Caramel Apple Bites are a sweet and salty combo of tart green apples and melty caramel chocolate on a crunchy pretzel. Simple, but seriously tasty -- it's a no-fuss flavor-packed snack.
PREP: Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Line a sheet pan with raised edges using either a silicone liner or parchment paper. Lining is essential to prevent sticking.
PREP APPLES: Keep the peel on the apple. Slice it into small, bite-sized chunks. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together 1 cup of room-temperature tap water with ½ teaspoon of salt. (Maintain this ratio if you're preparing more than one apple). Soak the apple pieces in this salted water for about 5 minutes. After soaking, drain the apple chunks using a colander and rinse them well under cold tap water. After rinsing, shake off any extra water and pat them dry with a paper towel or a clean kitchen towel.
BAKE: Arrange the pretzels in a single layer on the prepared sheet pan. Place one unwrapped Rolo chocolate on top of each pretzel. Place the pan in the oven and bake for approximately 2-4 minutes, or until the Rolos are soft but not entirely melted.
ADD APPLES: As soon as you remove the pretzels from the oven, press a piece of dried apple onto the top of each soft Rolo chocolate.
SETTING: Allow the pretzel bites to set at room temperature for roughly 45 minutes or until the Rolos have hardened and you can easily lift each candy off the tray. If you're in a hurry, place them in the fridge to speed up the hardening process. I recommend enjoying these treats within a few hours of preparing for the best taste and texture.
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Notes
Note: Baking: It's essential to monitor the chocolate during baking. If it crumbles, it indicates the oven temperature was too high, or they baked too long. Conversely, if the apple pieces don't press into the chocolate smoothly, it means the oven was not hot enough or the chocolates weren't baked long enough. It might be helpful to bake a single Rolo-topped pretzel initially to gauge the ideal baking time for your oven. Once you've done this trial bake, you can adjust the baking time accordingly for the rest. Avoid using the convection setting on your oven.