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These patriotic pretzels are one of my favorite festive treats for summer celebrations. They’re sweet, salty, and so easy to make with red, white, and blue candy melts. Perfect for backyard BBQs, picnics, or dessert tables!
“These pretzels are so fun to make! They are the perfect grab and go food at parties and BBQ’s.”
-Becky
These patriotic chocolate covered pretzel rods are the perfect Fourth of July dessert. They’re simple to make, fun to decorate, and a hit with both kids and adults. Customize them with your favorite toppings or colorful sprinkles to match any holiday theme.
I love how festive they look at parties, but trust me, you are going to love how easy they are to serve. I like to lay them out on a pretty plate or in a mason jar. This way, guests can grab them and go as they swim or visit in the backyard.
Check out these Red, White, and Blue Strawberries or this fun Patriotic S’mores Dip, if you want to have a sweet dipped treat to offset the salty, crunchy pretzels. Or make the patriotic berry Caprese salad for more 4th of July foods!
Ingredients You Will Need
- pretzel rods- Salty pretzels are the perfect base for this treat. You can use rods or mini pretzel twists.
- blue candy melts- Adds the bright blue color to your pretzels.
- red candy melts- Of course the patriotic look wouldn’t be complete without the red!
- white candy melts- Make sure you get bright white candy melts. If using vanilla almond bark, some may have a light yellowish color to it.
Optional Toppings
- Sprinkles: 4th of July sprinkles, or colored sugar.
- Chopped nuts: For extra texture.
- Mini candies: Fun and festive add-ins.
- Extra drizzle: For extra color, let the dipped pretzels dry completely. Then, drizzle additional melted candy melts over the rods by placing chocolate into a piping bag or corner of a sandwich bag. Snip the tip and then drizzle chocolate by moving the bag back and forth.
How to Make Patriotic White Chocolate Covered Pretzels
- In a microwave safe bowl, melt the colored wafers in individual bowls, in 30 second increments, stirring after each time, until they are completely melted and smooth and creamy.
- Dip each pretzel rod into the melted chocolate, leaving about 2 inches of the pretzel uncovered for easy holding. Use a spoon or spatula to drip over the parts of the pretzel rod that may not dip far enough into the melted chocolate.
- Allow excess chocolate to drip off before placing each dipped pretzel onto a wax-paper lined baking sheet or plate. (I give them a gentle tap against the bowl) While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle on toppings of your choice.
- Place decorated pretzels on a sheet of wax paper, until the chocolate hardens.
Variations
If you have time, and are creative, you can lay the coated pretzels into the shape of an American Flag. Or for an extra bit of crunchy coating, roll them in chopped nuts, white chocolate chips, or chocolate chips.
Tips for Making the Best Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods
- Stir frequently while melting: Chocolate burns easily, so stir every 15 seconds in the microwave.
- USE DRY HANDS: This is the most important rule when melting chocolate. If even a drop of cold water comes in contact with the chocolate, it can seize up and ruin the chocolate. Make sure the bowl, and anything else coming in contact with the melted chocolates, are dry.
- Reheat if chocolate thickens: You can reheat it to remelt it, but just do it in small 10 second increments so you don’t burn it.
- Get creative: Swap pretzel rods for pretzel twists or mini pretzels for bite-sized treats.
- Let dry completely: Ensure chocolate hardens fully before serving or storing. But if you are adding sprinkles, chopped cookies, peanuts, or candies, do it before the chocolate sets. (Otherwise it won’t stick to the pretzels.)
- Use melted white chocolate: If you want to keep this really simple, just dip all of the pretzels in white chocolate, and decorate with red and blue sprinkles.
- For quicker dry time: If you are in a hurry, place the sheet of wax paper on a cookie sheet and then place the pretzels in the fridge to cool and set faster.
FAQ’S
Yes! Just be sure to melt it slowly and add a little coconut oil if needed for smoother dipping.
Store in an airtight container or Ziploc bag at room temperature for up to one week.
Absolutely! These are great make ahead treats and stay fresh for several days.
You can use a double boiler, but the microwave is the easiest way to melt the wafers. Just be sure to check on the chocolates in 15-30 second increments so it doesn’t burn.
More 4th of July Recipes
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Patriotic Pretzels
Equipment
- Microwave safe bowl
- Baking Sheet
- Wax Paper
Ingredients
- 12 ounce pretzel rods
- 1 bag blue candy melts
- 1 bag red candy melts
- 1 bag white candy melts
Optional: Patriotic Sprinkles, chopped nuts, chocolate chips or candies
Instructions
- In a microwave safe bowl, melt the colored wafers in individual bowls, in 30 second increments, stirring after each time, until they are completely melted and smooth and creamy.
- Dip each pretzel rod into the melted chocolate, leaving about 2 inches of the pretzel uncovered for easy holding. Use a spoon or spatula to drip over the parts of the pretzel rod that may not dip far enough into the melted chocolate.
- Allow excess chocolate to drip off before placing each dipped pretzel onto a wax-paper lined baking sheet or plate. (I give them a gentle tap against the bowl)
- While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle on toppings of your choice.
- Place the pretzels on a sheet of wax paper, until the chocolate hardens.
Notes
- Stir frequently while melting: Chocolate burns easily, so stir every 15 seconds in the microwave.
- Reheat if chocolate thickens: You can reheat it to remelt it, but just do it in small 10 second increments so you don’t burn it.
- Let pretzels dry completely: Ensure chocolate hardens fully before serving or storing. But if you are adding sprinkles, chopped cookies, peanuts, or candies, do it before the chocolate sets. (Otherwise it won’t stick to the pretzels.)
- Use all melted white chocolate: If you want to keep this really simple, just dip all of the pretzels in white chocolate, and decorate with red and blue sprinkles.
- For quicker dry time: If you are in a hurry, place the sheet of wax paper on a cookie sheet and then place the pretzels in the fridge to cool and set faster.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These are such an easy and fun dessert!