Chocolate Covered Pretzels | Dipped Pretzels for Every Occasion

Chocolate Covered Pretzels are an irresistibly fun and tasty dessert for any occasion. This easy recipe is perfect for parties, holidays, and any time you need to whip up a festive treat in a hurry!

Ah, chocolate covered pretzels. Who among us can resist this sweet and salty treat?

In a sea of cookies and confections, I’m always happy when I spot the chocolate dipped pretzels.

There’s something intensely gratifying about the smooth, rich coating giving way to the crack of the pretzel, the sharp salt meeting sweet, creamy chocolate.

Chocolate covered pretzels might be simple, but boring? NEVER.

There’s a whole lot to love about this snack/dessert. Dipped pretzels make a lovely addition to cookie trays, they keep well, and they’re fun and easy to make, even for kids.

They’ve been a staple at our Christmas gatherings for years, but why should we limit their deliciousness to one month out of the year?

With a few fun sprinkles, chocolate covered pretzels can be dressed up for any occasion or holiday–from Fourth of July to Valentine’s Day, baby showers to Super Bowl parties.

Today, I’m going to walk you through the process for making both classic dipped twist pretzels and dipped pretzel rods. I’m personally a fan of the rods–they’re spectacularly easy to make and have such a satisfying crunch–but this post will give you all you need to make either treat!

Tools and Supplies for Chocolate Pretzels:

• A parchment paper lined baking sheet is your best friend. No mess, no sticking.
• Bowls for pretzel twists or tall jars for pretzel rods
• 2 forks, chopsticks, or skewers
• Pretzels
• Your choice of chocolate bars- I like to use two different kinds
• Sprinkles  (<<<Amazon has a huge variety, and you can even filter by holiday!), toasted coconut, or chopped nuts
• A plastic bag or piping bag for drizzling chocolate decorations

Tips for Making the Best Chocolate Covered Pretzels:

• You can use any kind of chocolate for this recipe (milk, semi sweet, dark, or white), but use baking bars or candy melts and not chocolate chips. This is especially important for white chocolate.
• If your melted chocolate seems too thick for dipping or excess chocolate isn’t easily tapped off the pretzel, add a Tablespoon or two of shortening. It thins it out and gives the chocolate a nice sheen.
• Melt chocolate in the microwave in 30 second intervals, or use a double boiler (a bowl nestled on top of a pan of boiling water) to melt the chocolate.
• Before you dip pretzels in chocolate, gather all of your supplies together, because once dipping starts, things tend to get messy!
• If the chocolate gets stiff while you’re dipping, return it to the microwave for 10-20 seconds, or until smooth and creamy again.

How to Make Classic Chocolate Covered Pretzels

• For twist pretzels, I prefer to melt the chocolate in a small bowl and use the handle side of a fork and/or skewer or chopstick for dipping.
• Place a pretzel in the melted chocolate, flipping it over to coat both sides.
• Tap the fork on the side of the bowl to encourage any excess chocolate to drip off.
• If there is chocolate in the holes, use another skewer or toothpick to poke through the hole.
• Slip the pretzel off of the fork (or chopstick) and onto a parchment lined baking sheet.

How to Make Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods

• Melt the chocolate in a narrow, tall, heat proof glass in the microwave in 30 second intervals. Old jam jars work well for this.
• Dip the end of the rod into the chocolate and spin, then gently scrape it off the side to get rid of excess chocolate.
• Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and sprinkle or allow to dry before adding any additional chocolate.
• If you’d like to make smaller rods, simply break them in half and dip the broken end in the chocolate.

How to Decorate Chocolate Dipped Pretzels

Decorating is the most fun part! Festive toppings like sprinkles, toasted coconut, chopped nuts, mini marshmallows, or mini M&Ms should be sprinkled on the pretzels while the chocolate is still wet, ensuring they stick.

If you’d like to decorate with additional chocolate, allow the first layer to dry before adding another.

Tip: Need a quick piping bag for drizzling chocolate? Fill a small plastic baggie with melted chocolate then use scissors to make a small snip in one corner.

Do chocolate covered pretzels need to be refrigerated?

No, in fact, chocolate covered pretzels are best stored at room temperature. Dipped pretzel rods can be placed in the fridge for 10 minutes to help them set up, but otherwise they should be stored at room temperature to avoid condensation.

How long do chocolate dipped pretzels last?

If the pretzels are stored in an airtight container, they will stay fresh and crunchy for up to two weeks, making them perfect for holiday gift-giving.

I hope you’ll gather up the kids, turn on some fun music, and have a ball making fun and festive chocolate pretzels for your next party!

Craving more sweet and salty treats? Try this White Chocolate Covered Popcorn, Chocolate Dipped Ritz Cookies, or Chunky Monkey Trail Mix.