How to Make Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Rods (Easy & Delicious Recipe!)

Chocolate-covered pretzel is a lovely recipe. I watched a video on TikTok and made it at home. So, it was sweet and salty. And it is a good crowd-pleasing treat. 

So, besides just cooking for yourself, you can also cook it for your guests. For example, when hosting a party, you can also gift it to someone else. 

In this article, I will give you a recipe for chocolate-covered pretzel rods. And teach you how you can make it step by step.

Plus, I will also give you some customization options, which you can try to get more flavors and delicious tastes.

 

Why Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods Are a Hit

One reason that I love chocolate-covered pretzels is their unique taste, which is a combination of salty pretzels and sweet chocolate, which creates an irresistible sweet-salty balance. 

Plus, I really like their crunchy texture with chocolate coating. 

Besides this, I have a cousin who usually doesn’t like pretzels because they’re salty, and maybe now he’s fond of the chocolate-covered pretzel rods recipe. 

However, my cousin also loves pretzels with chocolate coating. Sometimes, I also have some fancy toppings on that to make it better than a casual recipe.

 

Ingredients for Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods

Now, let’s talk about the ingredients that you would need to make chocolate, which are covered pretzel rods. 

Good thing? You don’t need too many ingredients; here are some ingredients that you will need.

Main Ingredients you need:

• 12-15 pretzel rods (you can also use traditional pretzels or mini pretzel sticks if you prefer) that are entirely your choice
• 8 oz of chocolate (dark, milk, or white chocolate (It depends on your preference, but use high-quality chocolate for the best results)
• 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or vegetable shortening (this is good for melting chocolate smoothly and gives it a glossy finish) 

Toppings (Optional):

These toppings are my personal favorite. You can either try them or try something else that you like. But it’s optional to have a topping. The recipe is complete, even without topping. 

1. Sprinkles (rainbow, chocolate, or themed for holidays)
2. Chopped nuts (pecans, almonds, or peanuts work great)
3. Mini marshmallows
4. Crushed candy (M&M’s, Oreos, or peppermint candies)
5. Sea salt flakes (for a sweet-salty contrast)
6. Shredded coconut

So these are six of my favorite toppings options to create a perfect combination for a good test. 

As I said, it’s already a complete recipe, but I recommend you try one of these toppings. I have tried chopped nuts when I chopped almonds and peanuts in small pieces and used that as my topping. It was really lovely. However, I like almonds and peanuts.

 

Step-by-Step Instructions to Make Chocolate covered pretzel 

Step 1: Prepare the Pretzel Rods

Okay, so first, you want to lay out a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. You can also use a silicone mat. And you will use this to cool and harden your chocolate-covered pretzel rods. 

You can also use something else, but that’s what I personally use. 

After that, you want to take some pretzel rods and lay them on the baking sheet. 

However, you don’t want them to be too crowded because they need some space to cool once they are covered in chocolate. So that’s the first thing you want to keep in mind.

Step 2: Melt the Chocolate

Secondly, melt your favorite chocolate using any of these two common methods—double boiler or microwave.

Double Boiler Method:

1. Firstly, fill a small saucepan with some water and make sure the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl that you’ll use to melt the chocolate.
2. Place a heatproof bowl (glass or metal) on top of the saucepan (on which you’re boiling water).
3. Break your chocolate into small pieces and add it to the bowl (which is on top of the saucepan).
4. Stir the chocolate constantly as it melts, and make sure it doesn’t burn. Once it’s smooth, stir in the tablespoon of coconut oil or shortening for a glossy finish.

Tip: Make sure there is enough water in the saucepan to create steam. The amount of water you will need in the saucepan depends on the size of your saucepan. 

I usually fill more than half with water to create steam. But don’t let it touch the bottom of the chocolate bowl.

Microwave Method:

• Firstly, you want to break your chocolate into small pieces and place them in a microwave-safe bowl.
• Then, heat the chocolate in 20-30-second intervals, but make sure you’re stirring it in between until it’s fully melted and smooth. 
• Also, add the coconut oil or shortening and stir to combine.

Tip: Don’t get lazy when using Microwave to melt the chocolate, as it can burn quickly, so it’s best to heat it in short bursts.

Step 3: Dip the Pretzel Rods

Finally, in the third step, when you have melted all of your chocolate pieces, it’s time to dip pretzel rods in them. 

So, you first want to hold the pretzel rods by their end and dip them into the melted chocolate, and then you can cover about two-thirds of the roll. 

However, it totally depends on how much you want to cover the pretzel rods. 

After that, gently press and tap the pretzel rods against the bowl edge and let excess chocolate drip down. 

Step 4: Add Toppings (Optional)

That is the fun part, which we have also discussed above, so it’s optional. But you can try, because I did it, and I liked it.

• Sprinkles: For a colorful and festive touch.
• Chopped nuts: For extra crunch and flavor.
• Mini marshmallows: For a fun, gooey twist.
• Crushed candy: For a sweet crunch (think crushed peppermint or M&M’s).
• Sea salt: For the perfect sweet-salty combo.

