How to make Valentine’s chocolate-covered pretzel rods that will make them swoon!

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Everything is decked out in red and pink, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates are everywhere, and there’s a hint of romance in the air. You know what that means… Valentine’s Day is on the way! While it may not be everyone’s favorite holiday, I have to admit that it does happen to be one of my personal favorites!

As a constant baker, I love any holiday that lets me get creative in the kitchen with holiday-themed treats and sweets. And Valentine’s Day happens to be just perfect for that! I pushed aside those generic chocolates a long time ago and instead, I’ve been making my own swoon-worthy treats for my loved ones for years. 

Some of the most adorable and heart-melting treats that I like to make for ultimate Valentine satisfaction are these charming Valentine’s Day Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Rods! These scrumptious chocolate pretzels are so yummy and so cute that they are just guaranteed to sweep anyone off their feet!

After following along with my super simple Valentine recipe, all you need to do is package them up in some self-seal cellophane bags and you’ve got the perfect Valentine’s gift for anyone! These nifty treat bags can fit 3 decorated pretzel rods per bag so you can make a big batch and pass these out to all of your loved ones. Or you can feature them on a Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board for a Galentine’s day celebration!

These charming treats aren’t just for making your sweetie or gal pals swoon though, these are perfectly adorable treats for the kiddos too! My daughter absolutely loves these Valentine pretzels! Of course, it helps that these are decorated with her favorite color and sprinkles. If you want to spread some of that Valentine cheer, you can also make a batch to send with your little one to class to give them a little magical treat too! 

However you like to celebrate Valentine’s Day, you can’t go wrong by adding some of these magic-inspiring treats to your day! Here’s how to make the most adorable Valentine’s Day Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Rods!

Chocolate Pretzel Equipment

First, let me go over my short equipment list for making these Valentine pretzels. I don’t use a ton of tools but since this recipe involves working with several different chocolate colors, there are a few tools that I need multiples of. Here’s what I use to make Valentine’s chocolate-covered pretzels:

• Wilton candy melts pot
• Spatulas
• 5 Baking sheets
• 5 Parchment paper sheets
• 3 Silicone dipping cups 
  • I much prefer using these washable, reusable silicone cups but you can opt for disposable paper dipping cups.
• 3 Saucier Drizzle Spoons
• Candy thermometer
• 3×11 Food Self-Sealing Clear Bags

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Adorable Valentine Ingredients

Now let me break down my short and sweet ingredient list! Luckily, these charming Valentine pretzel treats don’t require a lot of ingredients, just a few simple and sweet ones. These are my favorite Valentine chocolate-covered pretzel ingredients:

Valentine Pretzel Rods:

• 2 bags Pretzel Rods
• 2 cups Red Candy Melts, one 12 oz bag
• 1 tbsp Coconut oil
• 2 cups White Candy Melts, one 12 oz bag
• 1 tbsp Coconut oil
• 2 cups Bright Pink Candy Melts, one 12 oz bag
• 1 tbsp Coconut oil

Gorgeous Garnishes:

• Valentine sprinkle mix
• Wilton Mini Icing Decoration Heart
• 1 tsp coconut oil, for thinning white chocolate
• 1 tsp coconut oil, for thinning  pink chocolate
• 1 tsp coconut oil, for thinning  red chocolate

Kitchen Tip:

One 12 oz bag of Wilton’s chocolate melts measures out to 2 cups of candy melt wafers.

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How to Make Valentine’s Day Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Rods

And now it’s time for a little kitchen magic! Let’s make a big, beautiful batch of gorgeous Valentine treats! This recipe is super easy to follow along with but there are several steps and phases so let’s get started. Here’s how I make Valentine’s chocolate-covered pretzel rods:

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Making Valentine Pretzel Rods:

