These Christmas pretzels are a quick and easy holiday treat or decorating activity to enjoy with the kids! All you need is 20 minutes and simple ingredients like pretzels, chocolate, candy melts, and candy!
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📋 About the Recipe
- Perfect for kids! Have a fun afternoon with the family decorating Christmas pretzels. There's something for everyone here. Pick your favorite design and enjoy a fun-filled day!
- Quick and easy. Make these Christmas treats in 20 minutes or less as a simple last-minute holiday dessert or festive activity.
- Fun for gifting. If you're looking for a cute, budget-friendly holiday gift for neighbors, teachers, or friends, gift these cute Christmas pretzels with a gift card or mug. Sweet and memorable!
- Simple dessert idea - An easy, transportable dessert idea that's the best ending to a festive holiday feast filled with turkey, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, and all the other staples!
🛒 Ingredients
A few notes about the ingredients:
- Pretzels - To make a variety of Christmas pretzels, you'll need "mini twists," pretzel "snaps," small pretzel sticks, and pretzel rods. If you have extra pretzels, you can make this Christmas Charcuterie Board too.
- Candy eyes - Used for the reindeer Christmas pretzels! Make my Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats and Snowman Rice Krispie Treats using leftover candy eyes!
- Coconut oil - Necessary for melting the chocolate into a pourable consistency.
⁉️ Substitutions and Alterations
Use these ideas as inspiration, and decorate your pretzels however you’d like. Let the kids get creative and make these treats your own!
📓 Instructions
For Christmas Pretzels with Hershey's Kisses
- Preheat and prep. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F, then line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange “snap” shaped pretzels on the baking sheet.
- Top each pretzel with a hershey’s kiss.
- Place baking sheet in the oven for 2 to 3 minutes. The chocolate should soften but not melt entirely.
- Place an m&m (m side down) into the point of the chocolate. Circle the m&m around gently so the chocolate flattens and fills the holes in the pretzel.
- Place the baking sheet in your fridge so the chocolate can set. Once the chocolate has hardened, store pretzels at room temperature. Serve pretzels in clear gift bags or on a snack tray.
For Christmas Pretzels with Hershey's Hugs
- Preheat and prep. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F, then line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange “snap” shaped pretzels on the baking sheet.
- Top each pretzel with a hershey’s hugs.
- Place baking sheet in the oven for 2 minutes to soften the chocolate.
- Place an m&m (m side down) into the point of the chocolate. Circle the m&m around gently so the chocolate flattens and fills the holes in the pretzel.
- Place the baking sheet in your fridge so the chocolate can set. Once the chocolate has hardened, store pretzels at room temperature. Serve pretzels in clear gift bags or on a snack tray.
For Reindeer Pretzels
- Preheat and prep. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange 18 “mini twist” pretzels on prepared baking sheet.
- Top each pretzel with a rolo candy.
- Break the other 18 pretzels in half to create antlers. Use a new pretzel if yours crumbles while breaking it in half. Set aside.
- Place baking sheet in the oven for 2 minutes. The chocolate should soften but not melt entirely.
- Place a red m&m (m side down) into the bottom of the rolo, swirling it around so it sticks into the pretzel.
- Place two half pretzels at the top of each side of the chocolate to create the antlers.
- Stick two candy eyes towards the top between the antlers and the m&m nose.
- Place the baking sheet in your fridge so the chocolate can set. Once the chocolate has hardened, store pretzels at room temperature. Serve pretzels in clear gift bags or on a snack tray.
For Christmas Tree Pretzels
- Arrange “stick” shaped pretzels on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Place ½ cup of green candy melts in a zip top bag. Microwave on 50% power for 1 minute. Mix the candy around in the bag and repeat until it is fully melted.
- Cut a small tip off the corner of the bag. Use the bag to pipe the green melted candy into a tree-like shape over one of the pretzel sticks. Starting with longer zig zags at the bottom and working towards smaller zig zags at the top, until it comes to a point.
