Festive Decorated Pretzel Rods

Directions

1. Line a few baking sheets with wax paper and set aside.

2. Gently melt the milk chocolate in a heat-proof bowl set over simmering water in a double boiler setup or melt the chocolate in the microwave.

3. Unless you are dipping your pretzels in the white chocolate, wait until decorating time to melt it. When you do melt the white chocolate, keep it over a pan of warm water; white chocolate firms up quickly as it cools.

4. If you are using the white chocolate as a decorative drizzle, wait until later before melting, unless you are dipping in it. Try to keep the white chocolate sitting over a pan of warm water to keep it soft.

5. Dip each pretzel rod about 2/3 of the way up in chocolate and let the excess drip off.

6. Lay a few bare pretzel rods in a line on the prepared baking sheets to use as a rest for the dipped pretzels. Dip a few pretzels and lay them against the rods with a bit of space between each. Allow to set just a little. Decorate a few at a time with sprinkles, crushed nuts, or whichever topping you prefer. Then continue making pretzels a few at a time.

7. To create a decorative drizzle, dip a fork into the white or semi-sweet chocolate and drizzle over the pretzels by swishing the fork back and forth a couple of inches over the rods.

8. Place your decorative candies on a paper plate and sprinkle each pretzel rod with desired topping while the chocolate is not fully set. Rest them across the pretzels on the wax paper to set completely.

9. These look great displayed or gifted in a holiday glass or mug.

From Shawnie's class “Holiday Cookie Camp” (also taught in Holly Jolly Cookie Party)