Peanut butter pretzel bark is the perfect salty & sweet no-bake treat! Crushed pretzels, peanut butter, and peanuts are mixed with creamy white chocolate to create this candy confection.
Recipe summary
Flavor/texture: Just a hint of peanut butter is mixed with white chocolate to create a creamy, salty & sweet base. Pretzels and peanuts add crunch and texture.
Four ingredients. Made with white chocolate wafers, peanut butter, pretzels, and peanuts.
No-bake and easy. Have a batch ready in 20 minutes or less, no baking involved!
Great for: Movie night, gift giving, holiday candy trays.
Similar to: S'mores Bark and Turtle Bark
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Ingredients and substitutions
- Melting wafers - White chocolate melting wafers are needed for the base of the bark. Melting wafers are ideal because they've already been tempered and are intended for making candy at home. I don't recommend chocolate chips because they don't melt as easily and have a dull, soft finish when solidified.
- Peanut butter - Creamy or crunch peanut butter would work in this recipe since we're also adding chopped peanuts for added crunch. Peanut butter can be substituted with your favorite nut or seed butter if desired.
- Pretzels - Adds crunchy texture and salty flavor to the candy bark. Any small pretzel shapes work since they'll be crushed before getting mixed in.
- Peanuts - Adds crunchy texture and more peanut flavor. Peanuts can be substituted with your favorite nut or seed like almonds or sunflower seeds.
How to make pretzel bark
- Add wafers and peanut butter to a bowl and microwave in 30 second increments, stirring each time, until smooth and melted.
- Add crushed pretzels and peanuts and stir to coat.
- Pour onto a parchment lined baking sheet and spread into a large oval. Top with additional pretzels.
- Refrigerated until hard, then slice into squares and serve.
Tips and tricks
Melt wafers in the microwave - Using a microwave can be tricky if you're not watching carefully. Your wafers can easily overheat and become grainy or scorched. To prevent this, microwave your chocolate in 30 second increments. Stir and repeat until melted.
Melt wafers on the stovetop - Place your melting wafers and peanut butter in a metal bowl. Fill a saucepan with about an inch of water and bring to a simmer on the stovetop. Place your bowl on top of the saucepan, ensuring the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water. The steam from the simmering water slowly warms the bowl, melting your wafers evenly and safely.
Line your tray with parchment - Solidified chocolate bark will stick to an unlined baking sheet, so be sure to line with parchment paper (or foil if you don't have parchment).
Storage
Peanut butter pretzel bark can be prepared and stored at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Make sure it's stored in a tightly sealed container for best results.
You can also freeze chocolate bark for up to six months in a tightly sealed, freezer safe container.
Frequently asked questions
No, melting wafers are best for making homemade candy because they melt easily and solidify with a candy bar 'snap' and shiny finish. Chocolate chips are made to hold their shape when heated, so they're harder to melt. Not only that, but they solidify with a dull finish that melts easily when handled.
Chopped almonds and almond butter can be substituted for the peanuts and peanut butter. Sprinkles, potato chips, or mini marshmallows are other great additions to candy bark.
I like to buy Ghirardelli chocolate melting wafers at my local grocer. I've found them at Kroger, Publix, and Walmart. They're consistent and easy to find anytime.
If I plan ahead and shop online, I prefer Merkens. The flavor of their melting wafers is superior and they melt beautifully every time. I've purchased from and recommend Dyane's Sweet Tooth when shopping online. Merckens is also available on Amazon for a hefty markup. You may also find Merkens at a cake supply store local to you.
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📖 Recipe
Peanut Butter Pretzel Bark
Ingredients
- 10 ounces white chocolate melting wafers
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- ½ cup peanuts
- ¾ cup crushed pretzels, plus extra for decoration
Instructions
- Choose a baking sheet that will fit into your refrigerator and line it with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, add melting wafers and peanut butter and microwave in 30 second increments, stirring until melted. Alternatively, melt using a double boiler on the stove top.
- Add peanuts and crushed pretzels to melted chocolate. Gently stir until coated.
- Pour mixture onto your parchment lined baking sheet. Using a spatula, spread to about ¼ inch thickness to create a 10 to 12 inch oval. Top with additional decorative pretzels.
- Transfer baking sheet to the refrigerator or freezer to harden for about 10-15 minutes. Break into pieces and store in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Storage: Candy bark will keep at room temperature for about 2 weeks in a tightly sealed container.
- Can I use chocolate chips?: No, chocolate chips don't work well for candy bark. Melting wafers are tempered and made for melting and at-home candy making. Chocolate chips are meant to hold their shape and solidify with a dull, soft texture instead of the candy "snap" you achieve with melting wafers.
- Variations: Peanut butter and peanuts can be substituted with your favorite nuts or seeds and butters if desired.
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