Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels

The combination of salt and chocolate has always been one of the best! In this quick and easy treat recipe, salted pretzels are dipped in melted chocolate and topped with crushed peppermint candy canes. They’re super easy to make and can be packaged up for gifts as well.

I’m back with another chocolate and peppermint combination, but this time, I’m adding in some salt as well, which will not only balance out the sweetness but will add a whole new flavour dimension to these Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels. Not only do these make a quick and easy treat or snack, but they’re also great for giving as a gift. Layer them into a cookie box and tie it up with a bright red ribbon and you’re all set!

In our home, Christmas cannot come and pass us by without a good dose of treats flavoured with peppermint. Those treats are even more welcomed and enjoyed if they have melted chocolate of any type! Seriously, we can’t get enough of it! I’m not a huge lover of sweets, but every Christmas I have to get my peppermint fix and that usually comes in the form of simple treats just like this one. So, let’s get to it!

NO-BAKE RECIPES

I used to think that the term no-bake meant that a recipe was more of an assembly-type recipe. Something like a salad, for example. It sounds simple enough, right? Toss the lettuce and any other veggies you want into a bowl. Top it with cheese, croutons, avocado, hard-boiled egg, etc. Add some dressing and you’re all done! But, no-bake actually just means no baking. There still might be some stove-top cooking needed – or even a microwave, for that matter.

To prepare these Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels, you will need to use your microwave. So, even though they’re no-bake and kid-friendly, you will still need some way to melt the caramels and milk together. You could use a stovetop too. I’d still consider this recipe to be no-bake!

Some other no-bake-type holiday recipes you might enjoy are these Rudolph’s Red Nose Cookies. Hairy Moose Droppings are delicious and always quite the conversation starter! Just like these Caramel Peanut Slices were a favourite of my mom’s so were these Marshmallow Coconut Balls and so were these Christmas Crunch Cookies. You can find many more no-bake cookie recipes here at Lord Byron’s Kitchen by using the search field at the top of this page.

LORD BYRON’S 12 SNACKS & TREATS OF CHRISTMAS

Another holiday series, Lord Byron? Yes – why not!? Welcome, Dear Reader, to my last Christmas series this holiday season! I’m calling this series Lord Byron’s 12 Snacks & Treats of Christmas. Unlike the 24 Cookies of Christmas series that ended a few days ago, this series will focus on easy-to-make snacks and treats that are both delicious and festive.

I will try to keep the recipes in this series quick and easy too. Most of them will require the help of a microwave rather than an oven. And, a bunch of them will involve more assembly-type tasks rather than preheating, beating, whipping, etc.

Just like every other series that I’ve shared here, this series will also see a new snack or treat recipe shared with you, Dear Reader, each and every single day for the next 12 days – even on Saturday and Sunday! You might be asking yourself, how many Christmas recipes could one possibly have or need? Well, I say you can never have too much of a good thing. And, I love having lots of choices. Who wants to prepare the same holiday snacks and treats year after year?

SUBSCRIBE NOW SO THAT YOU NEVER MISS OUT ON NEW RECIPES!

So, welcome, Dear Reader, to Lord Byron’s 12 Snacks & Treats of Christmas! Fresh off of my 12 Edible Wreaths of Christmas, my 12 Bars and Squares of Christmas series, and Volume 5 of my annual 24 Cookies of Christmas series, I’m ready to plow through the next 12 days with you once again.

You really don’t want to miss one of these recipes, so if you have not yet subscribed to Lord Byron’s Kitchen, I encourage you to do so. That way, a new recipe will be emailed to you every day. You won’t have to bother to come looking for it! Like in previous holiday recipe countdowns, I like to mix up the recipes in the series so that there is something for everyone. Are you ready!!??

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO PREPARE THIS RECIPE

The following is a list of the ingredients needed to prepare this recipe. For exact amounts and measurements, refer to the printable recipe card located near the bottom of this post.

• Pretzels – You can use any pretzel you wish for this recipe. If you’re thinking about packing them up into bags as gifts, I would probably use the mini pretzels. In this case, I used the larger pretzels. I found that the smaller pretzels were too hidden in the chocolate and crushed candy canes. But, that’s just a personal preference, so use whatever pretzel you like – this recipe works very well with pretzel rods!
• Chocolate Chips – I used milk chocolate chips even though they are sweeter than semi-sweet chocolate chips. You can use either. When it comes to peppermint, I do think it pairs much better with milk chocolate. I also used a bit of white chocolate for drizzling, but that is optional.
• Crushed Candy Canes

CHOCOLATE AND PEPPERMINT

If you love the combination of chocolate and peppermint, there are several recipes here at Lord Byron’s Kitchen that you should take advantage of! You will have to try my Peppermint Chocolate Biscotti. I shared this one with my readers last year as a part of my 12 Biscotti of Christmas series. It was quite the hit!