- Place a yellow star sprinkle on the top point. Decorate the tree with nonpareil Christmas colored sprinkles. Repeat with the rest of the pretzel sticks.
- Place the baking sheet in your fridge so the candy melts can set. Once the melts have hardened, store pretzels at room temperature. Serve pretzels in clear gift bags or on a snack tray.
For Christmas Pretzel Rods
- In a tall narrow glass, combine 2 cups white chocolate chips and 2 teaspoons coconut oil.
- Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until melted and smooth.
- Place ½ cup of green candy melts and ½ cup of red candy melts in separate zip top bags. Microwave both bags on 50% power for 1 minute. Mix the candy around in each bag and repeat until both are fully melted.
- Cut a small tip off the corner of the bag.
- Dip the pretzel rods into the white chocolate as far down as you can go. Place chocolate covered rods on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Immediately drizzle with melted green or red candy melts. Then, top with Christmas sprinkles or crushed candy canes.
- Place the baking sheet in your fridge so the chocolate and candy melts can set. Once both have hardened, store pretzels at room temperature. Serve pretzels in clear gift bags or on a snack tray.
❄️ How to Store
To store: All 5 versions store best at room temperature in a dry, cool environment. Keeping these treats in the refrigerator for extended lengths of time can cause the pretzels to become soggy from the excess moisture and should be avoided.
Freezing these Christmas pretzels is not recommended.
🔍 FAQs
How long will chocolate covered pretzels last?
If kept in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, these Christmas pretzels will keep for up to 2 weeks. If stored in clear gift bags, enjoy within 7 days for best freshness.
How far ahead can you make dipped pretzels?
Since dipped pretzels will store well for up to 2 weeks, feel free to make your pretzels in advance. If you are planning on gifting your Christmas pretzels to family and friends, I’d suggest making them 3 to 4 days in advance to ensure they will remain fresh for about a week after gifting.
How do you wrap dipped pretzels?
The most important thing is to allow the dipped pretzels to harden completely before assembling in gifting bags. This will prevent the pretzels from sticking together and/or sticking to the inside of the gift bag. Once hardened, the treats are safe to put together in a bag without any individual wrapping and will keep well at room temperature!
💭 One More Tip
Have extras of each ingredient! This will account for any broken or misshapen pieces and make sure you have more than enough to make as many Christmas pretzels as you may need.
🍴 Related Recipes
Share your cooking with me! If you make this recipe, I'd love to know! Tag @yourhomemadehealthy on Instagram or leave a comment with a rating and some feedback at the bottom of this page!
Christmas Pretzels (5 Different Ways!)
These Christmas pretzels are a quick and easy holiday treat or decorating activity to enjoy with the kids! All you need is 20 minutes and simple ingredients like pretzels, chocolate, candy melts and candy!
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Servings: pretzels
Calories: 358kcal
Cost: $15
Equipment
Ingredients
For Christmas Pretzels with Hershey's Kisses
- 18 "snaps" shaped pretzels NOT butter snaps
- 18 Hershey's Kisses wrappers removed
- 18 red and green m&m candies
For Christmas Pretzels with Hershey's Hugs
- 18 "snaps" shaped pretzels NOT butter snaps
- 18 Hershey's Hugs wrappers removed
- 18 red and green m&m candies
For Reindeer Pretzels
- 36 "mini twists" shaped pretzels, divided plus extra in case of breakage
- 18 Rolos candies wrappers removed
- 18 red m&m candies
- 36 candy eyes
For Christmas Tree Pretzels
- 18 "stick" shaped pretzels
- 1 cup green candy melts
- 18 yellow star sprinkles
- red, white, and green nonpareil sprinkles
For Christmas Pretzel Rods
- 18 "rod" shaped pretzels
- 2 cups white chocolate chips
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- ½ cup red candy melts
- ½ cup green candy melts
- Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
For Christmas Pretzels with Hershey's Kisses
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange “snap” shaped pretzels on the baking sheet.
- Top each pretzel with a hershey’s kiss.
- Place baking sheet in the oven for 2 to 3 minutes. The chocolate should soften but not melt entirely.
