Christmas Pretzels (5 Different Ways!)

5 different christmas pretzels on a green and white backdrop.

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!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Diet Kosher, Vegetarian

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 2

Total Time 17

Servings pretzels

Calories 358kcal

Author Alana Lieberman

Cost $15

Equipment

baking sheet

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.

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.

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