If there’s one holiday snack that always disappears first—no matter how big the dessert table is—it’s Christmas chocolate-covered pretzels. They’re the perfect sweet-and-salty bite: crisp, salty pretzels wrapped in smooth chocolate, finished with festive sprinkles. They look like you spent a lot of time making them, but the truth is they’re one of the easiest holiday treats you can make… which is exactly why they’re such a lifesaver in December.

I love these for cookie trays, classroom parties, holiday movie nights, homemade gift bags, and even charcuterie boards. They’re also ideal for “make-ahead” baking because they store beautifully. You can knock out a big batch in one session, let them set, then keep them ready to serve whenever guests show up (or whenever you need a quick sweet snack while wrapping gifts).

This recipe walks you through everything: choosing the right chocolate, dipping tips so the coating stays smooth, how to decorate without stress, and how to store them so they stay crisp. You’ll get several variations too—drizzles, peppermint, peanut butter, and more—for that “everyone gets a favorite” vibe.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Sweet + salty = addictive. Chocolate and pretzels are a perfect match.
No baking required. Only melting chocolate and dipping.
Make-ahead friendly. Great for planning holiday trays and gifts.
Customizable. Use white chocolate, milk, dark, colored melts, or drizzle combos.
Kid-friendly. Little helpers can sprinkle toppings and feel like pros.

Yield + Timing

Yield: About 6–8 cups finished pretzels (depends on pretzel shape and how heavily you coat them)
Prep time: 15–20 minutes
Set time: 30–60 minutes (faster in the fridge)
Total time: About 1 hour (mostly waiting for them to set)

Ingredients

Base Ingredients

8–10 cups pretzels (choose one or mix them!)
- mini pretzel twists
- pretzel rings
- waffle pretzels
- pretzel sticks
12 oz (340 g) milk chocolate (chips, chopped bars, or melting wafers)
12 oz (340 g) white chocolate (chips, chopped bars, or melting wafers)

Optional (helps chocolate melt smoother)

1–2 teaspoons coconut oil or shortening per 12 oz chocolate
(especially helpful if using chocolate chips)

Decorations (choose your favorites)

Christmas sprinkles (red/green/white)
Nonpareils
Sanding sugar
Crushed candy canes
Mini M&M’s
Flaky salt (a pinch is amazing with dark chocolate)
Colored candy melts for drizzle (optional)

The Best Chocolate for Dipping (So It Sets Nice)

You have two main options:

Christmas Chocolate-Covered Pretzels