10 Tasty Christmas Recipes with Pretzels for a Perfectly Salty-Sweet Holiday Treat: Easy Festive Snacks

10 Tasty Christmas Recipes with Pretzels for a Perfectly Salty-Sweet Holiday Treat: Easy Festive Snacks

By Sara Taylor

10 Tasty Christmas Recipes with Pretzels for a Perfectly Salty-Sweet Holiday Treat: Easy Festive Snacks

By Sara Taylor
•
Updated
•
Recipes

Pretzels are about to make your holiday cookie tray better! The salty and sweet combination of treats makes people stay by the snack table. Below are 10 easy pretzel treats that will be gone in no time.

Don't lose this article. Enter your email below, and I'll send it to you right now. Plus a little encouragement and inspiration from me, straight to your inbox.

1) Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Bark

shards of chocolate pretzel bark fanned across a white marble board in a wide horizontal shot, dark and white chocolate swirls dotted with crushed pretzels and red sprinkles, scattered pine sprigs, soft natural window light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

When you need something fancy but want to spend less than twenty minutes making, this is the lazy-genius treat I go to.

ONE LIST
Five simple dinners. One grocery list.

Five simple dinners. One grocery list.

No recipe hunting, no messy shopping notes, no complicated chef projects. Just family dinners that fit real weeks.

Get This Week's Plan
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
shards of chocolate pretzel bark fanned across a white marble board in a wide horizontal shot, dark and white chocolate swirls dotted with crushed pretzels and red sprinkles, scattered pine sprigs, soft natural window light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Bark

A crispy dark and white chocolate sheet loaded with pretzel pieces, and festive sprinkles.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz dark chocolate chopped
  • 6 oz white chocolate chopped
  • 2 cups mini pretzels roughly crushed
  • 2 tbsp holiday sprinkles
  • 1 tsp flaky sea salt

Method
 

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Melt the dark chocolate in 30-second microwave bursts, stirring between each, until smooth.
  3. Spread it into a thin even layer on the parchment.
  4. Melt the white chocolate the same way and drizzle it over the top, swirling lightly with a knife.
  5. Scatter the crushed pretzels, sprinkles, and flaky salt over the wet chocolate and press gently.
  6. Chill for 30 minutes, then break into shards.

Notes

Store in the fridge so the chocolate stays snappy.

2) Peppermint Pretzel Sticks

white-chocolate-dipped pretzel rods rolled in crushed peppermint candy, arranged in a wide horizontal row in a tall glass jar tipped on a wooden table, festive red ribbon nearby, bright natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

The kids go wild for these candy cane look-alikes!

white-chocolate-dipped pretzel rods rolled in crushed peppermint candy, arranged in a wide horizontal row in a tall glass jar tipped on a wooden table, festive red ribbon nearby, bright natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Peppermint Pretzel Sticks

Pretzel rods coated in white chocolate and sprinkled with crushed candy canes.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 16 sticks
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 16 pretzel rods
  • 10 oz white chocolate chopped
  • 1/2 cup candy canes crushed
  • 1 tsp coconut oil

Method
 

  1. Melt the white chocolate with the coconut oil in 30-second bursts until smooth and pourable.
  2. Dip each pretzel rod two-thirds of the way in, letting the excess drip off.
  3. Immediately sprinkle crushed candy canes over the wet chocolate, turning to coat.
  4. Lay the rods on parchment to set.
  5. Let them firm up at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving.

Notes

Crush the candy canes in a zip bag with a rolling pin to control the mess.

3) Pretzel Crusted Cheesecake Bites

mini cheesecake bites with golden pretzel crusts arranged on a round white plate in a wide horizontal shot, soft creamy tops, a dusting of crushed pretzel crumbs, rustic linen napkin, warm natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Just picture sinking your teeth into a smooth cheesecake topped with a silky-smooth pretzel crust.

mini cheesecake bites with golden pretzel crusts arranged on a round white plate in a wide horizontal shot, soft creamy tops, a dusting of crushed pretzel crumbs, rustic linen napkin, warm natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Pretzel Crusted Cheesecake Bites

Mini cheesecakes have a crunchy pretzel crust paired with a smooth and velvety vanilla filling.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 38 minutes
Servings: 24 bites
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups pretzels finely crushed
  • 6 tbsp butter melted
  • 16 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 325F and line a mini muffin tin with paper liners.
  2. Mix the crushed pretzels with melted butter and press a spoonful into the bottom of each liner.
  3. Beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth, then beat in the eggs one at a time and the vanilla.
  4. Spoon the filling over the crusts, nearly to the top.
  5. Bake for 16 to 18 minutes until the centers are just set.
  6. Cool, then chill at least 2 hours before serving.

