Hey y’all! Welcome to the baking part of Handmade Holidays! Don’t forget to go visit Kelly for all the awesome Non-Sewing Craft Ideas and the spectacular Cindy for some simply amazing Sewing Gift Ideas!
Today’s featured Baker is Cheryl, from TidyMom:
Dipped Caramel Pretzel Rods -
by TidyMomOne of my family’s favorite treats to decorate, eat and even give away at the holidays, is chocolate dipped pretzel rods. They’re easy to make, and the combination of sweet chocolate and salty, crunchy pretzels is fantastic.
They can actually be made for any holiday or occasion, just decorate according to your theme! Best of all, they are loved by kids and adults alike!
This past year I tried something different with our Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods….I added caramel between the chocolate and the pretzel!! They went over REAL well- the caramel ones were gone before the plain chocolate pretzels!
They make great gifts too!! Place one (or a few) rods in a cellophane bag and tie with a holiday ribbon, or use an oatmeal box, decorated with wrapping papper, place the dipped pretzel rods inside and top with a pretty bow!
Chocolate & Caramel Covered Pretzel Rods
print recipe here
1-2 bags of Pretzel Rods
1 package Caramel wraps (by the apples)
1 bag Wilton Light Cocoa Candy Melts
Sprinkles
1. Take one of the caramel wraps and cut it into strips
2. wrap strips around pretzel rods (I pulled caramel and I twisted and wrapped, so usually one strip of caramel was all that was needed for each pretzel rod.
3. Place a handful of candy melts on 2 pieces of wax paper on a plate. Microwave for about 30 seconds, the stir with a spoon, microwave for another 15 seconds and stir again, repeat until melts are all soft and blend together when you stir.
4. Dip pretzel rods in chocolate. By having your chocolate on the wax paper, you are able to lift the wax paper and get the pretzel covered real good! – Use your spoon often to scrape all of the chocolate back to the center. When you run out of melted chocolate, melt some more!
I used one bag of chocolate melts for 2 bags of pretzel rods.
*add sprinkles right after you roll in chocolate and place on wax paper to set. (I sprinkled Jimmies on the caramel pretzel rods, and colored sugar on the chocolate only rods- so it was easy to tell which ones had caramel!) Last year I drizzled some with white chocolate as well.
Store in an air tight container. These keep really well, so you can make these a week or so ahead for holiday gift giving!
Variations:
- You could roll the caramel rods in toasted pecans or peanuts (you may have grab a handful of nuts and smash them into the caramel with your hands) then dip in chocolate.
- Try Dark Chocolate and roll in crushed candy canes.
- Use White Chocolate and sprinkles
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Meet Cheryl!
TidyMom
About Rachel
Merry Christmas in July! One of my Kindergarten students made and gave me these one Christmas. She was so proud! Can’t wait to try them with my own kids!
Accidentally put my old web address and name, oops! Now I’m Heidi’s Recipes at http://www.heidisrecipes.com.
Hi, love your blog, wanted to know if you would be interested in doing a giveaway for sewing eboks
Cheryl, I LOVE caramel and can’t wait to try these, Three great flavors all in one! YUM!!!
Diane {createdbydiane.blogspot.com}´s most recent blog ..Lots of Lemons
This looks so simple and delicious. Am going to have to try this out!
I can personally attest that these are AMAZING when you roll them in toffee chips instead of sprinkles. :>)
Lenetta´s most recent blog ..Link Roundup – Feet in the Pool Edition
That is SO smart! I never would have thought to use those caramel apple sheets. Cheryl….you’ve done it again! I’m SO making these…and I’m not waiting until the holidays, either!
bridget {bake at 350}´s most recent blog ..Cookies for TidyMom- DIY Custom Sanding Sugar and How to Market Your Business without Really Trying
Cheryl, someone at my office made these and brought them in several months ago. I was blown away and decided he (yep, it was a guy!) must be a cooking/baking genius to master something SO delicious and clever! And now, thanks to your recipe, I can be a genius, too? Well, it’s almost as delicious as the pretzels themselves!
Seriously. Thank you for sharing. I can’t wait to try these!!!
Mary @ Giving Up on Perfect´s most recent blog ..Weekend Links- 72410
Yup, definitely going to make these and by the looks of everything that is showing up on this holiday blog, I have a feeling that the majority of my gifts to friends and family this year will be all home-made
Thanks Cheryl and thanks Rachel!
Paula´s most recent blog ..Hostess Cake
Those look great! I have never added the caramel! What a great idea!
Thanks for sharing Miss Cheryl and Miss Rachel!
~Liz
Liz@HoosierHomemade´s most recent blog ..Graham Streusel Muffins
Oh my – they look heavenly! I love the combination of flavors!!!
http://www.makingmemorieswithyourkids.blogspot.com
Erin @ Making Memories´s most recent blog ..Bubble Art and Lots of Smiles
Seriously, posting this now was perfect – now I can plan on including it in our pre-Christmas weekend baking sessions – thanks so much!
Those look so good! What a great idea for a neighbor gift. I love it!
XOXO
Jen
These are so yummy! My daughters preschool makes these for the dads at every holiday gathering! Thanks for sharing a yummy treat!
Kelli
xoxo
Kelli´s most recent blog ..Simple Pleasures