Everyone will love these fun, delicious, and festive Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods!
You only need 3 simple ingredients to make these: pretzel rods, baking chocolate bars, and lots of cute sprinkles. Let your creativity loose and decorate them any way you want!
These chocolate covered pretzel rods are a great homemade gift idea. It’s perfect for the holiday season!
Salty, sweet, and crunchy…these no-bake chocolate pretzel rods are one of our favorite things to make during the holidays!
To make chocolate covered pretzel rods, you only need a few basic ingredients: pretzel rods, chocolate, and festive sprinkles. It comes together in less than 30 minutes, plus the time it needs to set. It’s super easy!
These are so many reasons to love these pretzels:
- It’s a great activity to do with kids. They will love it!
- The perfect holiday gifts are always homemade. They package up really well and are perfect for gifting!
- Customizable: Let your creativity loose and decorate them any way you want.
- Easy and simple
Other no-bake treats we’ve been loving this season are these cute little homemade Christmas truffles, almond pistachio chocolate bark, and graham toffee crackers. Just like chocolate covered pretzel rods, these are perfect for gifting.
We’re in full holiday baking mode over here! Have you tried these Gingersnap Cookies, Nutella Stuffed Cookies, and Lemon Crinkle Cookies yet?
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What Type of Chocolate to Use
I’d recommend using good quality baking chocolate bars, such as Ghirardelli’s milk, semi-sweet, bittersweet, or white chocolate. Baking chocolate bars tend to be smooth, and also melt and set very well. Melting chocolate wafers and chocolate chips will work too.
Try not to use regular snacking chocolate bars because they contain extra sugar and ingredients that make the chocolate less smooth, grainy, and hard to set.
How to Melt Chocolate and Keep It Warm
Two methods to melt chocolate:
- Microwave: I like to keep it simple and use the microwave oven. Place the chopped chocolate bars in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20-second bursts, stirring each time until warm, smooth, and melted.
- Double-boiler: Over medium heat on the stovetop, boil some water over a saucepan and place a heat-proof bowl on top (a pyrex bowl is fine). Then add the chopped chocolate into the bowl and allow the heat from the water, stirring.
Two ways to keep chocolate warm:
- Microwave: Simply reheat in the microwave oven again in 20 second intervals, stirring. This is my preferred, no-fuss method.
- Slow cooker: Add hot water into the bowl of a slow cooker and turn it on, then place the glasses with melted chocolate. The heat will keep the chocolate ready for dipping, but be careful not to let any water into the chocolate or it will seize and turn grainy.
Ingredient Notes
To make these cute chocolate covered pretzel rods, you only need a few simple ingredients. Here are a few notes to keep in mind when picking your ingredients at the store. As always, the specific ingredient quantities can be found in the recipe card down below.
- Pretzel rods: Pick thick and sturdy pretzel rods. I like Snyder’s brand.
- Baking chocolate bars: Baking chocolate bars are almost pure chocolate and melt very well. Melting chocolate wafers or chocolate chips work too.
- Toppings of your choice: holiday sprinkles, chopped peanuts, melted chocolate (for drizzling), etc.
As for recommended equipment, you’ll need parchment paper, sheet pans or trays, pyrex bowls, rubber spatulas, and tall and narrow glasses (for dipping).
Step-by-Step Instructions
These chocolate covered pretzels can be easily made in just 3 easy steps!
Step 1 | Melt the chocolate
Microwave chopped chocolate bars in 20 to 30 second bursts, stirring each time. The key is to get the chocolate warm and melted enough to make it easier to dip, but not too hot.
Step 2 | Dip pretzels in chocolate and decorate
Transfer the melted chocolate into a tall glass. Dip each pretzel rod and immediately top with sprinkles while the chocolate is still warm. Transfer chocolate covered pretzels to a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Repeat with remaining pretzel rods.
Tip: If you don’t have a tall glass, keep the chocolate in the bowl and use a rubber spatula to coat the pretzels with chocolate.
Step 3 | Let them set
Let the decorated pretzel rods set on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper for a few minutes. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes until fully set and hardened. After that, remove them from the fridge and store in an airtight container at room temperature.
How to Store
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1.5 to 2 weeks. After that, they start to lose their freshness, so the sooner you enjoy them, the better.