Notes

They need that fridge time to firm up, so make them the night before.

4) Salted Caramel Pretzel Fudge

dark chocolate fudge squares with caramel swirls and pretzel pieces stacked on a slate board in a wide horizontal shot, a drizzle of caramel pooling nearby, flaky salt catching the light, cozy natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

This is dangerously fudgy, and incredibly delicious. It always gets finished within the hour at parties.

Don't lose this article. Enter your email below, and I'll send it to you right now. Plus a little encouragement and inspiration from me, straight to your inbox.

dark chocolate fudge squares with caramel swirls and pretzel pieces stacked on a slate board in a wide horizontal shot, a drizzle of caramel pooling nearby, flaky salt catching the light, cozy natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Salted Caramel Pretzel Fudge

Smooth chocolate fudge swirled with real caramel and crunchy pieces of pretzel.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 25 squares
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
  • 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/3 cup caramel sauce
  • 1.5 cups pretzels broken
  • 1 tsp flaky sea salt

Method
 

  1. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment, leaving an overhang.
  2. Melt the chocolate chips with the condensed milk over low heat, stirring until glossy.
  3. Fold in most of the broken pretzels.
  4. Spread into the pan and swirl the caramel over the top with a knife.
  5. Press the remaining pretzels on top and sprinkle with flaky salt.
  6. Chill for 3 hours, then lift out and cut into squares.

Notes

Wipe your knife between cuts for clean edges.

5) White Chocolate Pretzel Snowflakes

white chocolate pretzel clusters topped with silver pearls scattered across a pale blue ceramic platter in a wide horizontal shot, a few loose pretzels and a sprig of pine alongside, crisp natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

These small white clusters resemble snowflakes while making you feel fancy with no effort.

white chocolate pretzel clusters topped with silver pearls scattered across a pale blue ceramic platter in a wide horizontal shot, a few loose pretzels and a sprig of pine alongside, crisp natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

White Chocolate Pretzel Snowflakes

Delicious clusters of white chocolate with pieces of pretzel and little silver pearls.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 20 clusters
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz white chocolate chopped
  • 1.5 cups mini pretzels broken
  • 2 tbsp silver sugar pearls
  • 1 pinch sea salt

Method
 

  1. Melt the white chocolate in short microwave bursts until smooth.
  2. Stir in the broken pretzels and a pinch of salt until coated.
  3. Drop spoonfuls onto parchment in loose cluster shapes.
  4. Scatter silver pearls over each while still wet.
  5. Let set at room temperature until firm, about 30 minutes.

Notes

Keep them somewhere cool so the white chocolate doesn't get soft.

6) Gingerbread Pretzel Bars

spiced gingerbread bars with a pretzel crust and white glaze drizzle arranged on parchment in a wide horizontal shot, warm brown crumb, cinnamon sticks and star anise scattered nearby, golden natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

All the delicious gingerbread and spice you've been craving, and layered over a salty pretzel base.

spiced gingerbread bars with a pretzel crust and white glaze drizzle arranged on parchment in a wide horizontal shot, warm brown crumb, cinnamon sticks and star anise scattered nearby, golden natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Gingerbread Pretzel Bars

Gingerbread bars have a chewy texture, combine spicing, and sit on warm pretzel crust with a delicious pretzel glaze.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 16 bars
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups pretzels crushed
  • 1/2 cup butter melted
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup molasses
  • 1 egg
  • 1.5 cups flour
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F and line a 9x9 pan with parchment.
  2. Mix crushed pretzels with half the melted butter and press into the pan.
  3. Whisk the remaining butter, brown sugar, molasses, and egg until smooth.
  4. Stir in the flour, ginger, cinnamon, and baking soda to form a thick batter.
  5. Spread it over the crust and bake 22 to 25 minutes until set.
  6. Cool, whisk the powdered sugar with a splash of water, drizzle over the top, then cut into bars.

Notes

A pinch of black pepper in the batter makes the spice pop.

