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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Chocolate Covered Pretzel Tutorial



These are one of the easiest things to make.
Here’s what you need…

Pretzels. Chocolate. Sprinkles. You can also use things like M&M’s or mini chocolate chips to decorate with. That’s about it. I prefer the Snyder’s Olde Tyme Pretzels. Sometimes I do the rod pretzels, but usually it’s the Old Tyme. I usually use Wilton Candy Melts, but am not terribly picky when it comes to the white chocolate/almond bark.

For regular chocolate, I do prefer to either get the Wilton Dark Chocolate Melts or the chocolate from my local baking supply company.
So here we go. First thing I do is set up my work area…

I have my pretzels open and ready, my sprinkles open and ready, a pan to sprinkle over and plenty of wax paper to sit the pretzels on after they take a dip in the glorious chocolate.
Next, you will want to melt your chocolate according to the package directions. Two things to not do – over cook the chocolate or add water. I usually cook mine for one minute in the microwave at 50% POWER, than stir. They usually are barely starting to melt…

Than I return them to the microwave for another 30 seconds at 50% power.

I usually stir it really well, than go for one more spin in the micro.

Now you are ready to make some magic. :)

I wish these photos were a bit better (I’ve got NOTHING on Ree Drummond and her Pioneer Woman photographic magic – let’s just say that). You will want to dip the pretzel into the yummy creamy chocolate….

You will likely get some chocolate on your hands. I consider this a bonus.

I gently tap the pretzel against the side of the bowl, before holding it over my sprinkle area. I always hold my pretzel, but you could also sit it down (probably on wax paper) as I did here. For photo purposes I had to lay the pretzel down, or grow a third arm, and laying the pretzel down just seemed like a quicker option.

If I’m making my pretzels for kids, which is often the case, I tend to go heavy with the sprinkles, because otherwise they all fight over whichever pretzel appeared to hit the sprinkle jackpot. Most adults tend to like a few less sprinkles (and I personally prefer the crystal sugar sprinkles).

When using the sugar sprinkles, you can dip the entire pretzel into a bowl of sprinkles. I find this works best when the chocolate has cooled and thickened a bit. If the chocolate is hot and runny, you will literally have a hot mess. A yummy hot mess you can clean up with a spoon, but it does slow down the process.

Than simply sit them on the wax paper, pretty sprinkle side up, and let them set up. I usually do not put mine in the fridge to set up, unless it’s 7:15am and I’m making pretzels at the VERY last minute for my daughter to take to school. Which sadly happens. Too often.

Look at all the pretty pretzels!

I usually package them up, two per package with cute little toppers, to give out. I will do a post on how I do those next week (though I am hardly original, there are a ton of cute toppers out there).
And there you go! You have darling & delicious chocolate covered pretzels to give away (or eat later that night, I’ve tried both options, and either one works well).

Sugary. Salty. Sweet. Enjoy & Eat!





Enjoy :)