Peanut Butter Pretzel Magic Bars Recipe
These Peanut Butter Pretzel Magic Bars combine salty pretzels, creamy peanut butter, and an indulgent mix of chocolate and butterscotch chips, all layered and baked to golden perfection. Perfect for a sweet and salty treat, these bars feature a crunchy pretzel crust topped with a rich peanut butter and chocolate layer, finished with a luscious topping of sweetened condensed milk, coconut, and chips, creating a delightful texture and flavor contrast.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 3½ cups mini pretzel twists, crushed
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 10 tablespoons salted butter, melted
Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter (Reese’s brand recommended)
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (Hershey’s brand recommended)
Topping Layer
- 1½ cups peanut butter chips (Reese’s brand recommended)
- 1½ cups milk chocolate chips (Toll House brand recommended)
- 1¼ cups sweetened coconut flakes
- 1 cup butterscotch flavored chips (Toll House brand recommended)
- 14 ounces (396 grams) sweetened condensed milk (1 can)
Garnish
- ½ cup mini pretzel twists (reserved for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9 inch baking dish with heavy-duty aluminum foil, leaving an overhang for easy lifting. Generously spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray or butter the foil.
- Crush Pretzels: Using a food processor or placing 3½ cups of mini pretzel twists in a gallon ziplock bag, crush them to small crumbs. If using a bag, divide pretzels to facilitate crushing.
- Mix Crust Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, combine crushed pretzels and granulated sugar. Add melted butter and stir thoroughly until the pretzel mixture is fully coated.
- Form Crust: Press the buttered pretzel mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish using a flat-bottomed measuring cup or spatula. Set aside.
- Prepare Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer: Microwave peanut butter in a small microwave-safe bowl for 40-45 seconds on high, watching carefully to prevent boiling over. Stir, then add 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, stirring until smooth and fully melted. Pour the mixture evenly over the pretzel crust and smooth with a spatula.
- Mix Topping: In a large mixing bowl, combine peanut butter chips, milk chocolate chips, sweetened coconut flakes, and butterscotch chips. Pour sweetened condensed milk over the mixture and stir to coat everything evenly.
- Assemble and Bake: Spoon the chip and coconut mixture evenly over the peanut butter chocolate layer in the baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until edges are deep golden brown. Remove from oven.
- Add Pretzel Garnish and Chill: Immediately top baked bars with the reserved ½ cup mini pretzels, gently pressing them down. Let bars cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to set.
- Serve: Use the foil overhang to lift the bars out of the pan. Remove foil and transfer bars to a cutting board. Cut into a 4×4 grid, yielding 16 bars. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- Use heavy-duty foil for easy removal and to keep bars intact.
- Be cautious when microwaving peanut butter to prevent overheating.
- Press pretzel crust firmly to create a sturdy base.
- Chill bars well before cutting to ensure clean slices.
- Variations can include adding chopped nuts or substituting chips based on preference.
Keywords: Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars, Magic Bars, No Bake Bars, Sweet and Salty Dessert, Chocolate Peanut Butter Dessert
