by Holly
Chocolate covered pretzel rods are the perfect blend of sweet and salty! Use colored chocolate or decorate them with sprinkles for any occasion!
No baking required to make these easy treats and everyone absolutely loves them! They store well in the fridge for a couple of weeks making them the perfect treat anytime!
A Favorite Treat!
Looking for a fun but fancy, easy, sweet treat? Chocolate dipped pretzel rods are a favorite.
- Sweet and salty, creamy and chewy all in one bite.
- Swap out chocolate for colored candy melts or add your favorite sprinkles over regular chocolate for any holiday.
- These can be made in the microwave or stovetop.
- Make these ahead of time if you’d like, they store for weeks in the fridge.
What’s in Caramel Pretzels?
PRETZELS Pretzel rods are easy to find online, in the snack aisle of any local market, or at even craft stores (like Michaels).
CHOCOLATE Chocolate and candy melts can be picked up in the baking aisle. I use semi-sweet chocolate chips for this recipe but any chocolate will work.
CARAMEL This recipe calls for creamy caramel squares.
DECORATIONS What we really love about sweet treats is that they can be decorated any way you like! Reverse the order of dark to white chocolate. Of course, they’re great with sprinkles for Valentine’s, baby showers and beyond!
Gift Tip
These make great gifts either wrapped individually or in gift tins.
- Individually: Place them in little bags made for pretzel rods. Add a ribbon and a tag.
- As a Gift: Find tins or cardboard treat boxes online or at craft stores or even the dollar store.
How to Make Dipped Pretzel Rods
These super fancy-looking treats are delicious, and are also so easy to make!
- Melt the caramel per the recipe below.
- Pour the caramel mixture into a mug or tall glass and dip each rod, allow to cool on a prepped sheet pan.
- Once the caramel is set, melt chocolate in a microwave-safe container.
- Dip the cooled caramel covered pretzels into the chocolate and return them to the baking sheet to cool.
- Place the white chocolate or milk chocolate (or almond bark) in a small zippered bag and melt in the microwave. Snip off one corner and squeeze the chocolate out over the pretzel rods in a zig-zag pattern. Easy peasy!
To Melt Chocolate on the Stove
The caramel can be melted on low heat in a small saucepan. To melt the chocolate, use the method below.
- Fill a medium-sized saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer.
- Place a bowl over the water but not touching the water and add chocolate to the bowl.
- Stir until smooth and melted.
Important: Do not get any water in the melted chocolate or it can seize up.
Before the drizzled chocolate hardens, sprinkle on your favorite decorations. We like sprinkles, nonpareils, crushed candy canes, multi-colored discs, chopped nuts, edible glitter, even crushed peanut butter cookies or Oreos!
Tips for Perfection
- Ensure you are using parchment paper to avoid sticking, not waxed paper.
- Allow the caramel to cool before dipping in the chocolate.
- Cooled caramel can be gently molded around the pretzel before dipping in chocolate. Simply roll cooled caramel pretzels in your hands.
- Chocolate for this recipe can be chocolate chips, chopped chocolate bars, or even candy melts. The better the chocolate, the better the flavor.
- For a pretty and glossy surface, do not overheat the chocolate.
- Add chopped nuts, sprinkles, or decorations while the chocolate is still warm.
- If you have extra caramel or extra chocolate, pour it onto parchment and let it cool. Remove from the parchment and store in an airtight container or sandwich bag. Store in the cupboard for future treats.
How to Store
- Keep caramel pretzels in an airtight container at room temperature layered between parchment paper for about a week.
- Freeze caramel pretzels by individually wrapping them in parchment paper and storing them in a zippered bag labeled with the date on it. They will keep a couple of months.
More Chocolatey Treats!
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries – only 2 ingredients
- Caramel Chocolate Trifle – with a homemade caramel layer
- Chocolate Cashew Clusters – a no-bake treat
- Gooey Chocolate Pudding Cake – bake in 30 minutes
- Chocolate Caramel Cake – so moist & delicious
Did you make these Chocolate Caramel Pretzels? Be sure to leave a comment & a rating below!
Chocolate Caramel Pretzels
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings 36 pretzels
Course Cookies, Dessert, Party Food
Cuisine AmericanIngredients
- 1 package pretzel rods 10 ounces
- 12 ounces chocolate milk or dark
- 6 ounces chocolate candy melts white or milk
Caramel
- 14 ounces caramel squares unwrapped
- 1 tablespoon light cream
Instructions
- Line a large sheet or pan with parchment paper.
- Combine the caramel squares and light cream in a medium microwave safe bowl.
- Microwave the mixture 2-3 minutes (in 30-second increments, stirring after every 30 seconds) until the mixture is completely melted and smooth.
- Pour the caramel mixture into a tall glass measuring cup or mug. Dip each pretzel rod ⅔ of the way to cover in caramel. Place on parchment paper to cool.
- Once the caramel is set, melt the chocolate in the microwave on 40% power for 45 seconds. Stir and continue microwaving at 20-second intervals until just melted. Stir until smooth.
- Dip the caramel-coated pretzels into the melted chocolate and place on parchment paper to cool. (You may want to pour the chocolate into a tall glass measuring cup or mug.)
- Melt the chocolate melts in a small zippered bag and snip the corner off. Drizzle over chocolate. Add favorite decorations if desired.
- Store in an airtight container. Yield: about 2 ½ dozen.
Recipe Notes
- Ensure you are using parchment paper to avoid sticking, not waxed paper.
- If the caramel starts to thicken or harden you can microwave for 20 seconds or until softened.
- Allow the caramel to cool before dipping in the chocolate.
- Cooled caramel can be gently molded around the pretzel before dipping in chocolate. Simply roll cooled caramel pretzels in your hands.
- Chocolate for this recipe can be chocolate chips, chopped chocolate bars, or even candy melts. The better the chocolate, the better the flavor.
- For a pretty and glossy surface, do not overheat the chocolate.
- Add chopped nuts, sprinkles, or decorations while the chocolate is still warm.
- If you have extra caramel or extra chocolate, pour it onto parchment and let it cool. Remove from the parchment and store in an airtight container or sandwich bag. Store in the cupboard for future treats.
Nutrition Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)
