Do you enjoy those elaborately decorated gourmet chocolate dipped pretzel rods sold in specialty stores and candy shops? These delicious confections are perfect for holidays, birthdays, classroom rewards, parties, fund raisers and gifts. They are also a great addition to gift baskets. But, they are expensive when purchased in specialty stores and candy shops. Here are detailed instructions for making your own gourmet chocolate dipped pretzel rods inexpensively at home. Included are helpful tips to ensure that you get gourmet results every time.
Types of Chocolate
Before we get started, let’s talk about chocolate. The main difference in varieties of chocolate is in the amount of cocoa butter, cocoa solids and milk solids they contain. White chocolate has cocoa butter but no cocoa solids. Milk chocolate contains cocoa solids and milk solids. Dark chocolate contains a high percentage of cocoa solids and little or no milk solids. Dark chocolate can be sweet, semi-sweet, bittersweet or unsweetened. Candy melts are not chocolates as they have neither cocoa butter nor solids. They are made from oils and flavorings such as vanilla, almond or hazelnut.
Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods Step 1: Choosing Ingredients
To make gourmet chocolate dipped pretzel rods you will need chocolate, pretzel rods and toppings. Choose your ingredients carefully. Probably the most important consideration in the overall quality of dipped pretzel rods is the dipping chocolate. Don’t use candy melts for dipping. They are best left for decorating. White and milk chocolate work best for dipping as they melt smoothly and coat well. Use dark chocolate for decorating as it hardens too quickly and won’t allow toppings to stick properly.
Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods Step 2: Melt Chocolate
There are two methods of melting chocolate that will give good results for your gourmet chocolate dipped pretzel rods. For the microwave method, place chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Cover bowl and vent one corner to allow steam to escape. You don’t want steam to build up in the bowl as this may cause water to get into the chocolate. Water will cause the chocolate to become pasty and it will not melt properly. Microwave on high for 1 minute and then stir. Continue microwaving at 30 second intervals until chocolate is completely melted. Keep a close eye on the chocolate and take your time as overcooking will cause chocolate to dry out and become unusable.
For the stove top method, melt chocolate in a double boiler on medium low heat. If you are using different colors of chocolate, melt in batches from lightest colored chocolate to darkest. This will eliminate the need to wash out the double boiler each time you change colors. This will lower the chances of water left over from cleaning the double boiler mixing with the chocolate.
Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods Step 3: Tempering the Chocolate
To temper the chocolate, spoon ½ cup of melted chocolate on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. Stir the chocolate gently back and forth with a spoon until it slightly thickens. The thickened chocolate will stick better to the pretzel rod.
Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods Step 4: Dip Pretzel Rod
Dip half of each pretzel rod into the melted chocolate, rolling back and forth until well covered. Immediately decorate gourmet chocolate dipped pretzel rods.
Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods Step 5: Decorate Like a Gourmet
Roll coated end of each pretzel rod in toppings. Great gourmet toppings include crushed peppermints, nonpareils, chopped nuts, sprinkles, toasted coconut, crushed candies, cookie crumbs, jimmies, mini M&M;’s and colored sugars. For another gourmet touch, drizzle pretzel rods with a contrasting color and flavor melted chocolate, candy melts or flavored chips. My favorite flavored chips to use are peanut butter and butterscotch. The easiest way to do this is to drizzle melted chips over pretzel rods from a spoon while rotating the rod. Use more than one contrasting color for a real gourmet touch.
Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods Step 6: Cool & Harden
Place decorated gourmet chocolate dipped pretzel rods on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet lined with waxed paper. Let chocolate harden completely. Do not refrigerate. Refrigeration will cause the gourmet chocolate dipped pretzel rods to soften.
Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods Step 7: Package & Wrap
If you are wrapping the pretzel rods for gift giving or sale, you will need wrapping supplies. Clear plastic candy bags work best and make the most impressive and gourmet presentation. Consider adding finishing touches like curling ribbon. An attractive presentation is to take three or four dipped pretzel rods and put them in a candy bag with undipped ends of pretzel rods at the open end of the bag. Then gather the bag and tie with ribbon.
