Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods
Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods are the perfect balance of sweet and salty, dipped in rich chocolate and topped with festive sprinkles or crunchy toppings.
Ingredients
- 1 package about 24-30 rods of thick pretzel rods.
- 12 oz about 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips, dark chocolate, or milk chocolate (your preference).
- Drizzled white chocolate or colored candy melts for decoration.
- 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil or vegetable shortening to thin the chocolate for smoother coating.
Instructions
- Prepare two large baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
- Prepare homemade caramel (or melt store-bought caramels). Remove from heat. Allow homemade caramel to cool for about 15 minutes before dipping.
- Dip Pretzel Rods in caramel. I use a spoon to scoop the sauce onto the pretzels and turn them as I go. Allow excess sauce to drip off and place the dipped pretzels on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- After the caramel sets and cools some of it may pool at the base of the pretzel, causing the bottom to be flat. Use your hands to mold the caramel back around the rod (or just roll the rod gently on the parchment paper to smooth it around).
- Melt chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, on half power, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth.
- Pour the chocolate into a tall glass. Dip the caramel-coated pretzels in melted chocolate. You can use a spoon or spatula to help smooth the chocolate up and around if you need to.
- Lay the dipped pretzels on a parchment lined sheet. While the chocolate is warm, you can sprinkle on a few light weight toppings or sprinkles, if desired.
- Allow the chocolate to set up before eating or removing from parchment.
Notes
For the best results when making chocolate covered pretzel rods, choose sturdy pretzel rods like Snyder’s or Clancy’s from Aldi. Avoid Walmart and Rold Gold as they tend to break easily. For the chocolate, use Ghirardelli baking chocolate bars for a smooth, high-quality melt; chocolate chips won’t give the same result. If you’re using white chocolate, go with Ghirardelli melting wafers. For caramel, you can either make it from scratch or use Kraft caramel bits or wrapped caramel candy squares for convenience. These options melt easily and work well for dipping.
Gifting is a great idea, and your pretzel rods will look beautiful in cellophane bags tied with a ribbon, or you could place them in a decorative Christmas tin. You can make these treats up to one week ahead of time. Store them in an air-tight container in a cool, dry area, or in the fridge. Before eating, allow the pretzels to come to room temperature for the best flavor and freshness.