These chocolate covered pretzels are made with pretzel twists or pretzel rods coated in dark and white chocolate and topped with sprinkles. A super easy candy that’s perfect for parties and gift giving and can be customized for any occasion.
I love giving homemade candy to family and friends, some of my favorites include peppermint patties and crock pot candy. These chocolate covered pretzels are a salty sweet treat that are fun to make and look so impressive!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but also the busiest time of the year! There are so many events to go to and so many gifts to give, and there’s just not enough hours in the day to bake for everyone. That’s where these chocolate covered pretzels come into play – they take just minutes to make and you can dress them up for any holiday!
When you make these pretzels, you should try some of my favorite holiday entertaining recipes such as Christmas sugar cookies, molasses cookies and chocolate covered cherries. If you need any more ideas, I have lots of Christmas recipes that everyone will love!
Table of Contents
Chocolate Covered Pretzels Ingredients
To make chocolate covered pretzels you will need pretzel twists or pretzel rods, candy melts or chocolate chips, and sprinkles. If you use chocolate chips, you will want to have chocolate chips and shortening.
How Do You Make Chocolate Covered Pretzels?
For this chocolate covered pretzels recipe first place candy melts in a microwave safe bowl and microwave them in 30 second increments until they melt. If you use chocolate chips, add a little shortening and melt the chocolate chips. Stir the chocolate until it is smooth. Dip as much or as little of the pretzels in the chocolate as you want. Dust the pretzels with sprinkles or dip them in sprinkles. Let the pretzels dry and enjoy!
Tips For The Perfect Pretzels
- Melt your candy melts in a tall glass for chocolate covered pretzel rods. All you have to do is dip your pretzel into the glass for a perfect coating.
- You can use any type of sprinkles that you like. Pick different colors for different holidays all year long, like Halloween, Easter, Valentine’s Day, etc.
- Let your pretzels dry on a piece of parchment paper on a sheet pan or cookie sheet.
- Chocolate covered pretzels are perfect for gift giving – simply package them up in cellophane bags with a festive ribbon.
- Kids would love to make their own pretzels with their own combinations of sprinkles.
Quick Tip
You can use pretzel twists, pretzel rods or a combination of the two.
Recipe FAQs
I recommend using candy melts for this recipe, as they melt smoothly, are easy to work with, and you don’t have to worry about tempering them. I use Ghirardelli Melting Wafers, which can be found in the baking aisle of most grocery stores. They melt beautifully and taste great. If you want to use real chocolate chips, you can add some shortening to the melted chocolate to thin it out and make it easier for dipping.
I use the microwave to melt my chocolate candy. Place your candy melts in a bowl, then microwave in 30 second increments until melted. Stir until smooth.
Chocolate covered pretzels will last for up to 2 weeks when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. I don’t recommend freezing or refrigerating the pretzels as condensation will form on the chocolate layer when it’s chilled.
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Flavor Variations
These chocolate covered pretzels are delicious as-is; but you can change them up to suit your taste.
- Colors: You can choose candy melts in a variety of colors or make your own colors by stirring in a couple of drops of food coloring into melted white candy melts or white chocolate chips.
- Toppings: Try pretzels topped with finely chopped nuts, toffee bits, crushed Oreos or finely shredded coconut.
- Chocolate: You can use semi-sweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips or white chocolate chips. Any chocolate chips will work.
- Drizzle: You can drizzle the chocolate on the pretzels for a different look.
I always serve chocolate covered pretzel rods at parties – they’re fun to eat and I love that they can be made in advance. Whether you’re serving your pretzels as a party snack or packaging them up for gifts, you’ll be sure to get rave reviews!
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Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Ingredients
- 50 miniature pretzel twists or 24 pretzel rods
- 12 ounces chocolate chips or candy melts milk, white, dark or any combination
- 1/2 cup sprinkles
- 1 tablespoon shortening ONLY if using chocolate chips, you do not need to add shortening to candy melts.
Instructions
- Place the chocolate or candy melts in a microwave safe bowl. If you’re using chocolate chips, add the shortening to the bowl. You do not need to use shortening if you’re using candy melts.
- Microwave in 30 second increments or until chocolate is melted. Stir until smooth.
- If you’re dipping pretzel rods, pour the chocolate into a tall glass and dip each rod halfway into the chocolate. Tap the rod against the side of the glass to remove excess chocolate, then coat each rod in sprinkles and set on parchment to dry.
- If you’re dipping pretzel twists, use a fork to coat each pretzel in chocolate, then tap the fork against the side of the bowl to remove excess chocolate. Use a toothpick to slide each pretzel off the fork onto parchment paper, then top each pretzel with sprinkles.
- Let the pretzels sit until dry. Serve, or store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- You can use pretzel twists, pretzel rods or a combination of the two.
- Melt your candy melts in a tall glass for chocolate covered pretzel rods. All you have to do is dip your pretzel into the glass for a perfect coating.
- You can use any type of sprinkles that you like. Pick different colors for different holidays all year long.
Can these be made ahead of time and frozen? They look delicious!
I would not freeze them as the chocolate will weep a bit when thawed. They will stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for a long time!
I don’t have shortening, can I substitute it with butter or margarine? Thanks in advance ❤️
I would just omit the shortening!
I love these! I like to crush red candy canes and top these off, at Christmas time. So delish and you get that burst of peppermint.
I’m going to try these to give as holiday treats for my three gluten-free relatives using GF pretzels. I feel like they get left out with a lot of other holiday treats. I’m not sure how the GF pretzels will hold up to the moisture, I’ll try a couple and let you know.
I made these as holiday gifts for my sons teachers and they loved them!
These look so pretty! I made these once before and it was messy, but so much fun!
Those look so lovely! It looks easy enough I could make them with my kids coming up to Christmas. Thanks for the inspiration!
Omg can we say yum?!?! I just love chocolate covered pretzels! Must give your recipe a try!
Chocolate covered pretzels are so good! I haven’t had any since my baby shower! This recipe is a must have.
Not a huge fan of candied pretzels, but wow these look so festive that I don’t think there is anyway I would not enjoy them! Great treat ideas for the holidays!
We don’t tend to have pretzels in the UK but these festive and delicioius
These pretzels look so pretty! I love the combination of sweet and salty. This would be a great addition to my holiday baking.
Simple but sweet. That’s the nicest way to incorporate holiday cooking without going nuts.
Ooh chocolate covered pretzles are one of my weaknesses! These look absolutely amazing! I love the sprinkles… it makes them so cute 🙂
Wow! I live that you can make these and it’s easy to make and you can customize them to the way you like. Great for the holiday table and for a gift idea.
i LOVE chocolate covered pretzels! white chocolate is m favorite I make it every year!
Such a cute and festive idea! I love a sweet and savoury combo, so this is right up my alley 🙂
This looks absolutely delicious! I should make this for my family for our Christmas party!
*jawdropped* this is so fun and creative. amazing job you did here. wish I have time and energy to give it a try.
I totally love this recipe! It’s festive, and I also love chocolate and pretzels too! Will be trying this one for the family.