What's a party without a little pop of color and a whole lot of fun? These Red, White, and Blue Pretzel Rods are the perfect no-bake treat for any patriotic celebration. They are a delightful combination of salty and sweet, crunchy and creamy, and they look absolutely stunning on a dessert table. They are a simple, fun, and easy project that even the kids can help with.

The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity. With just a few ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create a beautiful and delicious treat that's perfect for a Fourth of July barbecue, a Memorial Day picnic, or any event where you want to show off your patriotic spirit.

Explosive Red, White, and Blue Pretzel Rods

For Your Patriotic Party!

Yields: 15-20 pretzel rods

Prep time: 15 minutes

Chill time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 (12-ounce) bag of pretzel rods

  • 1 (12-ounce) bag of white chocolate or vanilla candy melts

  • 1 (12-ounce) bag of red candy melts

  • 1 (12-ounce) bag of blue candy melts

  • A variety of red, white, and blue sprinkles

Instructions

1. Melt the Chocolate

  1. Melt Each Color: Place the white candy melts in a tall, microwave-safe glass or mug. Microwave on 50% power for 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the chocolate is smooth and completely melted. Repeat this process for the red and blue candy melts in separate mugs.

  2. Keep it Smooth: If your chocolate gets too thick, you can add a tiny bit of vegetable shortening (about ½ teaspoon) and stir until smooth.

2. Dip the Pretzel Rods

  1. Dip in White: Take a pretzel rod and dip it into the melted white chocolate, leaving a small portion at the bottom undipped. Use a spoon to help coat the pretzel rod completely.

  2. Add Sprinkles: Hold the pretzel rod over the bowl of sprinkles and gently rotate it, allowing the sprinkles to adhere to the wet chocolate.

  3. Place on Tray: Place the decorated pretzel rod on a parchment-lined baking sheet to set.

3. Create the Drizzled Look

  1. Drizzle with Blue: Once the white chocolate is set, take a spoon and drizzle melted blue chocolate over the top half of the white-dipped pretzel rod.

  2. Drizzle with Red: Do the same with the melted red chocolate, drizzling it over the other half of the white-dipped pretzel rod. This creates a beautiful, layered look.

  3. Freeze to Set: Place the decorated pretzel rods in the refrigerator or freezer for 15-20 minutes, or until the chocolate is completely set.

4. Serve

  • Once the pretzel rods are firm, you can serve them immediately on a platter or store them in an airtight container at room temperature.

Pro-Tips for a Perfect Pretzel Rod

  • The Right Container: Using a tall glass or mug for melting the chocolate makes it much easier to dip the pretzel rods evenly.

  • Don't Overheat! Heating the chocolate too quickly or at too high a temperature can cause it to seize and become grainy. Patience is key.

  • The Messy Tray: Keep your sprinkles contained on a small tray. You can use a paper plate or a small baking sheet to catch any excess sprinkles and then pour them back into the container.

  • The Salt-Sweet Combo: The salty pretzel and sweet chocolate are a match made in heaven. Don't worry about trying to remove all the salt from the pretzels; it adds to the flavor.

  • For a Uniform Look: You can dip the pretzels in one color, let it set, then dip the top half in a second color and the bottom half in a third color for a clean, color-blocked look.

  • Storage is Easy: These pretzel rods can be made a few days in advance. Just store them in a single layer in an airtight container to prevent them from sticking together.