of my favorite things!! How do you do it?! I think “I’m sorry” and “you’re welcome” are both extremely suitable, though probably mostly you’re welcome.
It’s amazing how much inspiration you can garner from your addictions 😛
Whattt!! These look unreal. The pic you posted on Instagram yesterday had my mouth watering. I love the sweet and salty combination! Too delicious.
My mom’s favorite snack is chocolate covered pretzels, so I have fond memories of sharing those with her (or “stealing” those from her).
I am excited, because I actually have pretzels in my cabinet! Sweet & salty can do no wrong
Heck yes to textural perfection and the sweet & salty combo…YUM! These look right up my alley, Amanda- I can’t get enough of sweet & salty! I used to only want sweet snacks but lately I’ve been quite enjoying the occasional savoury snack like cheese & crackers or Popchips. For sweet snacks, I love me some dark chocolate, fruit and the occasional biscuit. I’m going down the sweet & salty route today- banana with salted peanut butter…perfection!
Omigosh I tried the most amazing thing the other day… All you do is slice up a banana, make little banana AB sandwiches with the slices, dip them in melted chocolate, sprinkle with coarse sea salt, and then freeze. Out.of.this.WORLD amazing.
gotta love the sweet n salty combo of pretzels and caramel! These sound unbelievable!
Ha! Actually tried these out this morning and it ACTUALLY worked!!! (The world is against me when it comes to layering things. Cupcakes nope. Fancy cakes heck no. Coated cookies, bars, etc nonono until this morning!!!!!!!!!)
They didn’t look half as pwetty though.
Aaaaand they’re bro approved. Which is saying something. 😀
Woohoo! I’m glad they worked for you, Cora 😀 And I should totally add ‘bro approved’ to the description. Except that I don’t have a brother…
I remember chocolate covered pretzels from my childhood. My mom used to make a chocolate covered pretzel dessert. Sweet and salty is the best.
You know I am more sweet than salty but of course, sometimes the craving for both arrives. I always loved chocolate covered pretzels! The other day actually after my long run, I needed something salty and the craving translated as salt on a banana. Sounds weird but it totally hit the spot and made me feel better.
That actually doesn’t sound weird at all! I’ve put salt on watermelon before, and I know a few people that put it on apples and peaches too.