101 Days of Christmas: Chocolate-Covered Chips & Pretzels

by Mandi on September 26, 2011

chocolate covered potato chips & pretzels

source: Mandi Ehman

Chocolate-covered treats are some of my favorite Christmas gifts, not only because I love to eat them myself, but also because they make an impressive presentation when they’re actually simple enough to make with your kids!

A couple of years ago, I took a small basket of chocolate-covered pretzels and fresh fruit to our favorite pediatrician, who had walked through a pretty tough time with us after our third daughter was diagnosed with ITP, a potentially serious blood disorder. I was so thankful for the support she had given us during that time, and a little Christmas basket seemed like the least I could do to show her our appreciation.

To this day, she still talks about those chocolate-covered pretzels, even though I’ve assured her that they are the absolute simplest thing to make. I haven’t yet revealed to her that I am truly a kitchen dunce and that if I can make them, anyone can, but it’s true!

source: Mandi Ehman

Ignore the glossy chocolate on the orange peels…I was too impatient to wait for it to dry before taking this picture!

Ingredients:

1 pound semi-sweet Baker’s chocolate
4 cups potato chips
4 cups pretzels
sprinkles, white chocolate for drizzling, etc, optional

Directions:

Follow the directions on the back of the box to melt your Baker’s chocolate in the microwave or on the stove top. Be careful not to get any water in the melted chocolate because it can cause it to get gritty and rough.

Lay out sheets of wax paper for your dipped treats.

Carefully dip half of each chip or pretzel into the chocolate, allowing the extra to drip off before moving it to the wax paper. Set your dipped treats on the furthest corner of the wax paper, moving toward you as you go, so that you don’t drip chocolate on those that are already done.

If you’re going to decorate them with sprinkles, white chocolate or another candy, do that periodically before the chocolate hardens rather than waiting until you’re done.

Of course, pretzels and chips aren’t the only think you can dip in chocolate. There’s also marshmallows, candied orange peel (more on those later in the series), candy canes, popcorn, nuts…the sky’s the limit!

Click here to add this recipe to your Plan to Eat account.

Join us as we celebrate 101 Days of Christmas with new DIY projects, gift ideas, traditions and more every day from now through Christmas!

	Mandi Ehman is the founder and publisher behind Life Your Way as well as a wife and homeschooling mom to four beautiful girls. She lives with her family on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia and loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

Carey805

I think I will do this-looks yummy!
My sister had ITP. It was not fun.

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

They’re very yummy!

I hope your sister is 100% healthy now, as our little one is. An experience like that affects you for a long time for sure, though!

Jennifer Thompson

I made chocolate covered pretzel sticks a few years back for a candle party & it was the biggest hit! My sis in law still talks about them to this day!

I have TTP & am glad you had a great doctor for your daughter. It’s a very scary time in a person’s life. Good luck!

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Thanks so much, Jennifer — it’s hard to explain to someone who hasn’t been there, but it was very scary. Do you have chronic ITP? We’re fortunate that hers was just a one-time occurrence, but I wouldn’t wish it on anyone!

http://www.techgeekgirl.com/ Michelle Mista

Is it wrong of me to want to lick the screen? No? Okay then.

I think this may go on my edible gifts list for friends!

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Hehe, just make sure it’s your screen and not, say, the one in the public library! :)

http://www.vanderbiltwife.com vanderbiltwife

I used to do Lorna Doone shortbreads, Oreos, and pretzel sticks dipped in chocolate and then a variety of toppings: nuts, sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, colored sugar. They were always a HUGE hit with my coworkers, and a lot cheaper than buying everyone a little gift.

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

What a spread! I bet those were SO popular among your coworkers!

http://ADDandSoMuchMore.com Madelyn Griffith-Haynie

First – God bless everyone dealing with ANYTHING that most of the world doesn’t have/have to deal with. Not only do you have to manage whatever it is, you have to manage your urge to throttle the naysayers who’ve never had the experience personally yet want to tell you how to deal with it! White light to all, and I’m glad your little one is now healthy, Mandi.

Next- I like this dipping suggestion, but like even MORE your containers – two presents in one. I discovered years ago that wrapping tops and bottoms separately was THE ticket to reuse/recycle – great for time management (wrap presents before you even buy them -grin-), great for the planet, and *really* fun when you get a present back in one of the boxes you wrapped (even years later!) When I lived in NYC, a girlfriend and I used to swap decorated boxes back and forth yearly, super quick solution to a super busy time of year.
xx,mgh (Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, SCAC, MCC – blogging at ADDandSoMuchMore and ADDerWorld – dot com!)

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Thanks again, Madelyn — and I LOVE the idea of wrapping boxes to keep on hand for gift giving. Mine just happen to be cute nesting boxes, but what a friend tradition you and your friend had!

danielephant

I love doing this each year for people! I am going to pair this with the hot coco and oreo bon bons!!! people are going to be SO excited! I know i would!!! CHOCOLATE!!!!

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Mmm, sounds good to me!

Kasi

I make chocolate covered pretzels every year, but I make them a little bit differently. I use milk chocolate and hen I dip them in christmas colored long sprinkles. They look awesome, and are super cheap. It cost me about 10 dollars to make 10 huge containers of them for my family and friends. Also to make that many it only takes about an hour and a half. If you dry them in the freezer, it takes less than 5 minutes for the chocolate to set. Get some friends in on it and its not even a chore :)

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

I love that idea — pretty and delicious!

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