Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Decorate Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Dress up pretzels with chocolate, candy and nuts.








Chocolate-covered pretzels are a delicious mix of salty and sweet flavors. Dress up your pretzels by contrasting white and dark chocolate, or by adding colorful candies and crunchy nuts. For the best final product, set up your decorating stations before you dip the pretzels, and add toppings immediately after dipping, while the chocolate is still wet, so they stick.


Instructions


White Chocolate


1. Fill a saucepan with 2 inches of water and heat to a simmer over medium heat. Place white chocolate squares in a glass bowl and place it on top of the saucepan. Do not allow the bowl to touch the water. Melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally.


2. Cut parchment paper to line a baking sheet. Place chocolate-covered pretzels flat on the parchment with a bit of space between each.








3. Dip a spoon into the melted white chocolate and wave it, at an angle, above the pretzels. Allow the white chocolate to stream off the spoon and create lines on the pretzels. Place the baking sheet of decorated pretzels in the refrigerator until the chocolate is hard, about 30 minutes.


Nonpareils


4. Place nonpareil candies in a wide-mouthed bowl. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place it beside the candy bowl.


5. Hold a freshly dipped chocolate-covered pretzel over the candy bowl. Quickly sprinkle candies over the pretzel until it is completely covered. Excess candies will fall back into the bowl and may be reused for the next pretzel.


6. Place the completed pretzel on a baking sheet. Repeat this process with your remaining pretzels. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, or until chocolate is hard.


Nuts


7. Place nuts in a food processor and pulse until crushed. Pour the nuts into a wide-mouthed bowl.


8. Hold a chocolate-dipped pretzel over the bowl. Quickly cover the pretzel in nuts before the chocolate hardens. Allow excess nuts to fall back into the bowl.


9. Place the pretzel on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Continue covering the pretzels with nuts. Once all your pretzels are decorated, place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Tags: baking sheet, white chocolate, back into, back into bowl, baking sheet refrigerator, bowl Hold