Loaded Chocolate Pretzel Rods

Loaded Chocolate Pretzel Rods are salty, crunchy & sweet–great for holiday giving or keeping! Pecan turtle or peppermint bark flavors.Loaded Chocolate Pretzel Rods are salty, crunchy & sweet--great for holiday giving or keeping! Pecan turtle or peppermint bark flavors.

The first time I had loaded pretzels it was for a fundraiser at work. I couldn’t believe how tasty a salty pretzel rod dunked in chocolate and drizzled with caramel and pecan could be. Like a salty, crunchy turtle candy!

Yes, I used to load up and bring home piles of the unique treats for the whole family. Have to support those fundraisers after all! Alas, that was about three jobs back. And I’ve been missing them ever since!

Loaded Chocolate Pretzel Rods are salty, crunchy & sweet--great for holiday giving or keeping! Pecan turtle or peppermint bark flavors.

A peppermint version

So when my blogging friends decided to do gifts from the pantry (see below for more fun recipes), I knew just what I wanted to do!

How to make loaded chocolate pretzel rods

These special pretzels turned out to be quite easy to make.

I experimented with a few techniques before deciding on the best. Many online recipes suggest filling a glass with melted chocolate, then dipping the pretzels. While I’m sure this works, it would take A LOT of chocolate. 

Just drizzling results

Then I wondered if I could simply set the pretzels on parchment and drizzle with chocolate. This was easy and worked but I felt the topping layer was a little skimpy (see above). 

Finally I ended up holding the pretzel over the chocolate melting bowl and turning it while I spooned chocolate over it. I held it for a few seconds, then set it down on parchment to dry. There was some pooling of chocolate on the parchment but I decided that was a good thing.

Covering, then drizzling results

After coating the pretzels, I put them in the refrigerator (on the parchment) and started on the caramel. You can melt store bought caramels with just a little water (too much and you’ll get syrup), or you can also make a thick version of my homemade caramel dip.  

Loaded Chocolate Pretzel Rods are salty, crunchy & sweet--great for holiday giving or keeping! Pecan turtle or peppermint bark flavors.When that’s done, you drizzle the chocolate covered pretzel rods with the molten caramel and sprinkle with chopped pecans, then back to the fridge.  

The process is similar for the white peppermint version dipping in dark chocolate, drizzling with white chocolate and sprinkling with crushed peppermint.Loaded Chocolate Pretzel Rods are salty, crunchy & sweet--great for holiday giving or keeping! Pecan turtle or peppermint bark flavors.

Of course, in the end, what I really learned is that I should have made these years ago!  I am sure they will look lovely in some festive goody bag for gifting.  That’s if any last long enough to leave the house… Loaded Chocolate Pretzel Rods are salty, crunchy & sweet--great for holiday giving or keeping! Pecan turtle or peppermint bark flavors.

Loaded Chocolate Pretzel Rods

Loaded Chocolate Pretzel Rods are salty, crunchy & sweet--greatfor holiday giving or keeping! Pecan turtle or peppermint bark flavors.
Author: Inger
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Cooling time 10 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Course Desserts & Snacks
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 266 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 6 ounces semisweet or dark chocolate
  • 2 ounces cacao butter or coconut oil 1/4 cup (optional)
  • 12 pretzel rods
  • 2 ounces white chocolate
  • 3-4 caramels or very thick homemade caramel sauce
  • 2-3 Tablespoons chopped pecans
  • 2-3 Tablespoons crushed peppermint

Instructions
 

  • Melt chocolate & cocoa butter or coconut oil in a double boiler or bowl set over simmering water. Stir carefully until just melted. Holding pretzel rod over bowl, spoon melted chocolate over pretzel while rotating until all but about 1-2 inches of the end is covered. Hold coated pretzel over bowl for a minute to firm slightly, then lay on parchment (chocolate will pool some). Repeat with remaining pretzels, then transfer to refrigerator.
  • Melt caramels with a little water, stirring often. This can be done on the stove or in short bursts in the microwave. When caramel is hot and soft enough to drizzle take the chocolate coated pretzels out the refrigerator. Using a spoon drizzle 4 of the pretzels with caramel and sprinkle with chopped pecans.
  • In a small ramekin, melt the white chocolate in the microwave, using short bursts and stirring after each burst. Do not overheat. When white chocolate is warm enough to drizzle, drizzle the remaining 4 chocolate coated pretzels with white chocolate. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint.
  • Set back in the refrigerator to firm up.

Notes

Note: If there are leftovers, you can spoon caramel and chocolate over nuts for nut clusters or pecan turtles
Using the cacao butter or coconut oil will make the chocolate easier to work with but can be left out if you don't have it.

Nutrition

Calories: 266kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 3gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 161mgFiber: 3gSugar: 17g
I am not a health professional and nutrition data is calculated programatically. Accuracy may vary with product selection, calculator accuracy, etc. Consult a professional for the best information.
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17 thoughts on “Loaded Chocolate Pretzel Rods

  1. Kate

    I made these today for our family Christmas get together! The only thing I changed was after the I’d finished the first round of chocolate, caramel and pecans, I let them sit for about an hour and dipped them in chocolate again and added more pecans. You can no longer see the caramel, but they aren’t sticky any longer. They are sooo delicious!
    Thank you for this yummy and perfect recipe!

    1. Inger Post author

      So glad you enjoyed them! I do like looking at the caramel but I might let them sit then add more chocolate just to have more 🙂

  2. David Scott Allen

    What a fun and festive holiday treat! The first time I heard of pretzels combined with chocolate, I thought it was the craziest thing in the world. Then I tried it… It was love at first bite!

  3. Christie

    I would totally love getting these as a gift. Hint hint. Seriously with all that caramel and chocolate with the nuts. Oh yes please!?

    1. Inger Post author

      I wish I could share Christie. They are gone, but will totally make a comeback annually. Well, probably for other occasions as well!

    1. Inger Post author

      You probably tempered your chocolate then! One of these days I’m going to try that over and over until I get it!

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