Caramel Apple Bark

There is nothing more delicious than a sweet and sticky caramel apple during the Fall season. But, let’s be honest: traditional caramel apples can be difficult to eat, not to mention, messy. That’s where this recipe comes in, to give you everything that you love about caramel apples, but in a much easier way to eat. This Caramel Apple Bark is made from sweet chocolate, chopped Granny Smith apples, salty pretzels, and a delicious caramel sauce for a treat that is perfect for Halloween and beyond!

Friends, Halloween is just around the corner, and I am ready for all of the spooky-inspired recipes. Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays, and I love that my boys love it as much as I do. It’s so fun to see the kids get all dressed up, watch the leaves turn colors, and prepare the fun and festive treats that this season brings. And one of my all-time favorite Halloween time treats? Of course, it’s none other than the caramel apple.

There’s something so delicious about a good caramel apple. You’ve got the crunchy, sweet, and slightly sour taste of the Granny Smith apples, paired with the sweet and sticky caramel. I mean truly, what could be better than that? I’ve always loved my caramel apples drizzled with chocolate, and if you’re like me, then you’re going to love this recipe.

But while I love Halloween time (and, caramel apples), I’ll admit: they’re not the easiest for me to come up with. Putting together recipes with fun shapes just isn’t my forte, which is why I’m so glad to have a friend who is amazing at it. If you don’t know my friend Melissa (@melissas_healthykitchen) then you MUST run and check out her recipes. She is the QUEEN of making festive and creative recipes for any holiday, and this caramel apple bark is one of my favorites, yet.

5 Ingredients Needed to Make This Bark

You’ll only need 5 ingredients to bring this perfect salty-sweet treat to life!

• Chocolate Chips: Melted chocolate chips make the perfect chocolatey base for this bark. My favorite chocolate chips are by Hu, and you can use code KALEJUNKIE for 15% off!
• Coconut Oil: Coconut oil helps the chocolate melt and get the perfect gooey consistency.
• Pretzels: Pretzels give a crunchy, salty texture and taste to this bark that is truly unbeatable. If you want to keep this bark gluten-free, you can use gluten-free pretzels!
• Granny Smith Apples: The superior caramel apple “apple” is the Granny Smith apple, so of course we needed to include them in this recipe!
• Caramel Sauce: Of course, this wouldn’t be a caramel apple bark without the caramel sauce! You can absolutely use a store-bought caramel sauce, but I highly recommend making it with my simple and easy 4-Ingredient Date Sweetened Caramel! It’s made from just dates, sea salt, vanilla extract, and milk for a better-for-you caramel sauce.
• Flaky Sea Salt: This is optional, but I love how the pinch of flaky sea salt makes this recipe extra salty-sweet.

The Secret to The Perfect Caramel Sauce

While you can absolutely use store-bought caramel sauce for this recipe, if you really want to take this Caramel Apple Bark to the next level, you’ll want to use a homemade sauce. Why? One, homemade always tastes better, and that’s because you can adjust the flavor perfectly to your liking. And two, because you can use better-for-you ingredients that feel as good as they taste!

My 4-Ingredient Date Caramel Sauce is a super simple recipe that comes together with only four ingredients: dates, vanilla extract, sea salt, and milk. It tastes PERFECT in this recipe, and also helps to keep it free of refined sugars!

How to Make This Festive Halloween-Inspired Treat

To make this bark, start by adding the chocolate chips and coconut oil to a small bowl. Microwave them in 2-3, 30 second increments, being sure to stop and stir the chocolate mixture in-between. You’ll want the chocolate to be fully melted! You can also do this on the stove, using the double-boiler method.

Next, wash and chop the apples into small pieces, and set them aside. You can leave the skin on or take it off- it’s your choice! Then, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and pour the melted chocolate on top of it. Use a rubber spatula to smooth the chocolate out in an even layer. Reserve some of the chocolate to drizzle on top of the bark!

Next, take the pretzels and layer them in a row, across the chocolate, followed by the apple pieces. Drizzle the caramel sauce on top of the bark, followed by the reserved chocolate. Add a pinch of flaky sea salt, if desired.

Finally, transfer the baking sheet to the freezer and freeze until the chocolate is fully solid (this should take approximately one hour). Once it’s solid, remove it from the freezer, break it into pieces, and enjoy! Store any leftovers in an aright container, in the freezer, for up to one month!

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.

** Photography by Tanya Pilgrim