Candy-Coated Pumpkin Pretzels
For the best Halloween or Thanksgiving sweet & salty treat, these pumpkin pretzels cannot be beaten. The orange candy-coated twists make the cutest pumpkin-shaped pretzels that are creamy, crunchy, & irresistible. Decorate with icing & candy eyes to make Jack-o-Lantern faces that are perfect for a snack or dessert at costume parties.
Equipment
- microwave
- Parchment Paper
- Microwave-safe bowl
Ingredients
- 6 ounces Wilton's Orange Candy Melts
- 1.5 cups tiny twist pretzels about 25
- ¼ cup green M&M candies cut each in half using a sharp knife
- Wilton candy eyes optional
- white or black cookie icing optional
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. TIP: I like to use binder clips on the edge of the baking sheet. It helps to hold the paper down.
- Pour the candy melts into a small microwave-safe glass bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir. Continue cooking for 30-second intervals and stirring. The candy should be melted with just a few small pieces that will melt as you do a final stir. It took my batch 1 ½ minutes to get to the right smoothness.NOTE: if you double this recipe or more, it will take longer to get smooth.
- Once smooth, drop a pretzel in one at a time to coat completely. Both sides should be covered. Using a dinner fork, carefully lift each pretzel out of the mixture. Let the excess drip back into the bowl. Place the coated pretzel on the parchment.
- While the orange candy is still warm and soft, add half of a green M&M as the stem to the top. Press in to make sure it is sticking and has enough to hold it in place once it cools. Use a toothpick to add more melted candy if needed. optional - if using candy eyes, add them at this time as well. See the note above for tips on using eyes.
- Repeat until all the pretzels are coated. This should yield about 25 pretzels.
- Let them cool and set for about 5 minutes. Decorate using cooking icing to make faces and other Jack-o'-lantern type decor.
- Store in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks. Use parchment paper between layers if stacking them. Place in a cool & dry location. See the above notes for more info on storing, including freezing options.
Notes
This is approximate and will vary based on how much candy coating is on each pretzel. It will also differ depending on the icing and decorations also used.
STORING:
- Store the candy-coated pretzels in an air-tight container. I suggest using parchment paper between layers if you need to stack them. They will be good for 10-14 days if kept in a cool dry location.
- DO not recommend freezing.
- Use gluten-free pretzels if needed for dietary / allergy reasons.
- Use green skittles instead of M&Ms.
- Use any color candy melts for fun colors or white chocolate.
Nutrition
Calories: 35kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 0.4gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.03gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gTrans Fat: 0.004gCholesterol: 0.3mgSodium: 36mgPotassium: 6mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 3mgIron: 0.1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
