Vegetarian

Texas Sweet Heat - Caramel Pretzles

by:
February 10, 2010
4.5
2 Ratings
Texas Sweet Heat - Caramel Pretzles
  • Serves Me. Or Me and my husband if I am sharing nicely.
Author Notes

I really love caramel corn - I mean REALLY love it in the "eat it until you feel sick, then drink some tea, think - oh I feel better - then eat some more, rinse, repeat" sense. So I decided to apply my caramel corn love to pretzles, throw in some heat and some nuts and WALLA! A new treat to eat myself sick on! I used Texas shaped pretzles because, well, they're cute, but twists or those waffle cut ones would be just fine. Or if you have ones representative of your home state. And I used pecans because that's what we grow around here, but you can use whichever nut you love best. —aargersi

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 stick unsalted butter (plus some for buttering the cookie sheet)
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon Chinese 5 spice powder
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 cups pretzles
  • 1 cup pecan halves
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 200. Cover a cookie sheet with foil and butter it. Spread the nuts and pretzles on to the sheet.
  2. Bring the butter, sugar, salt, corn syrup and spices to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally - I recommend a non-stick saucepan for this. Turn OFF the heat, and stir in the baking soda.
  3. Pour the sugar over the nuts and pretzles and stir - get it evenly distributed and spread over the cookie sheet.
  4. Put the sheet in the oven and bake for an hour, stirring and re-spreading 3-4 times while they bake.
  5. Remove from the oven and spread out on parchment paper to dry. Try to keep your hands OFF them (good luck!) for a few hours until they have dried and are nice and crunchy.
  6. Movie time!!!!!!
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aargersi

Recipe by: aargersi

Country living, garden to table cooking, recent beek, rescue all of the dogs, #adoptdontshop

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17 Reviews

nannydeb
nannydeb October 3, 2014
Again today someone asked me for this recipe. Everyone who tastes it, wants it.
 
Snafu06
Snafu06 October 14, 2013
I made this to accompany football. I only had pretzels, cashews, and almonds on hand, but it was a big hit. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
 
fiveandspice
fiveandspice June 18, 2013
I'm a terrible person and don't really like caramel corn that much, but spicy caramel pretzels?? YES PLEASE!!!
 
Midge
Midge June 10, 2013
Oh I don't think I could ever stop eating this ever. Perfect for a road trip.
 
Niknud
Niknud October 24, 2011
Yikes, between you and drbab's entry this week I am in serious trouble! My munchy tic is starting to act up again....this week's theme is definitely BIG trouble. Sigh. I wished I like to jog as much as I like to cook!
 
WCmom
WCmom October 3, 2011
To die for! Tried this out for an upcoming cocktail party, these are definitely on the list! Thanks for sharing!
 
aargersi
aargersi October 3, 2011
Oh good I am so glad you like them! Maybe I should make them for the potluck ... hmmmm
 
deedeebear
deedeebear August 19, 2011
I made these the other day but didn't have the Chinese 5 spice. I will make them again now that I've purchased some. Everyone at work loved these treats and the unexpected heat at the end.
 
arielleclementine
arielleclementine August 11, 2011
Abbie! Please let's have a meet up where we only eat snacks! Would love to gorge myself on this delight + fistfuls of your jams!
 
aargersi
aargersi October 3, 2011
I just saw this! OK! SNACK ATTACK!!!
 
BigMama
BigMama December 22, 2010
Fantastic! Just made this for the first time, and it won't be the last. Perfect balance of sweet and spicy!
 
austin5
austin5 October 22, 2010
I just made this today. Seriously delicious even though I left out the baking soda by mistake. I'm going to make this for my nephew who is away at college. I'm sure he'll devour it! Good blend of sweet and savory. Just the right level of heat.
 
mariaraynal
mariaraynal February 10, 2010
Who wouldn't need intervention on these?
 
mrslarkin
mrslarkin February 10, 2010
oh my lord, those look devilishly good.
 
aargersi
aargersi February 10, 2010
Thanks! Seriouly, I need intervention on stuff like this - I am giving most away today - meeting an unsuspecting friend for lunch :-)
 
Timnaustin
Timnaustin February 10, 2010
You are making me hungry ...AGAIN
 
bethy
bethy February 10, 2010
Sounds delicious! We'll have to try those out next time we see you!