Sunday, September 14, 2008

{The perfect party favor}

My little brother is getting married at the end of this month so Saturday me, my mom and my two sisters threw a shower for his cute fiance. Me and my mom have made these caramel and chocolate covered pretzels before, but I think we finally have it figured out because they turned out super good and were a big hit. So here is how we made them.


First off I bought those long pretzel rods at the store, then we cut them in half with a serrated knife. Then we dipped them in the caramel. Here is the recipe we used. It's out of the Lion House cookbook. Just cook as directed and but don't pour in to a pan to set. Pour about a fourth of it into a small container with high sides (the high sides make it easier to scrape off any excess) and start dipping. If the caramel becomes to set up to work with just pop in into the microwave for a few seconds.

A trick me and my mom used this time that helped a ton was to line your cookie sheet with tin foil and then spray some cooking spray on it. This helps a ton. Then stick them in the refrigerator to help them set up quicker.

For the chocolate we used Guittard white and milk chocolate chips. I melted then on the stove in a double boiler. Another trick we used was to keep the smaller pan in the pan of hot water while dipping the pretzels. This made the chocolate stay the right consistency for a lot longer. Once again if it hardens up just stick in back on the stove for a little while. (I have done this in the microwave, but it seemed like it burnt the chocolate easier.)


Once again lay them on the cookie sheet (you don't need cooking spray this time) and pop them in the fridge until they set up.


For the drizzles on top we used white chocolate tinted with red food coloring to make it pink and normal milk chocolate since her colors are pink and brown. Take the pretzels out of the fridge about a half our before drizzling the colored chocolate onto them.

We put the melted chocolate in a small ziplock bag. (Don't use the cheap ones, they break really easy with warm chocolate). Then we just snipped off the very tip, and started drizzling. Another hint, we just did one row at a time and then pick up each pretzel a little so that the chocolate would go down the sides.

Now the milk chocolate.


These are so fun to make. For the wedding dinner we are going to put a few in a bag with some pretty ribbon to tie it shut for the favors. You could do these for just about anything you can think of. It's also fun to put those little sugar sprinkles on them. I think I might do this this year for Christmas for the neighbors.



31 comments:

Marie said...

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm . . . Those look so good. I wish I was still your neighbor! (But for many more reasons than just chocolate covered pretzels at Christmas.) :)

Carry Grace said...

Yum! These look so good! I'm filing this away in my shower ideas, this is good one.

Jeni said...

OMG! What fun...I am dreaming of eating one right now! Those would be cute for Christmas...maybe with some red sprinkles on them too. Thanks for sharing!

Tiffany said...

Sooooo pretty! They look yummy, too. I can just imagine them for Christmas with green and red drizzles.

Felicia said...

Those are so cute! I love the pink and brown. We always make them at Christmastime with red and green sprinkles. I think I did them once with red and blue sprinkles for the 4th of July (they were "sparklers".

joelandbecca said...

Yummy! I love those! You make it look so easy! Best of all is the can of diet coke in one of the pics! Love it!

Thanks so much for your kind words and your sweet offer! You just melted my heart! You are so sweet to remember my love of the U! We should find out the sex Oct 7th. Not holding my breath as much right now, just trying to remain calm!

Amber M. said...

Yum.O. They look and sound fantastic! But my favorite part? The diet Coke in one of the first pictures. Substitute Dr. Pepper and it could have been my house!

Thanks for the great idea!

WheresMyAngels said...

Those look great. I used to use carmel candy chews. You roll and stretch one out and then wind it around the big pretzel. Then dip in the chocolate, gave it a wild look but I didn't care for the taste. I will have to try it this way.

The Steele family said...

Those are my favorite I love those. I wish more weddings had stuff like that at them.

Unknown said...

oh wow they look great!

Marie said...

Your pretzels look great! I love the pink and brown you used. Great idea. I made these once at Christmas with my kids, but it was a real pain. I'm saving your tips!

mysteryhistorymom said...

They look amazing! You did a wonderful job!! I bet there wasn't even one left after the party.:) Lori

Shannon said...

This is such a great receipe!! It would be perfect for a baby shower too! I might have to use this idea. Thanks!

The Berry's Patch said...

OMGosh those look yummy! I love chocolate covered pretzels. :-)

Laura said...

Oooh, I love this! I am always looking for creative ways to make your own favors, I will have to book mark this one!

Laura :)

M.L. @ The House of Whimsy said...

How sweet that you share this with all. I, for one, will add this to my collection of party favors.
Thanks so much,
M.L.

Kimberly said...

um, yum!

Thanks for the java jacket tip!

Blessings, Kimberly

Beth at Aunties said...

They look incredibly delicious and beautiful! You did a great job describing the process with the wonderful hints. We are also having a huge shower for my son and his new bride. (200) It will be a couple shower because they are just having an afternoon Wedding Dinner (at the Lion House:) for their closest friends and family and not a reception on their wedding day..
I have been trying to come up with something I could make ahead of time since it is the weekend of Thanksgiving. These look so pretty and perfect for their shower as well. Do they keep WELL?
I loved that you shared this post. Thank You!
I also enjoyed the fact you found your baby sitter in another state:) How funny is that? That made me smile. The world is small and getting smaller all the time through blogland.

~Blessings Beth

Mimi Sue said...

Those look so good. Thanks for the recipe. I'm having a baby shower at my house in Oct. They would be perfect...Mimi

Megan @ Megity's Handmade said...

Yum-o! I need me some caramel right now. Especially since the little one has decided that he has had a nap and is up for the night. Yes, it's 10:40pm.
Where was that apple pancake mix post person thingy that you were talkin' about the other day??

Aubrey said...

Yes, do give them to the neighbors this Christmas. We need a LOT.

Tausha said...

I love that you decorated with orange and brown! Cute! So, you must really like making these if you are making them for favors for the wedding! You are the greatest sister ever!

Kristi Rowley said...

They are soooo yummy! I usually make them for neighbor gifts at Christmas, but I end up eating alot of them!

Tonya said...

Those are stinkin' cute Nicole!! My hubby would LOVE them...especiallly since there' caramel hidden under the chocolate. Thanks for the awesome idea!

Ruth said...

Hey Nicole we forgot the tip about kind of twisting the pretzel gently on the side of the pan as you pull it out of the carmel. I think that helped a bit also.
If any wants to know, the diet coke is mine - the Mom, I call it "the nectar of the Gods." I'm not one of those people that can't live without it, really, I just choose not to.
There was one pretzel left after the shower & I took it and hid it til later that night when I snuck it out and ate it all by myself! Just me and my diet coke. You did know that diet coke has the ability to cancel out the calories of what you are eating didn't you?
Anyway, it was great fun to make but making a mudpie would be fun with Nicole! Thank you for your help and support. I love you!
Mom

Unknown said...

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Kristi Rowley said...

I left a comment on my blog about the skin on the pears, but wasn't sure if you would check there again. I use a potato/vegetable peeler. It works great!

Sherri said...

YUMMY!!!!

Wifeof1Momof4 said...

I had to come out of my lurking to say yum yum. These look marvelous!

I love pretzel rods, can't wait to try!

Mary said...

What a great idea...especially love it as a little Christmas present...

Ms. Tee said...

These look so good! I stumbled onto your blog from another. That's a great idea for favors! :)