"Take 5" Pretzel Bars

Inspiration, for me, comes from everywhere. Which can be a problem when one has just spent a good amount of time in Hershey, Pennsylvania, "The Sweetest Place on Earth". Indeed it is. Chocolate scent wafts through the air. It's in the hotel shampoo... in the air system, the candles... Ahhh deliciousness. But, for me, it is also as if I am baking~ the sent fills me with, well, fullness. I love it. 


If you get the chance, visit Hershey. It's not all about chocolate. It was built on chocolate & Milton S. Hershey was a wonderful man. I have a slight crush on him. He was a good man. No scandals. And he gave back, a lot. He & his wife couldn't have children so he provided for orphans. Schooling was extremely important to him. & to me. The Hotel is a dream. The Lodge has all of the amenities you could ask for~ Outdoor/indoor pool, restaurants, mini golf, tennis court, game room, gym room, Children's activities, meet & greet with the characters, shuttle buses to amusements. It's wonderful. And then there's the amusement park/water park, the zoo, the gardens, the museum, trolley tours... Go! Oh oh oh... yes, there's the food, the CHOCOLATE. It is everywhere. EVERYWHERE... 


Hershey has a new candy item out~ the "Take 5 Bar". Five layers... Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Caramel, Pretzels, Peanuts. YUM. It was exactly what I needed the last day there... I wanted something salty, rather than all chocolaty. And it gave me an inspiration for a dessert to take to a BBQ this weekend~ My Take on the Take 5 Bar... Here it is...


Lishie's "Take 5" Pretzel Bars

• 1 & 1/2 Sticks Butter, Room Temperature
• 2/3 cup Sugar
• 1 Egg, Room Temperature
• 2 & 1/2 cups Pretzels, food processed
• 1/2 cup flour
• Topping
• 1/2 cup Chunky Peanut Butter (Or 1/2 cup Smooth Peanut Butter + 1/4 cup peanuts, chopped)
• 1 cup Chocolate pieces*
• 1/4 cup Caramel pieces (or Milk Duds, halved)



Caramel Chunks

• 1/4 cup Pretzel pieces

*I used fresh from the Hershey factory mini-mini chocolate bars & cut up Kisses! 

Pre-heat oven to 350°, line a small, sided cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Beat butter and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg until combined. In a separate bowl, mix together crushed pretzel flour & AP flour. Stir the pretzel mixture into the butter/sugar/egg mixture. Should become one, big crumbly clump. Press all of the lumpy batter into the bottom of the cookie pan evenly.

Mad Baker @ work :) Earl Grey on hand.

With an offset spatula (or butter knife) thinly spread the peanut butter over the pretzel batter base. Sprinkle the chocolate, caramel & pretzel pieces on top if the peanut butter & lightly pat them into the peanut butter.   

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until caramel & chocolate is completely melted & gooey. Allow to cool completely. Cut into squares & ENJOY! 

<3 Lishie

Before entering the oven...

Freshly out of the oven...

Pretzel "Flour"