Description
These festive Grinch Pretzel Bites are a fun and easy holiday treat featuring soft caramel sandwiched between mini pretzels, dipped in vibrant green candy melts, and topped with heart-shaped sprinkles for a pop of holiday cheer. Perfect for Christmas parties or seasonal snacking, they combine sweet, salty, and crunchy textures in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Snacks
- 48 mini pretzel twists
- 12 soft caramels, unwrapped and cut in half
Candy Coating
- 1 cup vibrant green candy melts
- ¼ cup kelly green candy melts
- 1-2 Tablespoons vegetable shortening
Decorations
- 24 heart-shaped sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Arrange Pretzels and Caramels: Place half of the mini pretzels in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Top each pretzel with a half piece of soft caramel placed in the center.
- Bake Caramel-Topped Pretzels: Bake in the preheated oven for 5 minutes, or until the caramels are softened but not fully melted, ensuring they become gooey and ready to sandwich.
- Sandwich Pretzels: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and immediately press remaining pretzels on top of each softened caramel. Allow the pretzel bites to cool completely so the caramel sets.
- Melt Candy Coating: Using a double boiler or a heat-safe bowl placed over a pan of simmering water, melt the vibrant green and kelly green candy melts together, stirring frequently. Gradually add vegetable shortening, one teaspoon at a time, stirring until the mixture is perfectly smooth and easy to dip.
- Dip Pretzel Bites: Dip each pretzel bite into the melted candy coating to cover about two-thirds of the pretzel. Place them back onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Add Sprinkles: Gently press a heart-shaped sprinkle onto the wet candy coating of each dipped pretzel bite to add a festive touch.
- Set the Candy Coating: Allow the candy melts to fully set at room temperature before storing or serving to ensure a firm, beautiful finish.
Notes
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to maintain freshness and prevent candy coating from being sticky.
- For easier melting, add vegetable shortening a teaspoon at a time to achieve a smooth, dip-friendly consistency.
- If you don’t have heart-shaped sprinkles, you can substitute with red or white holiday sprinkles for a festive look.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 2 pretzel bites)
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
