Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods are one of the best sweet and salty snacks out there. This is also a great recipe to use up some of your Halloween candy!
These Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods are quick and easy to make. It also can be a fun recipe to make with kids!
I don't know about you, but we often have extra Halloween candy in our house. Whether it is all the candy the kids bring home after trick or treating or the extra candy because we buy too much...there is usually some extra candy.
This recipe is great for using up some of that extra candy. Add some candy eyes, and they become spooky treats!
Ingredients
- Pretzel Rods
- Bakers Semi-sweet chocolate bar
- Candy that works best are M&M's, Butterfingers, Reese's Pieces, Heath Bar bars
- Candy eyes (optional)
How to Make It
These Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods are quick and easy to make for Halloween but can be used for any time of the year.
How to prepare the candy:
Crush the candy before melting the chocolate. It is best to have all the ingredients ready to go. You want the candy ready before the chocolate sets so the candy will stick to the melted chocolate.
The candy should be coarsely chopped, not finely chopped. To get the candy crushed like this, use the back of a ladle or large spoon and gently push down on them, doing just a small amount of candy at a time.
I would not recommend using a Magic Bullet or blender to crush them. I have tried that, and when I did, the candy became too fine.
Crush the candy and set that to the side until you have the chocolate melted.
How to melt the chocolate:
I like to use Bakers semi-sweet baking bars instead of chocolate chips.
Why use chocolate baking bars over chocolate chips for this recipe?
- The chocolate bars do not harden as quickly as chocolate chips. You will have more time to work with the chocolate.
- The chocolate bars have a thinner consistency which is nice for dipping.
Break the chocolate bar into pieces and place it in a microwave-safe bowl.
Place it in the microwave, heat it for 30 seconds and then stir it. Stirring the chocolate helps the little pieces melt more quickly. If all the chocolate is not melted, heat for additional 15-second increments, stirring after each one, until you have all the chocolate pieces melted.
Don't have Bakers chocolate bar? You can use chocolate chips for this recipe. I just wanted to share what I find works best from my experience. If you are using chocolate chips, melt them the same way. You will need to work quickly, though, as the melted chocolate chips harden quickly.
Once the chocolate is melted, pour it into a deeper dish like a Pyrex glass measuring cup or a coffee mug.
How to decorate the pretzels:
Cover your baking pan with a sheet of parchment paper. It is also a good idea to cover your work area with parchment paper to catch the extra candy pieces and melted chocolate. Parchment paper is great to use for easy cleanup.
Dip the pretzel rod into the melted chocolate. It helps to tip the container to the side a little to get more chocolate on your pretzel. Twist the pretzel in the melted chocolate and gently tap off any excess chocolate. You can use the back of a spoon to spread the chocolate down the pretzel rod.
Hold the chocolate-covered pretzel rod over your covered working area. Sprinkle your crushed candy over the melted chocolate. Turn the pretzel rod as you are doing this so that you get all the sides. If using the candy eyes, gently press them onto the melted chocolate.
Place the pretzels on the covered baking pan and place them in the refrigerator so that the chocolate can set. That usually takes about an hour.
If you love sweet and salty, you will love this recipe! Chocolate covered pretzels are one of my favorites!
Recipe Tips:
- Some suggested candy to use for this recipe: M&M's, Reese's Pieces, Heath Bars, and Butterfinger bars. Avoid using candy with caramel, as it is too sticky and will not crush up that well.
- Crush candy before melting the chocolate so that everything is ready to go once the chocolate is melted.
- Use the back of a large spoon or ladle to crush up the candy to get coarsely chopped candy pieces.
- Use parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup. I would suggest covering your work area and the baking pan.
Looking for more Halloween recipes that are both delicious and fun? Try my Dirt Cake and Halloween Witch Hat Calzones.
Another sweet and salty recipe we love to make and is very kid friendly are these Dark Chocolate Pretzel Granola Bars. They make a nice after-school snack.
If you make these, let me know how you liked the recipe in the comments/ratings below. I love to hear from you!
Follow me on Pinterest and Instagram for all my recipes.
Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods
Ingredients
- 4 ounce Bakers Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bar
- Pretzel Rods (I used about 16)
- Candy, crushed (I used M&M's and Butterfingers)
- Candy eyes, optional
Instructions
- Coarsely crush up candy using the back of a large spoon or ladle. Place each candy into individual bowls and set aside for later.
- Cover baking pan and work area with parchment paper or foil. Set aside.
- Place the chocolate in a microwave safe dish and melt for 30 seconds and stir. If it is not completely melted, heat for an additional 15 second increments until you have a thin consistency. Stir after each time you heat the chocolate.
- Pour the chocolate in a Pyrex measuring container or coffee mug. Dip the pretzels into the chocolate. Turn the pretzel so you get all sides covered with chocolate. (If you need to spread the chocolate down the pretzel more, do that by using the back of a spoon.) Tap off the excess chocolate.
- Holding the chocolate covered pretzel by the end with no chocolate, sprinkle the candy pieces over the chocolate covered pretzel. Turn the pretzel while doing this so that you get each side of the pretzel.
- If using edible eyes, gently press them on while doing the candy.
- Place the pretzels on the prepared baking pan.
- Chill them in your refrigerator for an hour or until the chocolate sets.
- Store the pretzels in an airtight container.
Notes
Update Note: This recipe was originally posted in 2018, but was published again in 2020 to include step-by-step directions and new photos.
Keri
Our family made these with some of our leftover candy and our kids loved them. Nice easy recipe!
Jeannie Z
That is great to hear Keri! Thanks for letting me know.
Jeannie