Salted Caramel Pretzel M&M Blondies...omg!

 

Oh yeah, you heard that right! Let me repeat: Salted Caramel Pretzel M&M Blondies...and yes, they do taste THAT good! Damned Pinterest! Very rich, salty, chocolaty, etc. PERFECT for my company picnic today, as it was all women! Some of my coworkers said this was a little too rich....whatever....I had "thirds"!

I am DEFINITELY making this again!

 

 

Salted Caramel Pretzel M&M Blondies 

 

1 cup butter (2 sticks), room temperature

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 eggs

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons coarse sea salt

2 1/2 cups flour

2 cups Pretzel M&Ms

1 cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk chocolate)

a 14-ounce bag caramels, unwrapped

1/4 cup milk

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9 X 13 baking dish with non-stick spray and set aside.  Cream butter and sugars together in a large bowl.  Add vanilla and eggs and mix well.  Add baking soda, flour and salt, stirring until combined.  Fold in M&Ms and chocolate chips.  In prepared baking dish, press 1/2 of batter into the bottom of the dish.  Bake for 8-10 minutes, until just beginning to set, but not golden brown.  While the "crust" is baking, put the unwrapped caramels into a microwave-safe bowl, along with the milk.  Microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring every minute until melted.  When the "crust"is done, remove from oven and pour melted caramel on top.  Drop spoonfuls of the remaining batter on top of the caramel, and spread as well as you can. Return to oven and bake for 15 minutes, until golden brown. 

 

*I didn't have the "cubes" of wrapped caramels, I had a partial bag of meltable "caramel bits".  I combined them with 2 tablespoons of water and microwaved for about 2 minutes, until melted.