This is one of those weird “revamping a recipe from 3 years ago” posts. I first shared these a few days after Andy & I got engaged actually, right after I came back from the Foodbuzz Festival in San Francisco. (I won Best New Blog there which explains some of the old comments.) I have made these many times since and thought the recipe/photos could use some updating :)
I am officially in the Christmas confection zone. I have to say October-the end of December is the most fun time to be a (mostly) dessert blogger. I am brimming with ideas to fill this space for the rest of the month so stay tuned! I decided to kick off with a super easy and super impressive holiday treat.
I love these for so many reasons 1- They are ridiculously easy 2- They can be adapted with SO many different types of candy 3- Not only are they festive for Christmas but could easily be sprinkled with candy for any given season. In short- these are just too awesome.
I wrapped each of these in a cellophane bag and plan to give them out over the next few weeks to friends/our mailman etc. They can last in a airtight container in the fridge for a couple weeks! I just can’t get enough of the sweet/salty/crunchy/creamy combo that these bring to the table.
Let the Holiday baking/treat making begin!
Prepare a cookie sheet or two with parchment paper or a Sil-pat. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate 60 seconds. Remove and stir, and then warm in microwave for 15 second increments until it is smooth. Start dipping the pretzels right away. I used a spoon to bring the chocolate up to where I wanted and it dripped down smoothly. Set rods on the cookie sheet. Allow the chocolate to become slightly solid before placing the candy/toppings on. Otherwise I found they all slid to the side. I dipped 4-5 pretzels, waited a couple minutes and then started topping. (You have a good 5-7 minute window where the chocolate will still be soft enough to press the toppings in.) Place each candy piece by hand because if you try to roll or sprinkle them on it really won't work and will end up with a sticky candy-glob mess. If the melted chocolate in the bowl has started to harden, just give it 15 more seconds to get it back to it's nice melty-state. Repeat with the rest of the pretzel rods/toppings. Melt white chocolate (the same way you melted the chips) and drizzle over the pretzels with a spoon. Place the tray in the freezer to quickly harden the chocolate and then wrap or store! *This time I used dark chocolate melts. You can also use regular chocolate but you'll want to keep them cool as the chocolate can soften/melt more easily. When I used regular chocolate chips I also stirred a little organic shortening in to make it coat more smoothly.
Candy-Covered-Chocolate-Dipped Pretzels
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Erica says
November 7, 2011 at 2:48 pmYours turned out so pretty!!!
healthyfoodietravels says
November 7, 2011 at 2:54 pmOkay, I will probably get boo-ed for this, but i don’t see the appeal of this apparently very-popular-in-the-States phenomenon of chocolate on pretzels. Somehow it just doesn’t work for me!
Other than that, though these are pretty little treats! Very creative use of candy :)
Lindsey @ Gingerbread Bagels says
November 7, 2011 at 3:35 pmI’m so happy for you! :) Congrats!!!
You know I’m totally drooling over these since they’re covered in candy. :) They look sooooo sooo good. I’ll gladly eat every single one for you.
The Food Hunter says
November 7, 2011 at 3:35 pmCongratulations! Your pretzels look awesome!
Lesa @Edesia's Notebook says
November 7, 2011 at 3:40 pmI was thinking of making some of these for Christmas hostess gifts; thanks for giving me even more “topping” ideas! They are so cute!
Lacy says
November 7, 2011 at 3:48 pmCongrats on the win! Your blog is more than deserving!! These chocolate covered pretzels look delicious, I love how many start popping up this time of year! :)
icancookthat says
November 7, 2011 at 3:48 pmCongratulations! and thanks again for another wonderful and delicious recipe!
In Katrina's Kitchen says
November 7, 2011 at 4:02 pmeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I’m super-excited for you!!!!!!!!!!
Erin says
November 7, 2011 at 4:06 pmCongrats on the award!
And I love the chopped up Reese’s cups as a topping!
