Butterscotch Apple S'mores Bark

This is the fall treat I keep making "for everyone" and then end up eating standing up in the kitchen before giving anyone else a chance.

It's chocolate bark loaded with salty pretzels, fresh apples (CRISP!), and mini marshmallows, then drizzled with more chocolate and butterscotch. Think caramel apple meets s'mores, but you never turn on the oven.

It takes about ten minutes of actual work. The freezer does the rest. It's messy, it's not pretty in a perfect way, and it will melt in your hands. But it's perfect for a Halloween party, a fall movie night, or a Tuesday.

What you'll need

• 2 cups milk chocolate chips, divided
• 1/2 cup butterscotch morsels
• 2 tsp coconut oil, divided
• 1 to 2 cups mini pretzels (the little waffle-shaped ones are great)
• 1 to 2 crisp apples, diced
• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• Parchment paper and a baking sheet

How to make it

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Melt most of the chocolate chips with a teaspoon of coconut oil in the microwave. Go in 30-second bursts and stir between each one. Save a handful of chips for the drizzle.
3. Spread the melted chocolate onto the parchment in a thin, even layer. It doesn't need to be a perfect rectangle. Mine never is.
4. Press the pretzels into the chocolate first, then scatter the diced apples and marshmallows over the top.
5. Melt the rest of the chocolate chips with a little coconut oil. Melt the butterscotch morsels with the rest of the coconut oil in a separate bowl.
6. Drizzle both over everything. Be generous. This is not the time for restraint. This is what's going to help glue your apples down!
7. Pop the pan in the freezer until the bark is set, about 30 minutes.
8. Cut or break it into pieces and enjoy!

A few little tips

• Don't skip the coconut oil. It makes the chocolate smoother and easier to drizzle, and the butterscotch especially needs the help.
• Pick a crisp, red-skinned apple. You get crunch, and the red peel makes it look so pretty against the chocolate.
• Dice the apples right before you use them. That way they don't sit around turning brown. (Add lemon juice if you're dicing in advance.)
• Eat it soon. Fresh apples make this a same-day or next-day treat. Keep leftovers in the fridge or freezer.
• Let it sit a minute or two out of the freezer. It's easier to cut, and your knife will thank you.
• Team caramel? I originally meant to use caramel but didn't have any on hand, and the butterscotch was a happy accident. Melted caramel works great here too.

Make it your own!

That's it! No baking, no stress, just a big sticky tray of fall. 🍁🍂 Add in other sweet treats to make it your own. I'm thinking M&Ms or Oreos next time.