Christmas Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods

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These Christmas pretzel rods are deliciously crunchy, sweet, and salty. With twenty minutes and three simple ingredients you can have a delicious treat that everyone will love.

chocolate and peppermint covered pretzel rods.

As a home cook it seems that I do the most baking during the holiday season, and everyone loves an easy treat with candy coating.

Making these chocolate-covered pretzels as special handmade gifts for family and friends is a great way to say, “Merry Christmas” to all the important people in your life.

Having a handful of easy recipes on hand during the holidays is important for every home cook.

This recipe is a particular crowd favorite because there is actually no baking involved.

Not only is this recipe incredibly quick, it’s so easy that you can get the kids in your house involved.

You can add this as one of your family’s annual traditions that everyone will look forward to for years to come.

You can use this pretzel rods recipe as shown, or use your favorite holiday flavors to create a new topping to sprinkle on top of your pretzel rods.

I hope you love this recipe as much as my family does.

What are Christmas Pretzel Rods?

Christmas pretzel rods are a quick and easy sweet treat made of melted chocolate, pretzel rods, and delicious peppermint candies.

These Christmas chocolate covered pretzel rods are the perfect edible gifts for neighbors.

Using a double broiler to melt the chocolate, dip the pretzel rod into the melted chocolate and sprinkle with crumbled peppermint candies.

These sweet and salty pretzel rods are great because they can be made ahead of time and stored for 2-3 weeks.

You can add different types of chocolates and your choice of holiday sprinkles and really get creative with the whole family.

Try adding these to your annual cookie exchange, displaying them on a tray for a holiday party, or just as holiday treats for the special people in your life.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These pretzel rods are incredibly easy to make and easily customized to fit any occasion. Try using festive sprinkles for other holidays such as red, white, and blue for the Fourth of July. This peppermint recipe would also be great for Valentines Day. This is your chance to get creative, so have fun with it!
No baking is required! All you need is a double broiler, parchment paper or wax paper, a sheet pan, and a large cup or mason jar. That’s it!
This recipe takes about 10 minutes to make and is a great way to get your kids involved in the kitchen. This would be a great gift for a school teacher, a coach, your child’s Sunday school class, or a music teacher.
Every year I am always looking for an easy and simple recipe to add to my cookie exchange or holiday baked goods. This is the perfect addition that everyone enjoys.
Serving them on Christmas Eve is a special tradition that you can add as a festive treat.

Tell Me About Christmas Pretzel Rods

Taste- The salt from the pretzel and the sweetness of the chocolate give these treats the unmistakable salty and sweet flavor combination. The peppermint candies provide the flavor that we all love during this time of year.
Texture- The pretzels are crunchy with a soft smooth chocolate coating, which are perfect for an easy on-the-go treat.
Ease- This recipe really can’t get any easier. Once the chocolate is melted, the pretzels are dipped, and you add the sprinkles or candies, you just let them set.
Time- You will want to eat these pretzels right away, however, you will have to wait at least an hour for the chocolate to set. Good things come to those who wait.

ingredients for christmas chocolate covered preztels

Ingredients for Christmas Pretzel Rods

Pretzel Rods– This recipe has enough chocolate for a 16 oz bag of large pretzel rods. You can double or triple the recipe to make more.
Chocolate Melts– If you don’t have chocolate melts, no problem. Just use baking chocolate or a chocolate bar and cut it into small chunks. You can also use chocolate chips with about a tsp. of corn starch, so that they melt nice and smooth.
Peppermint Candies– Go ahead and use candy canes and place them in a ziplock bag. Take a rolling pin and crush the candies until they have reached their desired consistency. You can use sprinkles, candies, or other toppings if you like as well.

steps for making christmas chocolate pretzels.

Make Christmas Pretzel Rods in 3 Easy Steps

Melt and dip– Melt chocolate in a double boiler. Dip pretzel rod and swirl in the chocoate.
Add sprinkles– Sprinkle it with peppermint candies.
Let set– Let it harden for one hour and enjoy!

Variations for Christmas Pretzel Rods

Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips– If you prefer semi-sweet chocolate chips, you can definitely use them instead of milk chocolate melts or white chocolate melts. Use whichever type of chocolate you prefer.
Colored Candy Melts– These are flavored and colored candy melts that you can use as the candy coating for the pretzel rods.
Almond Bark– Almond bark melts wonderfully and can be used for the candy coating as well.
M&M’s– After dipping the pretzel rods in the melted chocolate, you can quickly add M&M’s or any other favorite candy treats before it hardens.
Gluten-free pretzels– Gluten free pretzel rods are a great substitute for those with gluten allergies or sensitivities.

Tips for Making Christmas Pretzel Rods

Make sure that you are using a jar or glass that is tall enough to dip the pretzel into. Once the pretzel is in the jar give the pretzel a swirl so that the pretzel is coated evenly. Give the pretzel rods a light shake to make sure that any excess chocolate is removed before adding to the baking sheet.
You want to make sure that you sprinkle the toppings over the top rather than rolling the pretzel rods into the crushed toppings. Rolling the chocolate before it has hardened results in a huge mess and the chocolate will slip off of the pretzel rods.
In order to avoid the chocolate from pooling onto the baking sheet, make sure that you remove as much of the excess chocolate from the pretzel as possible.
These can be served at room temperature and are great as a gift served on a cookie tray with other baked goods if you like. You can also place them in a festive cellophane bag tied with a pretty ribbon to gift to neighbors.
Having 2-3 people help with this process will help make sure the chocolate does not harden before your toppings are added. I like to have an assembly line so that each person has a job and the process goes nice and smoothly.
Crushing peppermint candies yourself is a bit of work, but they taste better than pre-crushed candies.
You may use chocolate chips or chocolate bark in place of the chocolate melts.

How Do You Store Leftover Christmas Pretzel Rods?

These pretzel rods will keep for 2-3 weeks when stored at room temperature in an air-tight container.

You can also freeze these Christmas pretzel sticks for up to 6 months in an air-tight container. When you are ready to use them, just thaw them at room temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you dip pretzel rods to avoid having a flat side?

The best method for dipping pretzel rods is to use a tall glass or jar that is tall enough to insert the pretzel rod. This method is the easiest way to get full coverage without having to use a spoon or spatula. Once the pretzel rod is inserted into the cup, spin the rod and lift so that any excess chocolate drips back into the cup. To avoid a flat side on the pretzel, remove as much excess chocolate as possible so that when the pretzel rod is laid flat it helps to avoid pooling as you let the chocolate set.

Can you melt the chocolate candy melts in the microwave?

Yes, if you don’t have a double boiler, you can also melt the chocolate in the microwave. Melt for 15 seconds at a time and then stir, until the chocolate is completely melted. Just be sure to use a microwave-safe bowl. You can also use your crock pot and add small jars filled with chocolate pieces to the bowl of a crock pot. Fill with water about halfway up the jars and set it to high heat. In about 30 minutes you will have perfectly melted chocolate. Turn to low and keep the chocolate from hardening while you coat the pretzel rods.