Make the season merry with peppermint bark pretzels! A fun twist on the classic recipe, this Christmas candy has sweet and salty layers of flavor, is easy to throw together and perfect to give as neighbor gifts for the holiday!
These cute peppermint bark pretzel bites are so pretty and the perfect treat to make this holiday season! It might surprise you just how easy they are to make. They come together in just minutes and are a total crowd pleaser! I love recipes that look fancy, but are secretly easy like my 4 minute decadent microwave fudge or gingerbread house cakes. And I always love peppermint at Christmastime like Peppermint Crispy Treats or peppermint whipped cream!
I will give you fair warning though. The perfect mix of salty, sweet, creamy, crunch is SO addicting! We made several batches of these last year and they never made it out the door to other families. My family devoured them!
Christmas Neighbor Gifts
These peppermint bark pretzels make a unique and delicious neighbor gift. They even stay perfectly fresh for a couple weeks. The mix of the sweet and salty also makes it a total crowd pleaser!
Oh, and the best thing- these are so easy to make. They look fancy, too, so your neighbors will be impressed with little effort!
To give as a gift, I like to lay a piece of parchment or wax paper in a kraft disposable box and stack bark inside until full. Attach a cute tag like my free printable vintage gift tags. Another option would be to fill a cute clear or festive cellophane bag.
Ingredients
Peppermint Bark Recipe with Pretzels
Full printable recipe is below; this is an overview.
I know I have mentioned this already, but peppermint bark pretzels are so easy to whip up! You can even have several batches going at once if you want. This is also a great recipe to make with the kids if you have little helpers in the kitchen.
To make this peppermint bark pretzel recipe:
- Preheat oven
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This is an important step!
- Spread out pretzels and put an unwrapped kiss in the center of each one.
- Bake
- Remove from oven and immediately spread chocolate flat in the middle of each pretzel.
- Place in the refrigerator until chocolate has solidified.
- Chop vanilla candy coating into big chunks and place in a small, microwave safe glass bowl.
- Microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until completely melted and smooth.
- Remove from microwave and stir in peppermint extract.
- Dip half of each chocolate pretzel into the peppermint candy coating and then immediately into crushed candy canes. Lay back onto parchment lined baking sheet.
- Place back into the fridge until set.
- Repeat until all 3 batches have been made. Note: you can make all batches simultaneously if you work very quickly and have the fridge space.
How to Store Peppermint Bark Pretzels
Store in a sealed container in a dark cool place for up to 2 weeks. I prefer to store them in a sealed bag or container in the fridge.
Additional Tips
- Don't be concerned if the kisses don't look like they are melting down in the oven. When they come out of the oven, they should retain their shape until you smash them down to spread.
- To melt the candy coating, I have found that the clear glass bowls work much better (heat more evenly) than ceramic. The ceramic seems to get too hot in spots, requiring more stopping and stirring.
- Use the parchment! It makes life so much easier.
- Make sure you set the chocolate completely before storing.
Peppermint Bark Pretzel Bites
Ingredients
- 72 circle shaped pretzels (or classic looped pretzels)
- 72 Hershey's Kisses
- 6 oz. vanilla candy coating (3 squares vanilla almond bark)
- 8-10 drops pure peppermint extract (approx 1/8 tsp. or to taste)
- crushed candy canes
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 200°
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Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread out 24 pretzels and put an unwrapped kiss in the center of each one. Bake for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately spread chocolate flat in the middle of each pretzel.
-
Place in the refrigerator for an hour or until chocolate has solidified.
-
Chop vanilla candy coating into big chunks and place in a microwave safe glass bowl. Microwave for 1½ -2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Remove from microwave once melted and smooth and stir in peppermint extract.
-
Dip half of each chocolate pretzel into the peppermint candy coating and then immediately into crushed candy canes. Lay back onto parchment lined baking sheet. Place back into the fridge until set- approx 30 minutes.
-
Repeat until all 3 batches have been made. You can make all simultaneously if you work quickly and have the fridge space.
-
Store in a sealed container in a dark cool place for up to 2 weeks. I prefer to store them in a sealed bag or container in the fridge.
Here are some more delicious Christmas treats I know you will love!
Peppermint Bark Pretzels by Ella Claire & Co. | Pecan Fudge Christmas Cookies by French Country Cottage | Dairy-Free Gingerbread Fudge by Zevy Joy
Peanut Brittle by Freutcake | Almond Swiss Roll by Inspired by Charm | 6 Minute Sea Salted Caramels by Handmade Farmhouse
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