Do not store it in the refrigerator, as the pretzels could get soggy.
Festive Decorating Ideas
There are so many ways to decorate chocolate covered pretzel rods:
- Holiday-themed sprinkles: I usually buy them online but grocery stores usually stock up with really cute sprinkles around this time of year.
- Drizzle with chocolate: Melt chocolate and pipe it through a ziploc bag. Snip off a small hole in the corner and drizzle over.
- Crushed pretzels: Pretzels on pretzels? Yes please!
- Crushed peppermint candies
- Crushed peanuts: Peanuts and chocolate are a match made in heaven!
There are so many ways to decorate them. Basically, you can use this recipe to make chocolate covered pretzels for any occasion you may like, 4th of July, halloween, baby showers, bridal showers…you name it!
More Festive Treats You’ll Love
Holiday baking is in full swing, and I couldn’t be any happier! Check out some of my favorite treats to make in December:
Also try these lovely Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies, Peppermint Mocha Cookies, Lemon Crinkle Cookies, and the classic Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Recipe FAQs
Use good quality baking chocolate bars. I like Ghirardelli’s brand. Chocolate melting wafers work too. Try not to use regular snacking chocolate bars, as these contain extra ingredients that make it less smooth, and also hard to melt and set.
I like to keep it simple and just pop it in the microwave oven for a few seconds each time as needed.
They will keep at room temperature (stored in an airtight container) for 1.5 to 2 weeks, but the fresher the better.
Not long, about 30 minutes in the fridge. Note: Do not store the pretzel rods in the fridge because humidity can cause the pretzels to get soggy. Store at room temperature.
This recipe was published in 2021 and updated in December 2022 to include additional information and recipe tips.
Tips for Success
- To melt the chocolate, microwave in 20 to 30 second intervals, stirring each time, until warm and melted. Don’t let it get too hot.
- Make sure the chocolate doesn’t touch water droplets, as this can cause it to seize and turn grainy.
- Use a tall and narrow glass to dip the pretzels in. If you don’t have one, use a rubber spatula to coat the pretzels with chocolate.
- Have your toppings readily available and immediately decorate while the chocolate is still warm so that they stick to the chocolate.
- Use parchment paper to ensure the chocolate doesn’t stick to the tray.
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Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods
Equipment
- Tall glass or mason jar
Ingredients
- 12 ounces pretzel rods
- 16 ounces baking chocolate bars of your choice, roughly chopped - plus more as desired, see note
- Holiday sprinkles or toppings of your choice
Instructions
- Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper.
- Place chopped chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20 to 30 second bursts, stirring each time until warm and well-melted. Note: if you’re using various kinds of chocolate, melt the next kind after you’re done decorating the first batch so it stays melted and warm enough for dipping.
- Transfer the melted chocolate into a tall and narrow glass. Dip each pretzel rod in the melted chocolate, and immediately decorate with sprinkles while the chocolate is still warm. Arrange on the prepared sheet pan. Repeat with the remaining pretzel rods. Tip: If you want to decorate with chocolate drizzles, do so at the end after the dipped chocolate has set.
- Refrigerate the decorated pretzels for about 30 minutes or until the chocolate sets and hardens. Remove from the fridge and enjoy! Store at room temperature in sealed containers.
Notes
- What type of chocolate to use: Use good quality baking chocolate bars, melting chocolate wafers, or chocolate chips. Try not to use snacking chocolate bars, as these contain extra ingredients that make it less smooth and hard to melt and set.
- The easiest way to melt chocolate is in the microwave oven in 20 to 30 second intervals, stirring each time, until warm and melted. If it firms up as you’re dipping the pretzels, simply pop it back in the microwave as needed.
- Double-boiler method: Feel free to use this method to melt chocolate. Over medium heat over the stovetop, boil some water over a saucepan and place a heat-proof bowl (a pyrex bowl is fine) on top. Then add the chopped chocolate in the bowl and allow the heat from the water to melt it, stirring.
- Have your sprinkles ready so you can immediately decorate each pretzel while the chocolate is still warm so everything sticks properly.
- How to store: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1.5 to 2 weeks.
- Topping ideas:
- Holiday-themed sprinkles
- Drizzle of chocolate
- Crushed pretzels
- Crushed peppermint candies
- Crushed peanuts
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