Nutmeg Nanny says
November 7, 2011 at 4:41 pmOh. My. Gosh. I’m in heaven! These look delicious…yum!
Lisa says
November 7, 2011 at 5:26 pmSo beautifully decorated! I think my favorite would be the one covered in PB cups.
Tina says
November 7, 2011 at 6:10 pmI am so glad you won-very deserving! I have had these pretzels before but you have introduced a few different ones here which I surely want to try-especially the Reese cup ones-yum! Have a great day
Sara says
November 7, 2011 at 7:26 pmThese look like so much fun! Such pretty photos too. :)
Grubarazzi says
November 7, 2011 at 9:21 pmCongratulations for winning best new blog! How exciting and totally deserved. These look amazing.
warmvanillasugar says
November 7, 2011 at 10:47 pmMmm these are so fun! Congrats on the award!
Avanika [YumsiliciousBakes] says
November 7, 2011 at 6:12 pmThese sound so easy, and look so much fun. I’ve never tried them, but I sure want to now.
Carolyn says
November 7, 2011 at 11:22 pmThese look great, Audra. Easy, simple, but such a fun treat.
sue says
November 7, 2011 at 11:57 pmyum!
Alida says
November 8, 2011 at 1:41 amCongratulations! These pretzels are the perfect way to use up some Halloween candy (or simply a good excuse to go buy more) :)
teaandscones says
November 8, 2011 at 4:09 amThese look like great treats. Dipping pretzels!! Fun!!
Amalia says
November 8, 2011 at 5:44 amThese look so fun and cute! They’re perfect for a little gift or treat for yourself, I love it! :)
Barb, sfo says
November 8, 2011 at 7:31 amI love chocolate pretzels–and yours are so beautiful! Great variety on the toppings :)
Shelby says
November 8, 2011 at 11:18 amI love these pretzels and what you chose for toppings…I’m thinking I’m going to make some fancy ones for office gifts this year!
Ruchi M says
November 9, 2011 at 5:01 amLooks really festive! Wish I had seen this earlier… would have used it as a party favor for my son’s birthday party!
Ruchi
http://ruchisimplyfood.blogspot.com
kelly says
December 1, 2011 at 1:50 amI’m going to make these this weekend for some gifts! Thanks for the idea.
Leanna says
October 4, 2012 at 5:21 pmThank you! I’m making these this saturday! Hope they come out as delightful as yours look! :D Gonna use the candy melts
Kalani says
March 27, 2013 at 11:11 pmI made these on 3/22/13 for a celebration for our leaders at church. I made 28 of them. I melted chocolate chips with a little coconut oil (instead of the shortening), melted white chocolate candy discs, and melted some peanut butter chips. I first dipped them in chocolate, then either used the vanilla or peanut butter to make swirls. Then I sprinkled either chocolate or rainbow sprinkles on some of them. The putting of the rods in the freezer was genius! It really helped to set the chocolate. I will definitely make these again and try different toppings. Thanks for the recipe.
Baby June says
December 3, 2014 at 6:19 amWhat a festive treat! I imagine these would go quickly at a holiday party :)
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
December 3, 2014 at 11:11 amSnacks like this during the holidays are my fav. I just love pretzels and chocolate and these are so dang festive!
Elisa @ Insalata di Sillabe says
December 3, 2014 at 11:43 amLove these! They’re so festive and I bet they taste delicious, too!
Rachel @ Bakerita says
December 3, 2014 at 1:16 pmThese are so cute and fun for the holidays!! What a perfect gift.
Thea C. says
December 4, 2014 at 3:31 pmThese look amazing! This year They came out with pumpkin chips, only could find at Target Stores. Ci made the pretzel rods with this for Thanksgiving and topped with an assort of Fall toppings. Plan on doing the Christmas themed ones for a party where I have to bring a dessert as these are easy to walk around with and mingle with people!
Joanne says
December 7, 2014 at 10:53 pmI could not be trusted around these. The sweet and salty would just be too addictive!