Chocolate Covered Caramel Pretzel Rods

I decided to repost this awesome treat since many of us are starting to plan the special homemade gifts we would like to give for holidays. Your friends and family will sing your praises when you make them these!

I have had some questions about the Candy Quick that I used to cover the pretzel rods. Candy Quick is a big hunk of chocolate that is great for melting. I found mine at Wal-Mart above the chocolate chips. It is in red packaging. You could also use any other chocolate to cover the pretzels such as chocolate chips or Wilton candy melts which is found at craft stores. If you use chocolate chips or the Wilton candy melts, I would buy two bags to be safe.

Also, if the chocolate seems kind of thick after it is melted, you can add a tablespoon of vegetable oil or shortening to thin it out. Just add the oil or shortening, put it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds and then stir. If you want it thinner, add a bit more.

I hope that clears up any questions! :)




Chocolate Covered Caramel Pretzel Rods

Things to get:
Pretzel rods (recipe makes about 50!)
Whole package of Chocolate candy quick (found at Wal-Mart)
Vanilla candy melts to drizzle (optional)
Caramel ingredients

First make a batch of caramel:

1c. Karo syrup
1c. Brown sugar
1c. White sugar
1 stick of butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk


Put first 5 ingredients in a large sauce pan over medium heat and stir until melted and combined. Bring to a boil and stir for five minutes. Be careful to keep stirring so that it doesn't start to burn on the bottom of the pan. Take caramel off the burner after 5 minutes.

Put the hot caramel in a deep container. I used my Pyrex 4 cup measuring cup.

Prepare a couple cookie sheets lined with wax paper.

Dip pretzel rod in caramel, about 3/4 of the way and let it drip off any excess caramel. Then lay the rod on the cookie sheet.

Repeat with remaining pretzels.

Put cookie sheets in the fridge to help set up caramel.

Once caramel is set, lift up each pretzel rod off the wax paper and mold caramel around the rod since it will puddle on the sides as it cools.

Prepare the cookie sheets again with new pieces of wax paper.

Melt chocolate in a deep container and dip caramel covered pretzel rods.

Place chocolate covered pretzel rods on cookie sheets and place in fridge to set up.

In a zip lock baggie, melt the vanilla candy melts in the microwave. When completely melted, cut a tiny hole in the corner and drizzle the chocolate on the rods.

Place back into the fridge to set up.

Tip: I ran out of pretzel rods before I ran out of caramel and chocolate. So I put the caramel in a greased glass 8x8 and made some yummy soft caramel squares. I also put some dry roasted peanuts in the leftover melted chocolate and spooned in out on wax paper for some yummy peanut clusters. I'm just like the Indians. I don't let anything go to waste. Especially chocolate!


Well, I hope these turn out for you. They are a lot of work but so very worth it! Enjoy!