Homemade Holiday Favorite: Chocolate-dipped Pretzels

Perfect for Holiday Snacking, Gifts for the Neighbors, and Last-minute Host Gifts

The holidays are full of sweets. But, what happens when sweet meets fat-free salty? The perfect gift for neighbors, the host or hostess, and family.

These chocolate-dipped pretzels are always a hit. They’re quick and easy – and something you can do with the whole family. Perfect if you’re entertaining little ones.

You can make these one of two ways: microwave or stove top.

The microwave is quick, but it’s a bit more difficult to maintain the right temperature. Chocolate is high-maintenance. You can warm it back up in the microwave around 3-4 times before its consistency starts to change and it’s honestly no longer usable.

The stove top takes a little longer to heat up initially using the double-boiler method, but the keeping the chocolate’s temperature and smooth consistency is much easier this way.

Here’s what you’ll need:

For the microwave: two large glass, microwave-safe bowls

For the stove top: two large glass, microwave-safe bowls; two pots slightly smaller than the bowls

For both:

white chocolate chips (1 package)
semi-sweet chocolate chips (1/2 package)
crushed candy canes or peppermints (6 candy canes or around 14 peppermints)
pretzel rods (1 package)
small amount of veggie oil or Crisco (this gives the chocolate its shine)
cooling rack
spatula

I love this Williams Sonoma Goldtouch cooling rack. Their Goldtouch collection is my absolute favorite – non-stick, too. These milk bottle measuring cups are so sweet and these rose gold metal and white enamel measuring spoons are on my shopping list. Williams Sonoma partners with No Kid Hungry to sell these fun painted spatulas every year if you’re in need of a new one. These tempered glass mixing and prep bowls are probably the most-used items in our kitchen. Their different sizes make cooking and baking a breeze. I’m also one that uses at least twelve different bowls and utensils when I cook (not sorry).

Here’s what to do:

Crush the candy canes or peppermints and set them aside.

Separate out the white chocolate chips in one bowl and the semi-sweet chocolate chips in the other. Drizzle a small amount (1- 1 1/2 tsp) of the oil or Crisco over the chips. This will give them their sheen.

Start with the white chocolate chips. If you’re using the microwave, heat the bowl of chips at 30-second increments, stirring after each one. It will take around 1 1/2 minutes to 2 minutes to completely melt these. Make sure that the chips are all melted and it has a smooth consistency.

If you’re using the stove top, boil about 2 cups of water, based on the size of your pot. You’ll want the water to be about 1/3 of the way up the pot. Set the glass bowl of white chocolate chips on top of the pot of boiling water. Stir until the chips are melted and it has a smooth consistency.

Dip each of the pretzels into the melted white chocolate, coating about half of each pretzel thoroughly. Rest them on a cooling rack to dry. You can sprinkle the crushed candy canes or peppermints at this point, or stripe the pretzels with the semi-sweet chocolate.

If you’re striping, repeat the melting process with the semi-sweet chocolate. Once melted and smooth, drizzle the semi-sweet chocolate over the white chocolate-covered part of the pretzels. This is also when you can sprinkle some of the crushed peppermints or candy canes over the pretzels.

Package your pretzels in festive Christmas tins or cellophane tied with holiday ribbon. These train tins are too cute. You can also package them in these classic Spode Christmas cake tins – just make sure you that the tins are the right size for the pretzel rods.

We packaged a few with holiday tins found at Michael’s (similar here – only available in-store). We packaged our gifts for neighbors in large cellophane bags, secured with twist ties (included in most packages of cellophane bags), and dressed up with green curling ribbon.