Arguably one of the most addictive chocolate confections ever created! Large, crunchy, salted pretzels dipped in an assortment of chocolate and coated in rainbow sprinkles and a contrasting chocolate drizzle. This recipe is the ultimate test in willpower not to eat them all at once!
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Despite the best of intentions, chocolate-covered pretzels do not last more than a couple of hours in anyone's home, probably because they are comprised of two of the most addictive things: salty snacks and chocolate.
Seriously, you will surprise (disappoint?) yourself with how quickly your willpower devolves around these pretzels. And who could blame you with them being crunchy, salty, chocolaty, and topped with your favorite nuts or candy? Just think about the last time you purchased a bag from a convenient store or Trader Joe's, even just the plain ones. They didn't even make it to the third traffic light on your way home, did they?
And if you thought that was rock bottom, wait until you catch your family on the phone with the producers from A&E scheduling your Intervention episode after they found you delirious in bed with chocolate smeared on your face and sprinkles crushed between the sheets.
Why Chocolate Lovers Make This Recipe
- A chocolate classic -- this timeless pairing of sweet and salty makes chocolate-covered pretzels one of the most popular confections.
- Great gifts -- package a few of these pretzels for a personal and luxurious homemade gift perfect for practically any occasion!
- Ready in minutes -- a bulk supply of delicious chocolate pretzels, made exactly as you like, in less than half an hour...need I say more?!
- Minimal ingredients -- these are a healthier alternative to the ultra-processed, commercial versions that often use cheaper chocolate made with vegetable or seed oils.
Ingredients and Variations
As their name implies, chocolate pretzels in their simplest form contain just two ingredients:
Premium chocolate -- whenever I have recipes that involve enrobing in chocolate, I always recommend using premium chocolate for the smoothest finish. Coverture chocolate, in particular, contains a higher amount of cocoa butter that creates a glossier, creamier final product. However, since coverture chocolate can be more expensive, you can easily substitute with your favorite chocolate bar-- just be sure the ingredients list "cocoa butter" specifically. You can also use chocolate chips or melting wafers, but know that this will alter the final texture and taste, as well as necessitate the pretzels to be stored in the refrigerator to prevent the chocolate from melting.
Pretzels -- use whichever size or style of pretzel you like for this recipe. Professional chocolate shops usually sell larger pretzels like the ones featured here, but you can use smaller ones to create homemade Flipz, for instance, or use peanut butter filled pretzels for an extra special treat.
Toppings -- chocolate pretzels are positively delicious on their own, but can be topped with a contrasting chocolate drizzle, sprinkles, M&Ms, coconut shavings, chocolate chips, or toffee bits...there really isn't a limit to the amount of ways you can customize these!
Tips for Success
- For best results, I recommend using tempered chocolate whenever possible, and have included my complete tempering guide to help you create flawless confections every time.
- Chocolate pretzels come either half-dipped or fully enrobed in chocolate. Keep in mind that if you want to fully coat each pretzel in chocolate, you will need dipping forks for their small surface area and added benefit of creating patterns and designs, if desired. I use these dipping forks for every enrobing application on this site and have been incredibly pleased with their quality. However, if you are only half-dipping the pretzels, you can simply use your hands (and lick off any chocolate you get on them in the process, oh darn...). 😉
- Apply hard toppings like sprinkles and candy as soon as pretzels have been dipped. If using chocolate drizzle, you can either drizzle before the chocolate sets to create a marbled effect, or wait until the chocolate sets and then drizzle to create more defined lines and layers.
Storage Instructions
If using tempered chocolate, you can store the pretzels in a cool, dry place in either an airtight container or resealable bag for up to 3 days.
However, if you opt to use melted chocolate instead, keep the pretzels refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Chocolate-Covered Pretzels
Equipment
- 1 microwave-safe bowl
- 1 rubber spatula
- 1 food thermometer
- 1 baking sheet
- 1 sheet parchment paper
Ingredients
- 12 large salted pretzels
- 600 grams premium chocolate or chocolate chips
- 150 grams seed chocolate only if using premium chocolate
- various toppings, if desired
Instructions
- In a microwave-safe bowl, fully melt or temper the chocolate. If tempering, once the chocolate is melted, add the 150g of seed chocolate and gently stir until a food thermometer reaches 80F. Gently warm the chocolate in the microwave in 5-10 second intervals until the temperature reads 84-86℉ for white and milk chocolate and 86-88℉ for dark chocolate. (See "Tips for Success" for a complete tempering guide).
- Use your hand to dip the pretzels halfway into the chocolate, or use a dipping tool to fully immerse the pretzels. In either case, tap the pretzel against the surface of the chocolate a few times to avoid chocolate drippings, then lightly scrape the underside of the pretzel against the side of the bowl to remove any excess.
- Sprinkle toppings over the pretzels to coat while the chocolate is still wet, then place on a prepared baking sheet. Repeat until all of the pretzels have been enrobed. Chill in the fridge until fully set.
