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These Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Rods are so much fun to make and eat. Pretzel rods are dipped in homemade caramel then chocolate and drizzled with additional chocolate or sprinkled with your favorite toppings!

Check out these Harry Potter Party Ideas for even more cocktail and food recipes.

Three Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Rods on a silver tray.

I created these fun Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Wands to serve as a sweet treat at my Harry Potter Party. This is the same caramel recipe that I use to make my daughters favorite Gourmet Caramel Apples and Chocolate Frogs.

Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Wands in a black bucket.

Do not get scared away by this recipe. If you have a candy thermometer and a little patience, you will be just fine. I made ALL of the food for my party at the same time, so there may be some steps with no photos…sorry about that. I really could have used a house elf’s help to get ready! 😉

Sweet Harry Potter Party Foods on a table.

How to make Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods

Start by heating the butter, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and corn syrup in a heavy saucepan over Medium-High heat.

Butter, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and corn syrup in a saucepan.

Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Continue to boil and stir until the candy thermometer reaches 248 degrees {firm ball stage}.

Caramel simmering in a saucepan with a candy thermometer on the side.

Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

Vanilla extract added to the caramel mixture.

Dip the pretzel rods into the caramel, twisting and turning to completely cover.

Pretzel rod dipped into the melted caramel in a saucepan.

Can you say distracted? Yikes! Anyway, you get the idea. Use a large spoon to help cover the pretzel rod. Place on parchment paper and allow to set.

Heat dark chocolate in the microwave for 1 minute on HIGH. Stir and continue heating and stirring in 15 second intervals until chocolate is completely melted.

Melted dark chocolate in a large mixing bowl.

Very carefully remove the caramel covered pretzel rods from the parchment paper. Gently lift the pretzel up while pulling the parchment paper away from the caramel. Squish the caramel that has collected on the parchment paper back into place with your hands. This adds some cool ridges and bumps to your wands.

Cover the pretzels with the chocolate, using a large spoon as needed to completely cover.

Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Rods dipped in melted chocolate.

Place on parchment paper and allow to set.

Chocolate Caramel Pretzels set cookingwithcurls.com

I had some on trays, some on the counters, they were everywhere! Once the chocolate has set, melt the milk chocolate the same exact way that we melted the dark chocolate, and drizzle over the pretzels.

I used a small, sharp, pairing knife {those $1 knives from Pampered Chef} and trimmed the dark chocolate before drizzling with the milk chocolate.

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Place back on the parchment paper to set.

Recipe Notes & Tips

Allow the caramel to completely cool before dipping in the chocolate!
You can use chocolate chips, broken chocolate candy bars, or candy melts in this recipe.
To keep your chocolate looking glossy and smooth, do not over heat it.
To make your pretzel rods fancy, add decorative sprinkles, chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, or chopped toffee pieces while the chocolate is still warm.
Use white or colored chocolate to match the holiday: green with Christmas sprinkles. Black with Halloween sprinkles. White with gold sprinkles for New Years Eve, etc.

Tools used to create this recipe

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Harry Potter Party Foods recipes

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Enjoy!!