- Place an m&m (m side down) into the point of the chocolate. Circle the m&m around gently so the chocolate flattens and fills the holes in the pretzel.
- Place the baking sheet in your fridge so the chocolate can set. Once the chocolate has hardened, store pretzels at room temperature. Serve pretzels in clear gift bags or on a snack tray.
For Christmas Pretzels with Hershey's Hugs
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange “snap” shaped pretzels on the baking sheet.
- Top each pretzel with a hershey’s hugs.
- Place baking sheet in the oven for 2 minutes. The chocolate should soften but not melt entirely.
- Place an m&m (m side down) into the point of the chocolate. Circle the m&m around gently so the chocolate flattens and fills the holes in the pretzel.
- Place the baking sheet in your fridge so the chocolate can set. Once the chocolate has hardened, store pretzels at room temperature. Serve pretzels in clear gift bags or on a snack tray.
For Reindeer Pretzels
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange 18 “mini twist” pretzels on prepared baking sheet.
- Top each pretzel with a rolo candy.
- Break the other 18 pretzels in half to create antlers. Use a new pretzel if yours crumbles while breaking it in half. Set aside.
- Place baking sheet in the oven for 2 minutes. The chocolate should soften but not melt entirely.
- Place a red m&m (m side down) into the bottom of the rolo, swirling it around so it sticks into the pretzel.
- Place two half pretzels at the top of each side of the chocolate to create the antlers.
- Stick two candy eyes towards the top between the antlers and the m&m nose.
- Place the baking sheet in your fridge so the chocolate can set. Once the chocolate has hardened, store pretzels at room temperature. Serve pretzels in clear gift bags or on a snack tray.
For Christmas Tree Pretzels
- Arrange “stick” shaped pretzels on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Place ½ cup of green candy melts in a zip top bag. Microwave on 50% power for 1 minute. Mix the candy around in the bag and repeat until it is fully melted.
- Cut a small tip off the corner of the bag. Use the bag to pipe the green melted candy into a tree-like shape over one* of the pretzel sticks. Starting with longer zig zags at the bottom and working towards smaller zig zags at the top, until it comes to a point.
- Place a yellow star sprinkle on the top point. Decorate the tree with nonpareil christmas colored sprinkles. Repeat with the rest of the pretzel sticks.
- Place the baking sheet in your fridge so the candy melts can set. Once the melts have hardened, store pretzels at room temperature. Serve pretzels in clear gift bags or on a snack tray.
For Christmas Pretzel Rods
- In a tall narrow glass, combine 2 cups white chocolate chips and 2 teaspoons coconut oil.
- Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until melted and smooth.
- Place ½ cup of green candy melts and ½ cup of red candy melts in separate zip top bags. Microwave both bags on 50% power for 1 minute. Mix the candy around in each bag and repeat until both are fully melted.Cut a small tip off the corner of the bag.
- Dip the pretzel rods into the white chocolate as far down as you can go. Place chocolate covered rods on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Immediately drizzle with melted green or red candy melts. Then, top with christmas sprinkles or crushed candy canes.
- Place the baking sheet in your fridge so the chocolate and candy melts can set. Once both have hardened, store pretzels at room temperature. Serve pretzels in clear gift bags or on a snack tray.
Last step!Please consider leaving a review to let me know how you liked this recipe!
Notes
- Make sure to prepare all the candy ahead of time and work quickly, so the melted kisses, hugs, and rolos don't harden while you're getting things ready.
- *For the Christmas tree pretzels, work with 1 at a time so the green candy melts don't harden before you can add the star and nonpareil sprinkles.
- Don't leave the pretzels in the refrigerator for too long, as this may cause them to become stale or soggy.
- If you over bake the kisses, hugs, or rolos, they will harden and appear as if they need more time to melt. However, they will not melt after a certain point and you won't be able to add the m&ms. Make sure to watch the chocolate carefully and only bake until the chocolate becomes glossy and softened. It will not melt entirely.
Nutrition
Calories: 358kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 367mg | Potassium: 125mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 1mg
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