Introduction

Festive Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods are a delightful holiday treat that combines salty crunch with sweet, colorful coatings. These easy-to-make snacks are perfect for gifting or serving at parties, adding a cheerful touch to your celebrations.

Four long pretzel sticks are arranged close together on a white marbled surface, with green pine branches around them. The first two pretzels at the top are coated in smooth white chocolate and decorated with tiny red and green round sprinkles and red and green Christmas tree shaped sprinkles. The third pretzel is covered in milk chocolate with the same red, green, and brown round sprinkles plus green Christmas tree sprinkles. The bottom pretzel is coated in dark chocolate topped with crushed white and red peppermint pieces, giving a rough texture. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

Pretzel rods
Brown candy coating (milk chocolate morsels or chocolate almond bark)
White candy coating (white chocolate morsels or vanilla almond bark)
Green candy coating
Red candy coating
Confetti Holly Mix
Wilton Holiday Nonpareils
Wilton Christmas Snowflake Sprinkles
Crushed peppermint

Instructions

Step 1: Melt the candy coating following the package instructions, taking care not to overheat. If the coating thickens too much, add 2 teaspoons of vegetable shortening to thin it, but avoid adding any liquids as this may cause the coating to seize.
Step 2: Dip each pretzel rod into the melted candy coating, covering about two-thirds of the rod. Gently shake off any excess to prevent drips.
Step 3: While the coating is still wet, immediately sprinkle your choice of festive sprinkles evenly over the pretzel rods. For larger sprinkles, place them individually for better coverage.
Step 4: Lay the coated pretzel rods on waxed paper or a cooling rack to set. Waxed paper makes it easier to remove them once dry.
Step 5: Once the initial coating is fully set, optionally drizzle a contrasting colored candy coating over the rods using a spoon or fork. Move them to fresh waxed paper before the drizzle sets to avoid sticking.
Step 6: Allow the pretzels to dry completely before packaging or serving. This ensures the coating hardens properly and the sprinkles stay in place.

Tips & Variations

Use vegetable shortening to adjust the consistency of your candy coating for smoother dipping and drizzling.
Try different combinations of sprinkles and coatings to match your holiday theme or personal taste.
Place larger sprinkles individually while the coating is still wet for an even, decorative look.

Storage

Store the finished pretzel rods in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain their crispness. Avoid refrigeration, as it may soften the pretzels. They are best enjoyed within one week for optimal freshness.

How to Serve

The image shows seven pretzel sticks standing upright inside a white bowl wrapped with a thick brown rope near its top edge. Each pretzel is dipped in different coatings and decorated with various colorful sprinkles. From left to right, the first pretzel is coated with white chocolate and dotted with small red round sprinkles. The second is covered in dark chocolate with scattered white and red round sprinkles. The third also has dark chocolate with red, white, and green star and round sprinkles. The fourth is similar but decorated mainly with green, red, and white star-shaped sprinkles. The fifth pretzel is dipped in white chocolate with pinkish crushed candy cane pieces spiraled around it. The sixth has a white chocolate coating decorated with green round sprinkles. The last pretzel also has white chocolate and green sprinkles. The setting includes a red cloth and green pine branches on a white marbled surface in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use regular chocolate instead of candy coating?

Regular chocolate can be used, but it may not set as smoothly or harden as firmly as candy coatings. Candy coatings are designed to melt and set quickly, which helps with the dipping and decorating process.

How do I prevent the candy coating from seizing?

Make sure not to add any water or liquids to the melted candy coating. If it becomes too thick, gently stir in a small amount of vegetable shortening to thin it without causing it to seize.

Festive Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.5 from 87 reviews

Festive Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods are a delightful holiday treat combining crunchy pretzels with colorful candy coatings and festive sprinkles. Perfect for gifting or serving at holiday parties, these easy-to-make snacks feature vibrant red, green, white, and brown candy coatings decorated with various holiday-themed sprinkles and crushed peppermint. The recipe requires simple dipping and decorating steps that yield beautifully festive, sweet and salty snacks.

Author: Ruby
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes (melting and dipping)
Total Time: 20 minutes plus drying time (about 1 hour to fully set)
Yield: About 12-15 pretzel rods, depending on size and coating amount
Category: Snack
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Core Ingredients

Pretzel rods – quantity as desired
Brown candy coating (milk chocolate morsels or chocolate almond bark) – about 1 cup
White candy coating (white chocolate morsels or vanilla almond bark) – about 1 cup
Green candy coating – about 1 cup
Red candy coating – about 1 cup

Decorations

Confetti Holly Mix – enough to sprinkle on pretzels
Wilton Holiday Nonpareils – enough to sprinkle
Wilton Christmas Snowflake Sprinkles – quantity as desired
Crushed peppermint – quantity as desired
Vegetable shortening – optional, 2 teaspoons (for thinning candy coating if necessary)

Instructions

Melt the Candy Coating: Follow the package instructions carefully to melt the candy coatings chosen—brown, white, green, or red—taking care not to overheat to avoid the coating thickening or seizing. If the coating becomes too thick, add up to 2 teaspoons of vegetable shortening to thin it slightly.
Dip Pretzel Rods: Hold each pretzel rod and dip it into the melted candy coating, covering approximately two-thirds of the rod. Then gently shake off any excess coating to prevent drips and ensure an even layer.
Apply Sprinkles: While the coating is still wet, immediately sprinkle your chosen festive sprinkles over the dipped part of the pretzel rod. Rotate the rod to evenly coat all sides. For larger sprinkles such as snowflakes, place them individually for best coverage and appearance.
Set on Waxed Paper: Place the decorated pretzel rods onto waxed paper or a cooling rack. Using waxed paper helps with easy removal once the coating sets.
Optional Drizzle Decoration: After the initial candy coating has fully hardened, use a spoon or a fork to drizzle a contrasting colored candy coating over the pretzels for an elegant decorative touch. Then move the rods to fresh waxed paper before the drizzle sets to avoid any sticking.
Dry Completely: Allow the pretzel rods to dry fully at room temperature so the candy coating hardens completely and the sprinkles stay in place with no smudging.
Storage: Store the finished pretzel rods in an airtight container at room temperature. Avoid refrigerating, which can soften the pretzels and reduce crispness.

Notes

Be careful not to overheat candy coatings as they can thicken or seize.
Adding vegetable shortening can help thin thickened candy coatings without adding moisture.
For best decorative results, apply larger sprinkles one by one before coating sets.
Waxed paper is preferable to parchment paper when setting dipped pretzels to prevent sticking.
Do not refrigerate pretzels after coating, as humidity can make them lose their crunch.

Keywords: holiday snack, chocolate dipped pretzels, festive pretzels, Christmas treats, candy coated pretzels, holiday desserts