Description
Christmas Caramel Pretzel Bites are a festive and delicious treat featuring mini pretzels topped with soft caramel pieces and drizzled with colorful red, green, and white candy melts. Perfect for holiday gatherings, these bite-sized snacks combine sweet and salty flavors with a crunchy texture, decorated with holiday sprinkles for a cheerful finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 48 mini pretzel twists
- 12 soft caramels, unwrapped and cut in half
Candy Melts and Decorations
- 1 cup red Candy Melts
- 1 cup green Candy Melts
- 1 cup white Candy Melts
- 1-2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
- Holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F. 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. Top each pretzel with a halved soft caramel placed right in the center.
- Bake caramel on pretzels: Bake in the preheated oven for 5 minutes or until the caramels soften and start to melt slightly, becoming gooey but not completely melted through.
- Top with remaining pretzels and cool: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and immediately press one pretzel on top of each softened caramel to create little sandwich bites. Leave them on the baking sheet and allow them to cool completely so the caramel sets.
- Melt red candy melts: Combine the red candy melts and 1 teaspoon of vegetable shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until the candy melts are fully melted and smooth. Add more shortening 1 teaspoon at a time if needed to achieve a smooth, drizzle-friendly consistency.
- Drizzle red candy melts: Transfer the melted red candy melts to a piping bag or plastic bag with a clipped corner. Drizzle the red candy over each pretzel bite evenly to coat.
- Repeat with green candy melts: Repeat the melting and drizzling process with the green candy melts, followed by the white candy melts, melting each with a teaspoon of shortening, then drizzling over the pretzels in layers.
- Add holiday sprinkles: Immediately after drizzling with the white candy melts, sprinkle holiday sprinkles on top before the candy hardens to decorate.
- Set the candy melts: Let the candy melts set completely at room temperature before storing or serving to ensure they harden and hold the drizzled design.
Notes
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to maintain freshness and texture.
- For longer storage, keep the pretzel bites refrigerated to prevent the caramel from becoming too soft in warm conditions.
- If candy melts are too thick during melting, add vegetable shortening gradually to help achieve a smooth and drizzle-ready consistency.
- Use parchment paper to make cleanup easier and prevent sticking.
- Try using different colored candy melts to customize decorations for various occasions.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg
