Super easy chocolate pretzel candies are a great sweet and salty combo. Just three ingredients and no skill will get you these delicious candies.
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These pretzel candies are perfect for "take a treat" to school, an office party, or even giving as gifts.
😊Why you will love this recipe
- Super easy to make with a skill level of 1 out of 10.
- Cheap to make a large number of pieces for something like a classroom or a large party.
- Tastes great with the combination of chocolate and the salty pretzel.
- While this is geared towards Christmas, it is easily adapted to Valentine's Day or Halloween.
This recipe goes by many names: chocolate pretzel candies, pretzel candy melts, M&M candy melts, and many more.
Check out some other great recipes for sweets, like Spicy Candied Bacon, Old Fashion Popcorn Balls, Candied Almonds, and Crock Pot Chocolate Peanut Clusters. This recipe is part of Christmas Candy Recipes. Check out other easy candy recipes.
👨🍳How to Make Chocolate Pretzel Candies
- Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and spread pretzels on the sheet, spaced in a single layer and not to touch.
- Top with an unwrapped chocolate kiss or hug.
- Bake at 200° until the chocolate is shiny but not melted. Watch continuously, and it should be about 4 minutes—do not walk away.
- Remove from oven and immediately press an M&M into the soft chocolate. If not soft enough, place it back in the oven for 30-60 seconds.
- Allow to cool on the tray at room temperature, but the freezer is faster.
🥨 Ingredients
The Pretzels: A small pretzel is mandatory to get this right. The square pretzels are an excellent choice, but a more traditional shape will work fine since we will let the candies cool before moving them.
The Candies: I am using "hugs," but regular candy kisses will work fine. Hershey's Kisses are brown chocolate, and Hershey's Hugs are white with stripes. Other candies, like Rolo candies, will also work.
Hugs are a little more interesting and add some holiday cheer. There were 78 Hugs in the package.
Then top with a regular M&M candy.
✔️Tips on baking
- You are NOT trying to melt the chocolate—just soften it. Bake for a few minutes and as soon as the kisses are shiny, remove them and press in the M&M's.
- If they are not soft enough, pop them back in for 30-60 seconds. When done, they can firm up at room temperature or faster in a freezer.
- Different types of Kisses soften differently. The Hugs tend to melt faster than the brown Kisses. So don't mix your tray.
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They are good covered at room temperature for 3-4 days. Keep them sealed since the pretzel will become stale with air exposure.
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Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
Preheat oven to 200°.
Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Spread pretzels on the sheet single layer and spaced not to touch. Top with an unwrapped chocolate kiss or hug.
Bake until the chocolate is shiny but not melted. Watch continuously, and it should be about 3-4 minutes. Remove from the oven and immediately press an M&M into the softened chocolate. If not soft enough, place it back in the oven for 30-60 seconds.
Allow to cool at room temperature, but the freezer is faster.
📖The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions
Pretzel Candies
Ingredients
- 1 bag Snyder pretzel 'snaps' - or other small pretzel
- 1 bag Hershey kisses - or Hugs
- 1 bag M & M
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°.
- Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Spread pretzels on the sheet single layer and spaced not to touch. Top with an unwrapped chocolate kiss or hug.
- Bake until the chocolate is shiny but not melted. Watch continuously, and it should be about 3-4 minutes. Remove from the oven and immediately press an M&M into the softened chocolate. If not soft enough, place it back in the oven for 30-60 seconds.
- Allow to cool at room temperature, but the freezer is faster.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- Preheat oven. The softening time is short, so don't walk away.
- You need to use small pretzels.
- Keep a very close eye on the candy in the oven. When it is shiny, pull it out and try to press the M & M into it. It may need another 30-60 seconds back in the oven. You are NOT trying to melt the chocolate; just soften it.
- Good covered at room temperature for 3-4 days.
- Do not try on a tray without parchment paper or a baking mat.
- Let the candies cool some on the tray before trying to remove them.
Your Own Private Notes
To adjust the recipe size:
You can adjust the number of servings above; however, only the amount in the ingredient list is adjusted, not the instructions.
Nutrition Estimate (may vary)
Originally published December 7, 2014. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
pam says
I make these every year and search on the internet for the recipe every year. The hugs did not melt enough with this recipe and I have half-melted hugs. Think my oven temp is a lot different than this person’s. I’ll look for something different next year.
Jill says
These look great. I have made them with a Rolo candy and a half of pecan on top also.
They are soooo good.