Best way to make chocolate covered pretzel sticks?

[funhouse8]

My DD wants us to make fancy chocolate covered pretzel sticks. We have to make about 100 of theses so I looking for the best way to melt the chocolate so it will stay warm enough to dip them all. Is this even possible? I remember once I bought chocolate bark, is this the best for melting. any advice would be welcome, thanks, Gina

 

[StacyMarie]

I used semi-sweet chocolate chips. I melt the chocolate on the stove, put it in a mason jar, and then take the pretzel rods and dip them in the jar. While I have the rods in the jar, I tip the jar slightly on an angle and twist the rod to coat 3/4 of the way up and then I pull the rod out of the jar and let the excess drip off. After the excess has dripped off, then you roll them in what you want to coat them with, sprinkles, etc. I lay them on wax paper to dry. If I do not cover them with sprinkles or nuts, I drizzle white chocolate over top of them on the wax paper. It looks nice and they taste GREAT! They are fun and easy and my kinds enjoy helping me. Good luck!

 

[worm761]

How old is your DD? Is she old enough to work around a hot stove? I suggest you buy melting chocolate ( or chocolate chips). Use two pans that nestle inside of each other. put water in the bottom pot and the chips/chocolate in the top pot. The hot water will melt the chocolate and then help keep it melted for longer.
I do agree with drying/cooling on wax paper. Also, make sure any sprinkles or anything go on while the chocolate is still soft/melty so the stick. If you want to drizzle white chocolate on top. Just heat it up in the microwave, put in a plastic baggie and cut the tip of the baggie. Just make sure you only cut a small tip. Drizzle on the pretzels after the chocolate has cooled and hardened.

 

[Bildmouse]

Crockpot on warm after chocolate is melted!

 

[autumnpalm]

They aren't sticks, but the easiest way I've found of doing chocolate pretzels is laying pretzels out on a baking sheet, putting a Hershey's kiss on each one, sticking them in the oven to melt the chocolate and then spreading it out/flattening it with an m&m. They are so easy!!

 

[spacemermaid]

Wilton (the cake decorating company) makes microwaveable dipping chocolate; you can get it at crafts stores and the crafts section of Wal-Mart for about $3 a bag. It's available in regular and dark chocolate flavors and because it's microwaveable, it's much easier to work with than regular chocolate + a double boiler. Just dip the pretzel sticks in the melted chocolate and set them on a piece of wax paper to dry. If the chocolate starts to harden before all the pretzels are dipped, just stick it in the microwave to reheat it again

 

[luv2sew]

We always use the hershey kiss on top of a small knotted pretzel with an M&M squshed into the kiss, as mentioned above, and they are such a big hit at all the parties...fun easy and fast to make cause the pretzel and kiss only take a few minutes in the oven.

But if you are using pretzel rods....melt the chocolate and then pour the choc in a tall drinking container...you could use one of those thermos tall coffee containers....that way you are dipping the rod in as far are you want it coated and you pull it out let it drip a bit and lay it onto wax paper to sprinkle with your toppings.

 

[luv2sew]

For a great bark recipe...use white chocolate melted and then mix into it broken pretzels and dry roasted peanuts (must be dry roasted) they call it sweet and salty...it too is a big hit. They pour onto wax paper lined sheet pan (with sides) and wait till it sets...break into bark pieces.

 

[AmyinKY]

If she is too young to work around a hot stove and you do not have a crock pot, after you melt the choc, place the bowl on a heating pad. You can cover the heating pad with an old pillowcase if you are worried about drippage. This works best with a shallow pan / bowl.

A

 

[dex08]

I've made my pretzel rods by using melting chocolate disks (from Michaels) or chocolate bark in the microwave on defrost level in a tall latte mug (the kind that are like 7 or 8 inches tall. You have to be extremely careful and nuke the chocolate slowly and stop and stir it several times to ensure it doesn't 'burn' in the microwave.

Melting in the mug makes it easier to hold the mug at an angle to get the chocolate up and around as high as I can on the pretzel rods.

Sometimes I slather peanut butter on the rods first then freeze or put them in the fridge for awhile to get the pb hardened then take them and dip them in the chocolate -- so yummy!

Then I put them on a cooling rack so the leftover chocolate drippings fall below so I can melt them again. Roll them in sprinkles or jimmies while they are still moist before the chocolate hardens.

HTH and GL!

