Preparation of Baking Sheet: Initiate the process by preheating your oven to a temperature of 400°F (200°C). Proceed to meticulously line a baking sheet with parchment paper, ensuring complete coverage of the surface.

Arrangement of Pretzels: Arrange the pretzel sticks on the prepared baking sheet in a uniform, single layer, taking care to avoid overlapping.

Caramel Preparation: In a stainless-steel saucepan, combine the brown sugar, unsalted butter, and fine salt. Place this mixture over medium heat, stirring continuously. Allow it to reach a boil, which should be maintained for 4-5 minutes. During this time, constant stirring is crucial to prevent the caramel from burning. The mixture is ready when it thickens and attains a darkened color. At this point, remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

Applying the Caramel: Carefully pour the prepared caramel over the arranged pretzels on the baking sheet. It is important to ensure an even and consistent spread of the caramel across all the pretzels.

Baking: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for a duration of 5 minutes.

Chocolate Melting: Concurrently, place the finely chopped dark chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt the chocolate in the microwave using 30-second intervals, stirring thoroughly after each interval to ensure an even melt and to prevent the chocolate from overheating.

Chocolate Application: Upon removing the baking sheet from the oven, allow it to cool for about a minute. Then, evenly pour the melted chocolate over the caramel-coated pretzels.

Decoration (Optional): If desired, garnish the chocolate layer with festive-themed confectionery sprinkles while it is still wet.

Cooling and Setting: Transfer the baking sheet to a refrigerator to allow the bark to set. This should take approximately 3-4 hours, though leaving it overnight is preferable for best results.

Serving: Once the bark is fully set, use a sharp knife to cut it into uniform squares. For optimal freshness, store the bark in an airtight container.