Let’s dive into the creation of these bars. Here’s how you can bring this sweet-and-salty masterpiece to life:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, letting the edges hang over for easy removal later.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the crushed pretzels and melted butter. Mix until the pretzels are well-coated.
3. Press the pretzel mixture firmly into the prepared baking pan to form the crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then remove and set aside to cool slightly.
4. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the brown sugar and 1/2 cup of butter. Stir constantly until the mixture begins to bubble and thicken, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
5. Pour the caramel mixture over the pretzel crust, spreading it evenly with a spatula. Bake for an additional 10 minutes.
6. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips over the caramel layer. Let them sit for a few minutes to melt, then use a spatula to spread the chocolate into an even layer.
7. Drizzle the caramel sauce over the top and sprinkle with sea salt.
8. Let the bars cool at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours to set. Once set, lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper and cut into squares.

These steps might remind you of the patient process of rolling out dough for homemade tortillas with my abuela — a task that requires love and attention to detail.