Aren’t these chocolate-dipped pretzels just so pretty? Wouldn’t you want to receive them for a gift? So why not make some this year–a few to give, and a few to keep? Dipping pretzel rods is significantly easier than dipping the traditional twisted pretzel, so I suggest you stick with the pretzel rods if you’re a newbie. But if you want to get creative down the road, you can adjust this idea to any sort of pretzel out there. (You can also use milk chocolate, but then you’ll get your best results with a double boiler. Start slowly, try this for a time or two, and work your way up if you want to try the milk chocolate!)
Easy Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods
- Pretzel Rods (about 4 dozen)
- Chocolate CandyQuick (in the bakery aisle at the grocery)
- Crisco
- toppings: vanilla CandyQuick (or melts) and nonpariel sprinkles are my favorite
You also need: waxed paper and a ziplock baggie (or an icing decorator bag)
Heat the CandyQuick in the microwave, according to directions on the package. If you need to thin the chocolate, add a little bit (just the tip of a spoonful) of Crisco to the heated chocolate and stir. Quickly dip a pretzel rod in and roll around, making sure to coat all sides (but not the part you’re holding!). Hold the pretzel rod up & let extra chocolate drizzle back into the container. Carefully place the chocolate-coated pretzel rod onto the waxed paper. Repeat. Reheat the chocolate CandyQuick as necessary but be careful not to overheat it.
NOTE: IF YOU’RE USING NONPAREILS for your topping, you must sprinkle them onto the pretzels before the chocolate cools. You can still do several at a time, but keep your eye out to make sure you don’t get busy dipping & forget to sprinkle your topping.
IF YOU’RE USING WHITE CHOCOLATE for your topping, no worries. The dark chocolate must cool first, anyway, before you begin getting fancy with the swirly white stuff. Once you’ve finished with the first step, and the dark chocolate has cooled, you can get ready to drizzle.
Melt the white chocolate (CandyQuick or melts) in the microwave. (Again, you can use white chocolate chips, but then you’re better off with a double boiler. This is much easier.) If you need to thin the white chocolate, add a dab of Crisco and stir. Put the melted white chocolate into a ziplock baggie (sandwich size) or icing decorator bag. If you’re using the ziplock, snip a tiny corner off. Drizzle the white chocolate, slowly, back and forth over the pretzel rods.
Let everything cool, place pretzel rods in a container, wrap with cellophane and a festive bow: Voila! You’re practically Martha.
Another Homemade Holiday Gift that Rocks: Homemade bread and jam
If you have additional ideas, leave them in the comments section. I’ll post links to great homemade gift ideas on Friday.
Another Homemade Holiday Gift that Rocks: Homemade bread and jam
If you have additional ideas, leave them in the comments section. I’ll post links to great homemade gift ideas on Friday.
