Saltudent Caramel Pretzel Sundae Recipe
Ice Cream | Caramel | Pretzels | Candied Pecans | Whipped Cream
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Ingredients
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Base — Ice Cream & Assembly
Salted Caramel Sauce
Candied Pecans
Whipped Cream & Finish
Method
Base — Ice Cream & Assembly
- 1
- 2
Add pretzels
Lightly crush the pretzel twists and sprinkle about 1/4 cup over each sundae so each bowl has a crunchy pretzel fraction; reserve a few intact twists for garnish.
Salted Caramel Sauce
- 3
Make caramel
In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, add 1 cup granulated sugar and gently swirl or stir with a heatproof spatula until it melts and turns an amber-brown (about 6–10 minutes). Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- 4
Finish caramel
Once sugar is melted and amber, remove from heat and whisk in 4 tbs (1/4 cup) unsalted butter until incorporated. Carefully pour in 1 cup heavy cream in a slow steady stream while whisking — mixture will bubble vigorously. Return to low heat for 1 minute to combine, then remove from heat and stir in 1 tsp fine sea salt. Let cool slightly (5–10 minutes) until warm but pourable.
- 5
Sauce portioning
Spoon or drizzle about 2–3 tablespoons of the warm salted caramel over each sundae, reserving the remainder for extra drizzle or storage (keeps refrigerated up to 10 days).
Candied Pecans
- 6
Candied pecans on stovetop
In a small nonstick skillet over medium heat, combine 1 cup pecan halves, 1 tbs brown sugar, 1 tsp butter, 1 tsp water, a pinch (1/4 tsp) cinnamon and a pinch (1/8 tsp) salt. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar melts and coats the pecans and the mixture becomes glossy and slightly tacky (about 3–4 minutes).
- 7
Whipped Cream & Finish
- 8
Make whipped cream
In a chilled bowl, whip 1 cup heavy cream with 2 tbs powdered sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract until soft peaks form (about 2–3 minutes with an electric mixer or 4–6 minutes by hand).
- 9
Top sundaes
Pipe or spoon a generous dollop of whipped cream on each sundae. Finish each with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt (~1/16 tsp per sundae), a few candied pecans, a drizzle of extra salted caramel, and the reserved pretzel twists or extra pretzel crumbs. Optionally add chocolate shavings or extra pretzel crumbs (about 2 tbs per 4 servings) for garnish.
- 10
Serve
Serve immediately so pretzels stay crunchy. If you prepared caramel in advance and refrigerated it, reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop until pourable before drizzling.