Almond Bark Pretzel Candy is a sweet-and-salty treat made with crunchy peanut butter, crushed pretzels, roasted peanuts, and vanilla almond bark. It's sweet and a little salty. And you only need four ingredients!
This easy no-bake candy recipe takes about 20 minutes to put together. Spread the mixture into a thin layer and break it into bark-like pieces, or add more peanuts and pretzels to make little drop cookies. We like it both ways, but I am partial to the more bark-like consistency.
Easy Almond Bark Pretzel Candy
The combination of peanut butter, salty peanuts, and salty pretzels is the perfect match for the super sweet vanilla almond bark.
No need to turn on the oven. Just melt the almond bark in the microwave, stir everything together, and let the refrigerator do the rest.
This candy is perfect for Christmas candy trays, potluck buffets, and family gatherings.
Ingredients For Almond Bark Pretzel Candy
You only need four ingredients.
- Vanilla almond bark: The sweet coating that holds everything together. It melts easily in the microwave and hardens as it cools.
- Crunchy peanut butter: Adds peanut butter flavor and a little extra crunch. Add more if you like a stronger peanut butter taste.
- Dry roasted peanuts: Salted are best to offset the bark's sweetness. If you aren't a fan of dry roasted peanuts, any salted peanuts will work. My favorites are cocktail peanuts.
- Crushed pretzels: The pretzels add crunch and saltiness. I leave mine in fairly large pieces, but you can crush them smaller if you prefer.
One thing to remember: measure out the pretzels after crushing, not before. You'll need one cup of crushed pretzels for this recipe.
How To Make Almond Bark Pretzel Candy
This candy is about as easy as it gets. You don't need a candy thermometer or any special equipment.
Start by putting the mini pretzels in a plastic zip-lock bag. Crush them with the back of a spoon or a meat mallet (anything with some weight).
Don't worry about getting all the pieces the same size. I prefer mine a little chunky.
Next, break the vanilla almond bark into squares and microwave it in 30-second increments, stirring between each interval.
Once the almond bark is melted, stir in the crunchy peanut butter until fully combined.
Add the roasted peanuts and crushed pretzels. Stir until they're coated with the peanut butter and almond bark mixture.
Spread the candy in a thin, even layer on parchment paper. Refrigerate until it hardens ( I stick mine in the freezer, no patience, lol).
Once it's set, break the candy into pieces. If you are a perfectionist, you can cut the bark with a knife instead. That's all there is to it!
Tips For Making Almond Bark Pretzel Candy
Don't Crush The Pretzels Too Much
I leave my pretzels a little chunky or large. I like having bigger pieces mixed into the candy.
If you prefer smaller pieces, go ahead and crush them more. Either way works.
Just remember to measure the pretzels after crushing them.
Use Your Favorite Salted Peanuts
You don't need a special kind of peanut for this recipe.
Any salted peanuts will work, but my favorites are cocktail peanuts. They add a nice salty crunch that goes well with the sweet almond bark.
Melt The Almond Bark Slowly
The microwave makes melting almond bark easy, but don't try to melt it all at once because it will seize on you.
Heat it in 30-second increments, stirring between each one. This helps the almond bark melt evenly without overheating. When you add the peanut butter, the warm almond bark will make it easy to incorporate.
Make Pretzel Candy Bark Or Drop Cookies
One thing I like about this recipe is that it has options. As written, the recipe makes more of a bark than a candy. You spread the mixture onto parchment paper, let it harden, and break it into pieces.
But you can also make almond bark pretzel drop cookies.
Add more peanuts and crushed pretzels to the mixture, then drop it by the spoonful onto parchment paper instead of spreading it into a thin layer. Let the little candy clusters harden, and they're ready to eat.
Almond Bark Pretzel Candy Variations
This is a flexible candy recipe. Adjust the amounts of some ingredients to suit your taste.
Add more peanut butter. For a stronger peanut butter flavor, stir in a little extra.
Use more pretzels. Add more crushed pretzels for extra crunch.
Add more peanuts. If you prefer a nuttier candy, add more roasted peanuts.
Try using only peanuts or pretzels. You can make this candy with just peanuts or just pretzels instead of both.
Use White Chocolate Chips. Instead of vanilla almond bark, substitute 16 ounces of white chocolate chips and melt in the microwave using the same method as for the almond bark.
How To Store Almond Bark Pretzel Candy
Once the candy has hardened, break it into pieces and place them in an airtight container.
Keep the container in a cool, dry place away from heat and sunlight. If your kitchen is warm, store the candy in the refrigerator to keep the almond bark firm.
If you refrigerate the candy, keep it covered so moisture doesn't collect on the pieces.
Almond Bark Pretzel Candy Recipe
This easy four-ingredient candy combines vanilla almond bark, crunchy peanut butter, salted peanuts, and crushed pretzels. Make it into bark or add extra peanuts and pretzels for no-bake drop cookies.
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 24 servings
Ingredients
- 1 24-ounce package of vanilla-flavored almond bark
- ¼ cup crunchy peanut butter
- 1 cup dry roasted peanuts
- 1 cup crushed pretzels (measurement after crushing)
Instructions
- Pour mini pretzels into a plastic storage or freezer bag and crush them with the back of a spoon or a meat mallet.
- Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet or your kitchen counter.
- Break the almond bark into squares and microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between each until melted.
- Add the peanut butter to the melted bark and mix well.
- Stir in the peanuts and crushed pretzels.
- Pour the mixture onto parchment paper and spread into an even, thin layer.
- Place in the refrigerator to harden. Once set, remove from the refrigerator and break into pieces.
Recipe Notes
- I leave my pretzels a little chunky. You can crush them into smaller pieces if you prefer.
- You can use any salted peanuts. My favorites are cocktail peanuts.
- This candy recipe is more like bark, but you can add more peanuts and crushed pretzels and drop the mixture by spoonfuls to make no-bake drop cookies.
- Add more peanut butter if you like.
- This recipe is very customizable. Make it your own.
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Almond Bark Pretzel Candy
Author: Recipe Idea Shop
Ingredients
- 1 package Vanilla almond bark
- ¼ cup Crunchy Peanut Butter
- 1 cup Peanuts
- 1 cup crushed pretzels measurement after crushing
Instructions
- Pour mini pretzels into a plastic storage or freezer bag and crush them with the back of a spoon or a meat mallet.
- Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet or your kitchen counter.
- Break the almond bark into squares and microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between each until melted.
- Add the peanut butter to the melted bark and mix well.
- Stir in the peanuts and crushed pretzels.
- Pour mixture onto parchment paper and spread into an even, thin layer.
- Place in the refrigerator to harden. Once set, remove from refrigerator and break in to pieces.
Kathy Owen says
My family loved this!