Caramel Chocolate Pretzels

These pretzels are so good! One bite and they became an instant family favorite! They are easy to make and great to give as a gift or bring to the office! You can add pecans or leave them out.  You can also decorate with sprinkle’s or other decorations depending on the holiday. Because it’s August now  I used cute little flower and bee decorations I found in the cake decorating aisle at my local store.

INGREDIENTS
18-20 large pretzel sticks (I like the UTZ brand)
1 package caramel bits
2 Tablespoons of water
1 package Ghirardelli melting chocolate
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

DIRECTIONS
Prepare a sheet pan with a layer of parchment paper and lightly spray with non stick baking spray. (use a pan that will fit in your refrigerator).  Melt the caramel bits with the 2 tablespoons of water in the microwave until fully melted (my microwave took about a minute and a half).  Using one pretzel rod at a time, dip the pretzels about 3/4 of the way up the pretzel, do this for each pretzel rod.

If you are adding the chopped pecans place the pecans on a plate and as soon as you dip the pretzels in the caramel roll them in or sprinkle the pecans over each pretzel. Place pretzels on your prepared baking sheet until each pretzel is done.  Place your baking sheet in the refrigerator to set up. This takes 30-40 minutes. When the caramel is set up, melt the melting chips according to package directions and dip each pretzel rod into the chocolate 3/4 of the way up the pretzel rod.  Place back onto the baking sheet. Do this for each pretzel rod and if you are decorating with sprinkles or other decorations do this now while the chocolate is still “wet”.  After you have finished all your pretzels place them back into the fridge for 30 minutes.  I then like to store mine in the fridge in a Ziploc bag.

Enjoy!