Monday, December 13, 2010

Holiday Pretzel Rings - a sweet & salty treat.

Holiay Pretzel Rings 4


As I wrote in a previous post, we are all about the sweet and salty treats at our house. There is just something about the combination that we all love.

What I love even more is that this recipe is so darn simple a 3 year old could make them...or even my husband! Ha ha! Sorry hunny.

Truly, this is one of the most simple treats in the world to make. I'm sure they have made their rounds on the net, just like the pretzel/rolo/turtle thing. The hardest part for me was finding the round pretzels. I had every member of the family on the hunt for them, even my in-laws in Ohio. My sister-in-law finally spotted them at Aldi.

Holiay Pretzel Rings1

Another nice thing about this recipe is that you can make as much or as little of these as you'd like.

We made a batch, that disappeared very quickly. John was eating them like popcorn.

We made another batch for me to bring to work, cause once I told people about them, it was highly recommended that I make more to bring in for taste testing. Cheeky monkeys.

They devoured them at work. I had every lady in the office going to buy round pretzels!

Holiay Pretzel Rings

Here comes the complicated directions.

Holiday Pretzel Rings

Round pretzels
Hershey kisses * see note
M&M's

Preheat the oven to 350.

Line a baking sheet with parchment. Unwrap as many kisses and you'd like to make. Honestly, unwrapping them takes up the most time. We found that placing a kiss on the baking sheet and then dropping a pretzel over the kiss worked the best.

Pop them in the oven for 2 - 3 minutes. Just until they get soft, but not until they melt. You want them to retain their shape. As soon as they come out of the oven, gently place an M&M on top of the kiss and push down slightly to fill the pretzel with chocolate. Stick the baking sheet in the fridge until they firm up. Store in an airtight container.

* We used the caramel kisses for half our batch. So good!

Now we want to go out and try all kinds of kisses with these. I was also thinking of topping some with a pecan half....hmmmm.

Can you imagine the almond ones with these, or the hugs....the meltaway centers...dark chocolate with mint...cherry cordial...the delicious possibilites are endless.

25 comments:

Alicia Gregoire said...

Lee, these are crack. We made them with square pretzels last year and will be doing it again this year.

The Cutting Edge of Ordinary said...

Alicia I know!It's like the "ghetto toffee".....matzo with butter mixture and chocolate. OMG you can't stop eating it.

TKW said...

Those are beautiful! I am a sucker for the sweet/salty combination--I think I'd be dangerous around these!

Alicia Gregoire said...

I haven't tried that version of the "ghetto toffee," but the kind made with saltines... OMG.

Amy said...

Damn, I love you.

And now I am on a mission to find round pretzels...

Dana @ Cooking At Cafe D said...

Thanks Lisa!
I had never seen these.

Tim says his Mom made these all the time - family favorite. (He said she made them with Hugs once, but they didn't turn out well. white chocolate seized or somesuch.)

The Cutting Edge of Ordinary said...

Dana one of the girls I work with made them with hugs after she saw mine. Her's came out fine. They were striped, kinda cute. Wonder if the oven was on too high maybe??

You really can't leave them in long at all. My cousin just called me, she left hers in too long and they seized!

Jennie said...

A friend of mine made these for me a few years ago and ever since have been in love with them!!! Yours are so perfect!

Jill said...

We love these, too. My daughters elementary school teachers always asked for these at all the holidays. We searched every where for the round pretzels, and never found them. So we use the mini twists and they are perfect. Also at Christmas if I can find the tiny pretzels shaped like trees, I use those.

Amy | She Wears Many Hats said...

So cute! Love the combination of pretzels and chocolate too.

Anonymous said...

Can you make ahead and freeze?

The Cutting Edge of Ordinary said...

Ummm I'm not sure about making these and freezing them, but I'm sure they will keep for at least a week or more if sealed in a container. Hope that helps!

Amy said...

HELP. I've been to Target and 4 other markets near me...nobody has the round pretzels. I'm so bummed. Suggestions? Should I just use the square ones? They don't look as nice :(

The Cutting Edge of Ordinary said...

Amy, I went to Aldi last night to see if I could ship you a bag. They are out!! Do you have an Aldi near you?

Yes you can use the waffle ones. One of the girls here at work did. They don't look as cute, but they taste just as delicious. As soon as Aldi has them in stock I can ship you a few bags!

The Cutting Edge of Ordinary said...

Oh another thing....I contacted Frito Lay (owners of Rold Gold pretzels) and highly suggested they make a round pretzel cause they are losing out on a goldmine! Heard back from them with a generic "thanks for your suggestion" email. Oh well, I tried.

Amy said...

We used to live down the street from an Aldi in Minneapolis, but no sign of one anywhere here in Sacramento. Drat. Of course they're old out - everyone is making these Holiday Pretzel Rings!!

There's a brand called Ballreich's that sells them online, so maybe I'll just order a few bags. No doubt I'll be wanting to make these treats several times in the future - just not in time for Christmas. Poop.

The Cutting Edge of Ordinary said...

Amy my Aldo source got back to me and said that the rings were a "special buy" that they should get again, but who knows when??

Thanks for the link, I passed it on to the girls in the office that are looking for them. If (when) they get them in stock again at Aldi, I will ship you a few bags, cause you should not be deprieved Amy! You are right these would be adorable at any holiday, I'm already thinking, red, white & blue M&M's on the 4th, Spring colors at Easter, etc.

White Toast with Butter said...

I love that idea!

Caroline said...

We are trying them with Rollos this year!

Anonymous said...

We use the Hershey's hugs. The white/choc swirl & M&M make them pretty "wreaths"

Deebi27 said...

Since the circle pretzel is so elusive, I am not going to beat my head against the wall. When I go into town this weekend I will do more looking around. I have the smaller pretzal knots. These are going to work with me tomorrow! Thankz!

I found you link on Pinterest!

Unknown said...

I searched and searched for the round pretzels too, and finally found them at Meijer.....so I bought a couple bags!!!

Unknown said...

I searched and searched for the round pretzels too...FINALLY found them at Meijer, so I bought a couple bags!!! Can't wait to make them!!

Marian Parkes said...

I wonder if you cold do them in a microwave for a few seconds? Hmmmm.

Jessica Mox said...

I often use Rollo's to top a pretzel and top it with a pecan, just to mix things up a bit.