Caramel Pretzel Bites

Ingredients:

2 tsp. butter, softened   *   1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk

 4 cups pretzel sticks   *   1/8 tsp. salt  

2 ½ cups pecan or almond, toasted and coarsely chopped

1 tsp. vanilla extract   *   2 ¼ cups packed brown sugar

1 pkg. (11 ½ oz.) milk chocolate chips   *   1 cup butter, cubed

1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. shortening, divided   *   1 cup corn syrup

1/3 cup white baking chips

Directions:

Line a 13x9 inch pan with foil; grease foil with softened butter.  Spread pretzels and nuts on bottom of prepared pan.

In a large heavy saucepan, combine brown sugar, cubed butter, corn syrup, milk and salt; cook and stir over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 240 degrees (soft-ball stage).  Remove from heat.  Stir in vanilla.  Pour over pretzel mixture.

In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and 1 Tbsp. shortening; stir until smooth.  Spread over caramel layer.  In microwave, melt baking chips and remaining shortening; stir until smooth.  Drizzle over top.  Let stand until set.

Using foil, lift candy out of pan; remove foil.  Using a buttered knife, cut the candy into bite-size pieces.