You guys, I may need a chocolate pretzel intervention. Between the recent dark chocolate + sea salt pretzel bark, the milk chocolate + peanut butter pretzel bark, and now these chocolate + candy cane pretzel sticks, my chocolate + pretzel affinity is quickly growing out of hand. But that’s exactly the issue with chocolate and pretzels together: once you start, stopping is nearly impossible. So I made sticks, because I thought they’d be silly and cute and perfect for dipping into milk. Or eggnog. Or whatever. Actually they turned out even more amazing than I predicted because the chocolate-free ends provide the perfect location for grasping without risking chocolatey fingers (which is my only complaint with bark). These are ideal for a holiday soirée in need of delicious, festive, and transportable treats. And did I mention easy? Oh, so sorry, because that is one of the best parts … aside from the crunchy, minty, chocolatey, hint-of-salty goodness, of course. Nate and I named them Chocolate Candy Cane Pretzel Sticks of Happiness and Cheer. And they are. They really are.
- One package (12 ounces) milk chocolate chips
- 1½ teaspoons shortening
- One package (8 ounces) pretzel sticks
- Crushed candy canes
- Create a double boiler using a sauce pan and a heat proof bowl to place on top. Fill the saucepan with water and heat to boil. Place the chocolate and shortening in the bowl.
- Stir the chocolate mixture frequently until melted. Meanwhile line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper and crush the candy canes (I used a meat tenderizer). Create an assembly line of pretzels, a trivet for the chocolate bowl, candy canes, and the parchment paper-lined pan.
- When the chocolate is melted, remove from heat and place on the trivet. Carefully (the chocolate is hot!) dip the pretzel stick into the chocolate. Then roll the chocolate covered pretzel stick in the crushed candy cane until evenly coated.
- Place the pretzel stick on the parchment paper and continue until all of the pretzels are gone. There may be a little extra chocolate, which never hurt anybody did it??
- Refrigerate until cooled and hardened (about an hour to be safe) and then enjoy!
