Preheat the Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This will ensure your bars bake evenly and come out looking great.
Prepare the Baking Dish: Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with parchment paper. This will make it easy to remove the bars once they’ve cooled.
Melt the Butter and Sugar: In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar and unsalted butter over medium heat. Stir continuously until the mixture is completely melted and smooth.
Mix with Pretzels: Quickly add the crushed pretzel rods to the saucepan and mix until well combined.
Spread in the Dish: Pour the pretzel-caramel mixture into your prepared baking dish. Spread it out evenly, pressing it down with a spatula.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until it bubbles and slightly darkens.
Add Chocolate Topping: Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips on top. They will melt—allow them to sit for a couple of minutes, then gently spread with a spatula.
Chill and Set: Allow the bars to cool at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to set completely.
Slice and Serve: Once set, lift the bars out using the parchment paper, slice into squares, sprinkle with sea salt, and serve!