7) Pretzel and Toffee Rocky Road

rocky road squares loaded with marshmallows, toffee, and pretzel pieces stacked on a dark wooden board in a wide horizontal shot, glossy chocolate edges, a scatter of toffee bits, moody natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

This version of rocky road is festive for the holidays with toffee bits and a bit of salty crunch.

rocky road squares loaded with marshmallows, toffee, and pretzel pieces stacked on a dark wooden board in a wide horizontal shot, glossy chocolate edges, a scatter of toffee bits, moody natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Pretzel and Toffee Rocky Road

Chocolatey Rocky Road, complete with marshmallows, toffee bits, and crunchy pretzel pieces!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 20 squares
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups milk chocolate chips
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 2 cups mini marshmallows
  • 1 cup pretzels broken
  • 1/2 cup toffee bits

Method
 

  1. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment.
  2. Melt the chocolate chips with the butter over low heat until smooth.
  3. Let it cool a couple of minutes so it won't melt the marshmallows.
  4. Fold in the marshmallows, pretzels, and most of the toffee bits.
  5. Press into the pan and scatter the rest of the toffee on top.
  6. Chill until firm, about 2 hours, then cut into squares.

Notes

Cooling the chocolate slightly keeps the marshmallows fluffy.

8) Festive Pretzel and Marshmallow Pops

marshmallow and pretzel pops on sticks standing in a tall mason jar in a wide horizontal shot, tops dipped in chocolate and red and green sprinkles, festive table runner underneath, bright cheerful natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

These pops are the cutest party favors to hand to kids! They're also super fun to do as a craft and enjoy as a snack!

marshmallow and pretzel pops on sticks standing in a tall mason jar in a wide horizontal shot, tops dipped in chocolate and red and green sprinkles, festive table runner underneath, bright cheerful natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Festive Pretzel and Marshmallow Pops

Chocolate-dipped marshmallows and pretzel pops with festive sprinkles.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 12 pops
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 large marshmallows
  • 24 mini pretzels
  • 12 lollipop sticks
  • 8 oz milk chocolate melted
  • 3 tbsp red and green sprinkles

Method
 

  1. Push a lollipop stick through each marshmallow, sandwiching a pretzel on either side.
  2. Dip the top of each pop into the melted chocolate.
  3. Sprinkle with red and green sprinkles while the chocolate is wet.
  4. Stand the pops upright in a foam block or tall glass.
  5. Let set for 15 minutes until the chocolate firms.

Notes

Let little hands do the sprinkling part.

9) Nutella Pretzel Truffles

hazelnut truffles rolled in crushed pretzel coating piled in a small white bowl in a wide horizontal shot, a few cut open to show the creamy center, dusting of crumbs on a marble surface, soft natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

These no-bake truffles are a hazelnut dream with a salty surprise!

hazelnut truffles rolled in crushed pretzel coating piled in a small white bowl in a wide horizontal shot, a few cut open to show the creamy center, dusting of crumbs on a marble surface, soft natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Nutella Pretzel Truffles

Creamy hazelnut truffles that are rolled in crushed pretzels give you that perfect salty and sweet flavor!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 18 truffles
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup hazelnut spread
  • 1.5 cups pretzels finely crushed
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 4 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1/2 cup pretzels crushed, for rolling

Method
 

  1. Beat the hazelnut spread, cream cheese, and powdered sugar until smooth.
  2. Fold in the finely crushed pretzels until the mixture holds together.
  3. Chill the mixture for 30 minutes so it's easier to handle.
  4. Roll into small balls.
  5. Roll each ball in the reserved crushed pretzels to coat.
  6. Keep chilled until ready to serve.

Notes

If the mixture feels too soft, chill it a bit longer before rolling.

10) Maple Bacon Pretzel Bites

glazed pretzel nuggets tossed with crispy bacon piled in a rustic enamel bowl in a wide horizontal shot, glossy maple coating catching the light, a wooden table with scattered pretzels, warm natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

A little crazy in the best possible way, it's sweet, salty, and smoky!

glazed pretzel nuggets tossed with crispy bacon piled in a rustic enamel bowl in a wide horizontal shot, glossy maple coating catching the light, a wooden table with scattered pretzels, warm natural light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Maple Bacon Pretzel Bites

Pretzels with crunchy texture and bacon with a crispy texture coated in a sticky glaze of maple syrup.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 6 strips bacon chopped
  • 4 cups pretzel nuggets
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
  2. Cook the chopped bacon in a skillet until crisp, then drain.
  3. Whisk the maple syrup, brown sugar, and cayenne in a bowl.
  4. Toss the pretzel nuggets and bacon in the maple mixture until coated.
  5. Spread on the baking sheet and bake 12 to 15 minutes, stirring once.
  6. Cool fully so the glaze sets and crisps up.

Notes

They harden as they cool, so resist eating them straight from the pan.
Privacy Policy Your Privacy Choices Accessibility Statement Terms of Use Accessibility Widget