a simple recipe :: chocolate m&m pretzel bites

Salted caramel.  Bacon with maple syrup.  Chocolate covered pretzels.  I’m a sucker for sweet and salty.  The combination of those two tastes always makes me happy!  So I’m sharing one of the simplest recipes ever for satiating that sweet-salty tooth.  I’m not sure where this recipe started, but I’ve been making it for years and it is always a hit.  While it’s not a real food recipe at all, it is one that is quick, easy and portable.  And it’s a finger food which makes it super easy for taking along to a BBQ or casual summer party.

Ingredients:  pretzels (mini round or twist), chocolate kisses, M&Ms (or other chocolate candy) Directions:  Unwrap chocolate kisses and place on top of pretzels on a cookie sheet.  I use a full bag of Hershey kisses–this picture of the cookie sheet actually shows more than a bag.  I used one full bag, had a few extra that I used and used some Rolo’s on the other pretzels to try to fill my cookie sheet–I knew we would have no problem eating them all.

Bake at 275 for about 3 minutes.  When you pull them out of the oven, press an M&M into the chocolate.  It should push it down a bit into the pretzel.  If it doesn’t, put them back in the oven for another minute.  **HINT :: the chocolate will not look melted and they will burn if you leave them in too long, so check every minute.  It shouldn’t take more than 5.  Finish pressing M&Ms into each chocolate kiss.  **HINT :: Make sure to press the M&Ms into the chocolate enough that the chocolate melts down into the pretzel.  If it is not pressed down, it will fall off the pretzel once cooled.  Let stand to cool and finish cooling in the refrigerator.
As you can see from the pictures, my kids love them!

**There are so many variations to these pretzels–some people use Rolo’s and pecans instead of kisses and M&Ms, some use flavored kisses.  It is so easy to use seasonal M&Ms to make these match any occasion.