Description
These Christmas Caramel Pretzel Bites are a delightful holiday treat combining salty pretzels with soft caramel and festive red, green, and white candy melts. Perfect for parties or gift-giving, they are easy to make and decorated with colorful sprinkles for a cheerful look.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 48 mini pretzel twists
- 12 soft caramels, unwrapped and cut in half
Candy Coating
- 1 cup red Candy Melts
- 1 cup green Candy Melts
- 1 cup white Candy Melts
- 1–2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
Toppings
- Holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking sheet: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
- Arrange pretzels and add caramel: Place half of the mini pretzel twists in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Lay a half caramel on the center of each pretzel, ensuring even spacing.
- Bake caramel on pretzels: Bake in the preheated oven for 5 minutes or until the caramels have softened completely, making them ready to stick.
- Top with remaining pretzels: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and immediately press a pretzel twist on top of each melted caramel piece to sandwich the caramel between two pretzels. Leave them on the baking sheet to cool fully.
- Melt red candy coating: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the red Candy Melts with 1 teaspoon of vegetable shortening. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring well after each, until smooth. Add more shortening by the teaspoon if needed to reach a smooth consistency ideal for drizzling.
- Drizzle red coating: Transfer the melted red candy to a piping bag or a plastic baggie with a small corner cut off. Drizzle the red coating over each pretzel bite until well covered.
- Melt and drizzle green candy coating: Repeat the melting process with the green Candy Melts and vegetable shortening. Drizzle the green coating over the pretzel bites after the red has set slightly.
- Melt and drizzle white candy coating: Similarly, melt the white Candy Melts with shortening and drizzle over the pretzels. While the white candy coating is still wet, immediately sprinkle holiday sprinkles on top for decoration.
- Set and store: Allow the candy coatings to fully harden and set at room temperature before packaging or serving. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Notes
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- For longer storage, keep in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
- Use vegetable shortening to help Candy Melts melt smoothly and maintain a good consistency for drizzling.
- If you prefer, swap holiday sprinkles with nonpareils or colored sugar to match different themes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 pretzel bites
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
