Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods – one of our family’s favorite treats during the holidays. Pretzels dipped in a homemade caramel sauce, then in melted chocolate, drizzled with white chocolate and your choice of sprinkles.
One of our go-to holiday treats that we love to gift to friends and neighbors. Other classic candies include: Homemade Turtles, Christmas Crack and Homemade Fudge!
Caramel + Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods
I think it’s safe to say that the whole LUNA clan loves food. I think that love was instilled in us because we center so many of our get togethers around it. We usually make a menu and give assignments to each person a month before the event (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.)
One of the recipes that is now a MUST-HAVE for Christmas comes from my cousin’s wife, Karen, for the most delicious pretzel rods. Yes, I have had them many times at events and boutiques and such, but hers are by-far the best I’ve had!! The homemade caramel is so soft and the treats are so good that it’s hard to limit yourself to just one or two. 😉
Karen sent me the recipe she uses a long time ago but we finally gave it a try ourselves and we are even more obsessed! If you are a fan of chocolate covered ANYTHING, then I think you should try these out. They are simply delicious!
How to Make Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods
Caramel: My cousin’s homemade caramel is so delicious and easy to make. However, you can use store-bought caramels for an even faster method.
To make the homemade caramel, melt your butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar, milk and corn syrup. Boil over medium-high heat for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring constantly. Around 240℉ (mixture will get a thicker, a little shiny and a tad darker). Remove from heat, add vanilla and stir.
Dip each pretzel in caramel and set on wax paper. You can choose to repeat this step for extra gooey pretzels.
RECIPE TIP: After you have placed the dipped caramel rods onto parchment paper to set, you may notice some caramel pooling at the bottom. Just let the caramel cool and set a bit. Then, when it is still pliable, use your fingers to smooth the caramel around the pretzel stick.
Which chocolate to use?
We used Candiquik for the chocolate (or Ghirardelli melting chocolates). It is much like almond bark and chocolate wafers which can be used instead. Bot also come in vanilla, which is nice to use if you want to dip in a colored coating. Simply mix in a few drops of food coloring to the melted candy.
TIP: When dipping the pretzels in chocolate I like to leave a bit of the caramel uncovered. That way people can see that there isn’t just chocolate over the rods (but caramel too). If you’re not a fan of caramel you can simply dip the pretzels in the candy coating.
Melt the chocolate according to the instructions. When caramel is just a tad sticky to the touch, carefully lift rod and dip in chocolate.
Place on a clean sheet of wax paper to harden. Be sure to sprinkle your preferred toppings immediately, before chocolate has set so that it sticks to the pretzels.
For a beautiful white drizzle, wait for chocolate to harden, then melt a few squares of the white candy quick/wafers and drizzle over the top.
Favorite candy toppings
Changing up these pretzel rods is so easy. You can do that based on the chocolate you dip them in (vanilla, milk or dark chocolate) as well as with the toppings.
Here are a few of our favs to sprinkle on top while the chocolate is still setting:
- Crushed butterfinger candy
- Coconut flakes
- Heath bits
- Mini chocolate chips
- Sprinkles
- Crushed Oreos
- Mini M&M’s
- Chopped nuts
- Festive sprinkles
SO many great options to change these up!
How to Store + Gift
Storage: These pretzel sticks are partially covered, meaning some of the pretzel can be seen after dipping. tThey can last for 2-3 weeks. If you choose to cover the entire pretzel rod, then they will last even longer.
Great gift: These pretzel sticks make a wonderful gift for any holiday. I wouldn’t make them more than 2-3 days ahead of time. This way they are still fresh and will last for several days once the recipient has them.
I like to put several pretzel rods in a large candy bag and tie it closed with a festive ribbon. You can also put them in a holiday tin.
For more Candy Recipes:
- Homemade Turtle Candy
- Cookies and Cream Fudge
- Homemade Toffee
- Christmas Crack
- Apple Pie Caramel Apples
Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods Recipe
Ingredients
Pretzels
- 1 bag pretzel rods
- candy quick chocolate and white
- desired toppings and sprinkles
Homemade Caramel Sauce
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 stick butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Make caramel sauce by melting your butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar, milk and corn syrup. Boil over medium-high heat for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring constantly. Around 240℉ (mixture will get a thicker, a little shiny and a tad darker). Remove from heat, add vanilla and stir.
- Dip each pretzel in caramel and set on wax paper. You can choose to repeat this step for extra gooey pretzels.
- While caramel is setting, melt entire tray of chocolate candy quick according to package directions.
- When caramel is just a tad sticky to the touch, carefully lift rod and dip in chocolate. Place on a clean sheet of wax paper to harden.
- Be sure to sprinkle your preferred toppings immediately, before chocolate has set so that it sticks to the pretzels.
- For a beautiful white drizzle, wait for chocolate to harden, then melt a few squares of the white candy quick and drizzle over the top.
Looks delicious!
Thank you. Have a great day.
You’re welcome! Hope you have a good day too, Liz!! XO
Another great recipe!!! I totally want to make these!!!
I love this and love how easy it that you could just add sprinkles to it for any type of holiday or occasion
These are so fun to make and the possibilities are endless with how you can decorate them. I love salty and sweet treats!
I love these pretzel rods!! When the holidays come around, I get so excited, because that’s when everyone seems to make them!
Pretzels are so much better dipped in caramel & chocolate!! Everyone loves these & dipping them in their favorite toppings!
The best gift giving recipe! Crunchy and yummy and fun to make.
Easy recipe and very festive!!
Love these! And a great recipe for kids to help with!
Very easy and so good!
This is a fun recipe to do at home. I love making these for gifts around any holiday.
The homemade caramel sauce really makes these super yummy. Kids also love using different toppings to decorate the rods.
So yummy