How about this no-bake Peppermint Chunk Fudge? Unlike those fudge recipes that are basically big chunks of melted chocolate that have re-hardened, this fudge is cake-like; almost like a brownie! They are so delicious and addicting too! I also have these baked Chocolate Peppermint Donuts. Again, they are baked, not fried, so even though they are super chocolatey and covered in icing, they are still healthier than any donut you can buy at a bakery!

Not into cookies, fudge, or donuts? What about ice cream? Remember I mentioned the candy cane ice cream that John.e buys every Christmas? Well, you can make your own No Churn Peppermint Cookie Ice Cream at home. You won’t need a fancy, expensive ice cream maker to do it! I added crushed peppermint Oreos to the ice cream to make it even more indulgent! Anyway, I digress.

MAKING YOUR OWN CRUSHED CANDY CANES

If you don’t want to use the red and white crushed candy canes that you can find just about anywhere this time of year, you can crush your own candy canes by placing unwrapped, broken candy canes into a sturdy bag and firmly rolling over them with a wooden rolling pin.

Either way, the candy canes should not be crushed too finely. Many times, you’ll find they have too much powder, meaning that they have been crushed too much. You want chunky pieces in order to get the red and white speckled pattern.

I’ve tried crushing them myself and have crushed them a little too much. Even the type you buy in the store can sometimes have too much candy cane dust. You can easily fix it by filtering out the dust. Working in small amounts, place a heaping spoonful of the crushed candy canes into a colander. Sift out the dust so that you are left with nice little pieces.

HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT PRETZELS

Before you start, place a baking sheet in your freezer to chill. A cold baking sheet will prevent the melted chocolate from spreading out too much.

Place the chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium power in 30-second intervals, stirring well with a rubber spatula between each interval until the chocolate is creamy and smooth. Once melted and smooth, it’s time to dip the pretzels.

Fetch the baking sheet from the freezer and line it with a sheet of parchment paper. Working with one pretzel at a time, dip it halfway down into the melted chocolate. Very gently shake off the excess and place the pretzel onto the parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the chocolate-dipped portion of the pretzel with crushed candy canes. Repeat until all of the pretzels have been dipped in melted chocolate and sprinkled with crushed candy canes.

Next, I melted a quarter cup of white chocolate chips to drizzle over the pretzels. This is completely optional, but I do think it makes for a pretty pretzel treat! Either way, once you’re done, set aside for 3-4 hours to allow the chocolate to fully set. Once firm, your Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels can be packaged for gift-giving or transferred to a food-safe container. Keep refrigerated.

STORING, PACKAGING, & FREEZING

When it comes to most snacks and treats, they taste best at room temperature, but they don’t hold up well to being left out on your countertop for long periods of time. They will stay fresh in a cookie jar or food-safe container with a lid for 3-5 days if left to sit on your kitchen countertop. You can store them in a food-safe container in your fridge. When you want one, two, or half a dozen, take them out of the container and place them in a single layer on a plate. Let them sit at room temperature for 5 minutes and they’re ready!

If you plan to freeze your Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels, you certainly can! Once the chocolate has hardened, pack them into food-safe containers. The container must be freezer friendly! You’ll want to ensure a very tight-fitting lid too. I use these quite often when freezing baked goods. I like to place a sheet of plastic wrap over the top of the container before pushing the lid on. This helps to create a better seal. The goal is to keep all of that freshness locked in!  

Please be advised that in almost all cases, thawed candy canes will bleed their colour and become sticky, so please keep that in mind. If you plan to give previously frozen pops as a gift, I would lay them out on a wire cooling rack to thaw completely. If packaging, wait until the condensation has evaporated. Once thawed, pile into cellophane bags and tie with a ribbon, or stack in a cookie tin/box.

With all of that said, you really don’t need to freeze snacks and treats, because for the most part, they are ready in very little time and you should easily be able to prepare them the day you plan to eat them or serve them to guests.

QUESTIONS?

If I have not answered all of your questions in the text above, don’t hesitate to reach out to me! You can contact me by sending me a message in the comments section further down the page. I will try my best to answer as soon as possible! You might reach me even faster by following me on Facebook and sending me a private message. Scroll down to follow me and never miss another recipe!