Loaded Chocolate Pretzel Rods
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!
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.
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.
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
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
Nutrition
Food Gifts
- Bourbon Pecan Persimmon Bread by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Caramel Crunch Popcorn by Making Miracles
- Chocolate Red Wine Cake by That Recipe
- Dal Soup in a Jar by Magical Ingredients
- Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Pecans by Blogghetti
- Hot Chocolate Bombs by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Loaded Pretzel Rods by Art of Natural Living
- Original Chex Mix by Family Around the Table
- Pancake Mix by Books n’ Cooks
- Simple Fudge by Our Good Life
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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!
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 🙂
These are wonderful Inger!!!
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!
Good with chocolate, then add caramel and nuts and… magic!
I would totally love getting these as a gift. Hint hint. Seriously with all that caramel and chocolate with the nuts. Oh yes please!?
I wish I could share Christie. They are gone, but will totally make a comeback annually. Well, probably for other occasions as well!
Years ago, I used to own a chocolate and gift basket store and sold hand dipped chocolate covered potato chips and pretzels…yours would have been a hit.
You probably tempered your chocolate then! One of these days I’m going to try that over and over until I get it!
What’s not to love about these??? My kids would have so much fun making these and delivering to neighbors.
Great idea!
Thats one amazing pretzel! I would love to snack on that
These pretzel sticks have it all: salty, crunchy, sweet, and chocolaty! They look irresistible!!
I’m not sure these would make it to the gift-giving stage. I love sweet and salty and these look amazing.
Love it. Feel like taking one from the picture. They are addictive.
These look amazing! I love chocolate and caramel together.
Mmmmm, sweet and salty treats are definitely perfect treats to get and make!