These Christmas Pretzel rods with chocolate and caramel are a delicious and festive addition to any holiday dessert table. They bring together the perfect balance of flavors, combining the salty crunch of pretzels with the rich sweetness of chocolate and caramel. Not only are they a delight to eat, but they’re also visually appealing, especially when topped with holiday colors.
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They’re incredibly easy to make with just a few simple ingredients, making them a perfect activity for some fun family time. Plus, they’re ideal for gifting—simply package them in cellophane bags and tie with a festive ribbon for a thoughtful and charming homemade holiday treat.
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Ingredients
Gather the following ingredients before starting on the holiday pretzels:
- Almond bark - Almond bark is a confectionery coating made primarily from vegetable fats, sugar, and flavoring (like vanilla or chocolate). It's often sold in blocks or chips, typically in white or chocolate flavors.
- Pretzel rods - I used Snyder's Gluten-Free 5-inch pretzel rods, but feel free to use any brand you prefer
- Caramels - use soft caramels such as Werther's or a similar brand. Alternatively, make your own caramels using my recipe.
- Food coloring - I used red and green powdered food coloring to tint almond bark for drizzling over the pretzels. Alternatively, you can use pre-colored candy wafers for convenience.
- Sprinkles - use holiday colors and shapes to sprinkle over pretzels
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Caramel layer
1 - Melt caramels: Unwrap caramel squares and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Add 1-2 tablespoons of water to help the caramels melt smoothly. Microwave 50% power for 20-second intervals. Stir well after each interval to make sure the caramels melt evenly. Repeat until the caramels are completely melted and smooth.
2 - Dip two-thirds of each pretzel rod into the melted caramel. Gently shake off excess caramel.
3 - Place dipped pretzels on a sheet pan or platter. Set aside until caramel sets and is just tacky to the touch (approximately 30 minutes).
Almond bark layer
1 - Melt almond bark: To melt almond bark, follow the manufacturer's instructions. Typically, you'll place the almond bark in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave at 50% power for 20-second intervals, stirring well each time until it's completely melted. Once melted, pour the almond bark into a narrow drinking glass.
2 - Dip two-thirds of each pretzel rod into the melted almond bark. Gently shake off excess.
3 - Place dipped pretzels on a sheet pan or platter. Set aside until almond bark is set (approximately 15 minutes).
Decorate
1 - Color almond bark
- Use powdered food coloring. Water-based food coloring will cause the almond bark to seize up and you won't be able to pipe it.
- Color ⅓ cup of melted almond bark red and ⅓ cup of melted almond bark green.
- Transfer colored almond bark to piping bags.
- Note: alternatively, you can use red and green candy wafers or royal icing instead of almond bark. Some people find these options easier to use than adding color to almond bark.
2 - Cut a tiny hole in each piping bag. Drizzle red and green over each pretzel. Add sprinkles or other decorations while the drizzle is still wet.
3 - Set pretzels aside for 20 minutes or until dry. Transfer to a serving platter and enjoy!
Equipment
Gather the following equipment before starting these Christmas pretzel rods:
- Microwave-safe bowls
- Rubber spatula
- Pastry bags
- Sheet pans
- Parchment paper (or silicone mat or wax paper)
- Narrow drinking glasses - for dipping pretzels in caramel and almond bark
More decorating ideas
There are countless creative ways to decorate these Christmas pretzel rods! Here are some fun ideas to make them festive and eye-catching:
- Crushed candy canes - add a peppermint crunch by sprinkling crushed candy canes on the almond bark while it’s still wet.
- M&Ms - press red and green mini M&Ms onto the almond bark for a bright and playful
- Chopped nuts - sprinkle with finely chopped pecans, almonds, or pistachios for a savory-sweet combination
Storage
Place the fully set Christmas pretzels with caramel in an airtight container - if stacking the pretzels, use parchment or wax paper between layers to prevent them from sticking together. Store in a cool, dry place away from heat sources. If your room is warm, place the container of pretzels in your refrigerator.
This treat does not stand up well to freezing.
Top Tip
Be cautious when melting almond bark and caramel, as they can both scorch easily if overheated or heated too quickly.
To ensure the best results, follow the manufacturer's instructions on the packaging closely. Using low and steady heat, whether in a microwave or on the stovetop, will help prevent burning and keep the texture smooth and ideal for dipping.
FAQ
Despite the name, it typically doesn’t contain almonds unless added during preparation. It became popular for making "bark" candies, where nuts like almonds are mixed into or topped with the coating, giving rise to the term "almond bark." It is typically made of sugar, vegetable fats, and flavorings, often used as a substitute for real chocolate in recipes.
More caramel recipes
Check out the following recipes sure to please any caramel-lover:
I hope you enjoy these Christmas pretzel rods as much as my family and friends do!
📋 Recipe
Christmas Pretzel Rods with Caramel
Equipment
- 2 Microwave-safe bowls
- 1 Rubber spatula
- 2 Pastry bags or tablespoon
- 2 sheet pan or platter
- 2 Parchment paper or silicone mat or wax paper
- 2 Narrow drinking glasses for dipping pretzels in caramel and almond bark
Ingredients
- 1 pound Almond bark use white bark
- 10 ounces Soft caramels Such as Werther's
- 1 Tablespoon Water to help melt caramels
- 1 teaspoon Coconut oil or vegetable oil (optional)
- 24 medium Pretzel rods approximately 5" long
- Red and green powdered food coloring or use colored candy melts or royal icing for drizzling pretzels
Instructions
Caramel dip
- Unwrap the caramel squares and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Add 1-2 tablespoons of water to help the caramels melt smoothly. Microwave 50% power for 20-second intervals. Stir well after each interval to make sure the caramels melt evenly. Repeat until the caramels are completely melted and smooth.
- Dip two-thirds of each pretzel rod into the melted caramel. Gently shake off excess caramel.
- Place dipped pretzels on a sheet pan or platter. Set aside until caramel sets and is just tacky to the touch (approximately 30 minutes).
Almond bark dip
- To melt almond bark, follow the manufacturer's instructions. Typically, you'll place the almond bark in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave at 50% power for 20-second intervals, stirring well each time until it's completely melted. Once melted, pour the almond bark into a narrow drinking glass.
- Dip two-thirds of each pretzel rod into the melted almond bark. Gently shake off excess.
- Place dipped pretzels on a sheet pan or platter. Set aside until almond bark is set (approximately 15 minutes).
Decorating
- For this step use red and green powdered food coloring. Do not use water-based food coloring - it will cause the almond bark to seize up and you won't be able to pipe it.
- Note: alternatively you may also use colored candy wafers or royal icing to drizzle the pretzels.
- Color ⅓ cup of melted almond bark red and ⅓ cup of almond bark green. Transfer colored almond bark to piping bags.
- Cut a tiny hole in each piping bag. Drizzle red and green over each pretzel. Add sprinkles or other decorations while the drizzle is still wet.
- Set pretzels aside for 20 minutes or until dry. Transfer to a serving platter and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Storage: Place fully set pretzels in an airtight container - if stacking the pretzels, use parchment or wax paper between layers to prevent them from sticking together. Store in a cool, dry place away from heat sources. If your room is warm, place the container of pretzels in your refrigerator.
- Be cautious when melting almond bark and caramel, as they can both scorch easily if overheated or heated too quickly. To ensure the best results, follow the manufacturer's instructions on the packaging closely. Using low and steady heat, whether in a microwave or on the stovetop, will help prevent burning and keep the texture smooth and ideal for dipping.
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