1. First, prepare and measure out all of your Valentine pretzel ingredients.
2. Next, combine the white candy melts and 1tbsp coconut oil in the candy melting pot.
3. Melt them together while stirring regularly with a heat-resistant spatula.
4. After the candy has melted completely, transfer the melted white candy to a silicone cup.
5. Let the melted chocolate cool to 110-120°F before dipping pretzel rods into it. Otherwise, the chocolate will just slide off the rod. Use a candy thermometer to check the temp.
6. Rinse and dry the lining of the candy melt pot. Then, combine the pink candy melts and 1tbsp coconut oil in the candy melting pot.
7. Melt them together while stirring regularly with a clean spatula.
8. Then, transfer the melted pink candy to a separate, clean silicone cup and let the chocolate cool to 110-120°F.
9. Rinse and dry the lining of the candy melt pot. Then, combine the red candy melts and 1tbsp coconut oil in the candy melting pot.
10. Melt them together while stirring regularly with a clean spatula.
11. Then, transfer the melted red candy to a separate, clean silicone cup and let the chocolate cool to 110-120°F.
12. Line 5 baking sheets with parchment paper, gather the pretzel rods, and the cups of chocolates.
13. Dip each pretzel rod into the melted white chocolate, then spread them out over 1 of the lined baking sheets. Let the white chocolate harden on the pretzel rods either on the counter for 30 minutes, or in the fridge for 10 minutes.
14. Then, dip each of the pretzels into the melted pink chocolate, spread them out over a fresh, lined baking sheet, and let the chocolate harden again.
15. Lastly, dip each of the pretzels into the melted red chocolate, spread them out on a separate, fresh, lined baking sheet. Let the chocolate harden again.
    1. Repeat until all pretzel rods are covered in melted Valentine-colored chocolates.

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Decorating Valentine Pretzels:

1. First, reheat each of the remaining chocolates and add 1 tsp of coconut oil to each color. This batch needs to be runny for easy drizzling.
2. Keep heating until the melted chocolates reach a runny consistency.
3. Now it’s time for some fun! Use a few saucier drizzle spoons to drizzle the runny chocolate garnishes over the hardened chocolate-covered pretzel rods. Mix the decorating between drizzles and dots of chocolate.
4. Immediately after drizzling, top the covered pretzels with the Valentine Sprinkles and Hearts.
5. Then, let the Valentine pretzel rods dry completely before serving or packaging.
6. Finally, package these cuties in clear self-sealing bags for perfect Valentine gifts! You can fit 3 decorated pretzel rods per bag.

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Chocolate-Melting Tips and Tricks

If you want some extra ease when making these Valentine pretzels, or you don’t have a candy melting pot, there are a couple of other options for you to try! 

For an easier drizzling shortcut:

Use a few packs of these ChocoDrizzlers. For this recipe, I suggest getting 2 or 3 bags. This method is perfect for anyone who doesn’t do a lot of baking at home, or if you just don’t have a melting pot handy in your own kitchen. The biggest difference to take note of with these is that these drizzler bags are a little more costly and they produce less of the candy.

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Alternative Chocolate-Melting Method

If you don’t have a nifty candy melting pot in your kitchen collection, here is a simple microwave melting method that will work for anyone!

How to Melt Candy Melts in the Microwave:

1. First, pour the candy melts into a heat-safe bowl or silicone measuring cup. 
2. Then, heat the candy melts in the microwave at 50% power, or on a defrost setting, for 1 minute. 
3. Next, stir the candies thoroughly. 
   1. Use a towel or an oven mitt to protect your hand from the heat when handling the bowl or cup.
4. Then, continue to microwave the candies at the same low setting in 15-30 second intervals, stirring in between each interval, until the candy is almost melted.
5. Finally, let the candy sit for about 1 minute to let the residual heat take care of any small unmelted pieces of candy leftover.
   1. If you try another interval of cooking at this point, the candy could overcook and burn so it’s better to let the candy sit and take care of itself.

For more chocolate-melting methods and tips, check out my simple guide on How to Melt Candy Melts.

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Storing Candied Pretzel Rods

To store chocolate-covered pretzel rods: transfer them to a large ziploc bag, an airtight container, or in the self-sealing gift bags. Separate layers with wax paper. Store at room temperature or slightly cooler, out of direct sunlight, for 2- 3 weeks. Always mark the date on the outside of the bag or container to keep up with freshness. I do not recommend storing these chocolate pretzel rods long-term in the fridge or the freezer due to the potential of the pretzels softening or going stale from moisture.

Valentine’s Day Recipes

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Swoon-Worthy Valentine Treats

Looking for more lovely Valentine recipes? Then you’ve come to the right baker! Here are some of my (and my family’s) favorite Valentine treats, and a few more holiday pretzel ideas for the rest of the year:

• Valentine’s Charcuterie Board
• Red Velvet Bundt Cake with Chocolate Hearts
• Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
• Chocolate Hearts and Lips
• Nutella Mug Cakes
• Funfetti Bundt Cake
• Raspberry Chocolate Cupcakes

More Holiday-Themed Pretzels:

• Easter Carrot Chocolate Pretzel Rods
• Easter Chocolate-Covered Pretzels Bunnies and Ducklings
• Chocolate-Covered Pretzels for the 4th of July

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