Okay, so these were some options. However, you can also be more creative and customize topping based on the season or occasion or just based on your personal preference.

Step 5: Let the Chocolate Set

However, now let’s come to the final part. When your pretzel rods are dipped and decorated, now you want to place them back on the parchment-lined, back in shape, or somewhere else you want. 

Then, let them sit at room temperature until they get hard, which can take around 30 to 60 minutes, based on your room’s temperature. 

In my home, I keep around 40 to 60 minutes in winter. And in summer, the temperature is too high in my room, so I prefer to pop that baking sheet into the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes. It makes pretzel rods cool quickly.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy!

After cooling down chocolate-covered pretzel rods, they will be ready to eat. So you can serve them immediately or store them in an airtight container at room temperature if you want to eat them later. If you perfectly store them, you can use them for even a week.

 

Tips for Perfect Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods

• Use High-Quality Chocolate: the better the chocolate, the better the taste and texture; therefore, choose the best one.
• Add Coconut Oil: A small amount of coconut oil or shortening helps the chocolate melt more smoothly and gives a shiny finish.
• Work Quickly: Chocolate hardens too fast, so make sure your toppings are ready before you start dipping.
• Get Creative: You can mix and match toppings to create unique flavor combinations. For example, you can crush peppermint candies for a holiday twist, or drizzle melted white chocolate over dark chocolate-covered rods.

 

Variations to Try with Pretzel Rods 

Holiday-Themed Pretzel Rods  

If you want to cook during the holiday and you want to have this theme, then use red and green sprinkles and crushed candy canes or festive chocolate for the Christmas or Halloween theme.

Salted Caramel Pretzel Rods

You can drizzle caramel sauce over the chocolate-covered rods and sprinkle with sea salt flakes. It will also taste good.

Nutty Pretzel Rods

You can also roll the chocolate-covered rods in crushed nuts like almonds, peanuts, pistachios, or something else for a crunchy texture. I love almonds and peanuts, so I use them. 

S’mores Pretzel Rods

You can dip the rods in milk chocolate, then roll them in crushed graham crackers and mini marshmallows.

Storage and Shelf Life

You can use chocolate-covered pretzel rods for about a week or more, but you want to make sure to store it properly in an airtight container.

If you just want to eat on the same day or a few hours later after cooking, you can keep them at room temperature.

But if you want to eat chocolate-covered pretzel later, then it is better to keep it in a refrigerator for a longer period of time, like a week or a few days, etc. 

Although, I don’t really like storing food or anything for weeks. I like to cook again if I want to eat, so it’s your choice, too. But I’d recommend that you make fresh pretzels every time you eat and not store them unless you’re a busy person.

 

Perfect Occasions for Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Rods

Holiday Gifts: Wrap chocolate-covered pretzel rods in cellophane and tie them with a festive ribbon for a homemade gift. It’ll look beautiful and taste delicious.

Party Favors: Serve them at a birthday party, baby shower, or bridal shower as a unique treat, and I can say with confidence your guests will love it.

Movie Night Snack: it’ll be a sweet and salty treat for a cozy night with family or friends.

Baking Projects with Kids: It’s a simple recipe, and kids will love helping with the dipping and decorating process, so it’s a great family activity, too. 

 

Conclusion

This was the chocolate-covered pretzel rods recipe, which is a fun, easy, and delicious treat for everyone. 

You can make it when you are hosting guests during holidays like Christmas or Halloween. Or you can make it just for your regular snacks. And surely it’s going to impress you, your guests and family members. 

Besides this, the process of making this recipe is very easy. You can also involve your kids in making chocolate-covered pretzel rods. They will love it. 

However, after making the recipe, and if you try a different variation, make sure to comment below to help other people try what you have made and share your experience.

 

Can I use chocolate chips instead of baking chocolate?

Yes, you can use chocolate chips, but remember that they won’t melt as smoothly. So, you need to add coconut oil or shortening, which can help you with that.

 

How far in advance can i make chocolate covered pretzel rods?

If you are making in advance than you will have to store it, In order to store chocolate-covered pretzel rods, you need an airtight container in which you can keep them safe for up to a week. (you can make one week in advanced)

However, I personally don’t recommend you keep them in a refrigerator or in a container for a week. I prefer cooking them whenever you want to eat. So, eat fresh. That’s what I would suggest. 

But, if you’re packing in an airtight container, you can keep it in the room or in the refrigerator. If it is in the room, make sure the temperature is not too hot. It may melt all the chocolates from pretzel rods.

 

Can I make these ahead of time?

Of course, you can make these pretzels in advance, like several days before any occasion, or if you want to eat regularly but don’t have time to cook every day. 

They are okay for up to a week, but make sure to use an airtight container. Plus, it is a good place where the temperature is not too hot, so it melts all the chocolate in it.

 

What’s the best way to package them for gifts?

Well, I like to wrap each pretzel rod in a cellophane and tie it with ribbon. You can also pack them in a decorative box or a bag, whichever you like. 

For more convenience, I would even go with a decorative box because it’s really easy to decorate a gift box.

However, it’s your personal choice. These three options. I prefer to pack chocolate-covered pretzel rods as a gift.