 

[dex08]

OH.. and as the chocolate starts to get thick in the mug, I just nuke it again for a few seconds.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I like the microwavable cup of milk chocolate chips I pick up from the regular grocery store. I think the brand is Bakers Secret. But if I don't have that I use regular Hershey's Milk Chocolate Chips and melt them in the microwave at 10 second intervals stirring with a plastic utensil until they are melted. I use the most narrow coffee mug I have. Then I dip pretzels 1/4 -3/4 way up and lay them on wax paper. If we're feeling playful I'll drop sprinkles on them while they are still soft.

I do my chocolate covered strawberries the same exact way

 

[HannaBelle]

I have not tried rods, but I like the idea of the coffee mug! It even has a handle.

I normally dip the pretzel twists in semi-sweet chocolate and then drizzle with white.

I have also done a mini pretzel twist with a rollo candy on top, melt slightly in the oven and then press a pecan half on top. So yummy and easy!

 

[dizluvah]

Wilton (the cake decorating company) makes microwaveable dipping chocolate; you can get it at crafts stores and the crafts section of Wal-Mart for about $3 a bag. It's available in regular and dark chocolate flavors and because it's microwaveable, it's much easier to work with than regular chocolate + a double boiler. Just dip the pretzel sticks in the melted chocolate and set them on a piece of wax paper to dry. If the chocolate starts to harden before all the pretzels are dipped, just stick it in the microwave to reheat it again

This what I do - lots of colors and easy to melt - the wax paper makes clean up easy and we sprinkle or roll in crushed candy (peppermints at christmas, hearts at valentines, nuts, etc)

It is very easy and they come out looking professional.

 

[funhouse8]

Thanks all. you have been very helpful. Yes my DD is 24 and we will be making these for her engagement party. LOL I love the idea of the tall mug never thought of that & I'm going to walmart to pick up the chocolate. I knew you guys would come though. Thanks, Gina

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Wilton (the cake decorating company) makes microwaveable dipping chocolate; you can get it at crafts stores and the crafts section of Wal-Mart for about $3 a bag. It's available in regular and dark chocolate flavors and because it's microwaveable, it's much easier to work with than regular chocolate + a double boiler. Just dip the pretzel sticks in the melted chocolate and set them on a piece of wax paper to dry. If the chocolate starts to harden before all the pretzels are dipped, just stick it in the microwave to reheat it again

Just make sure not to get the chocolate too hot when you use the microwave. It will cause it to become thick and will get clumpy.

If you go the double boiler route, do not get any moisture in the chocolate or it will harden and get clumpy.

Also, hope it's not a high humidity or rainy day when you do this. It will affect the chocolate.

 

[Nette]

How old is your DD? Is she old enough to work around a hot stove? I suggest you buy melting chocolate ( or chocolate chips). Use two pans that nestle inside of each other. put water in the bottom pot and the chips/chocolate in the top pot. The hot water will melt the chocolate and then help keep it melted for longer.
I do agree with drying/cooling on wax paper. Also, make sure any sprinkles or anything go on while the chocolate is still soft/melty so the stick. If you want to drizzle white chocolate on top. Just heat it up in the microwave, put in a plastic baggie and cut the tip of the baggie. Just make sure you only cut a small tip. Drizzle on the pretzels after the chocolate has cooled and hardened.

Make sure your baggies are microwave safe!!! I made the mistake of not doing that one year and oh boy was that a mess to clean up! Now I always use the metal bowl over a pan of water method to melt the chocolate. (I like hershey's special dark bars for dipping stuff)

 

[RumpleMom]

I just learned how to make chocolate covered pretzel rods.

I used the Mercks chocolate disks. I was told do not heat them in a Pyrex container. Pyrex gets too hot and the oils evaporate too quickly. I used a Corning French white casserole dish in the microwave to melt the disks.

I then poured the chocolate into a tall travel mug. Bed, Bath & Beyond sells a mug that is microwave and dishwasher safe. I put the pretzel rod into the mug while holding it slightly tilted and wiped off the excess chocolate on the edge of the cup while removing the rod. I placed it on parchment paper. Every few rods, I stopped and sprinkled jimmies on them before the chocolate set. I placed a cookie sheet full into the fridge to harden.

The microwave safe travel mug was great because I could remelt the chocolate. I could not have melted the chocolate disks in the mug in the first place, but needed to spread them out in the casserole.

I placed two rods in a plastic sleeve and closed with a twist-tie.

Have fun.