Caramel Pretzel Sticks

Total Time

Prep: 2 hours Cook: 35 min.

Makes

about 3 dozen

Updated: Oct. 22, 2022
Homemade caramel, smooth almond bark and chopped nuts make these pretzel rods sinfully delicious. This treat is always a huge hit at holiday parties. People think you spent all day in the kitchen! —Mary Bown, Evanston, Wyoming
Caramel Pretzel Sticks Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 1 cup butter, cubed
  • 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 package (12 ounces) pretzel rods
  • 6 to 12 ounces white candy coating
  • 6 to 12 ounces milk chocolate candy coating
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts, optional

Directions

  1. In a large heavy saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup and butter; bring just to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil, without stirring, 4 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in milk. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until a candy thermometer reads 245° (firm-ball stage). Keep warm.
  2. Pour 2 cups caramel mixture into a 2-cup glass measuring cup. Quickly dip each pretzel halfway into caramel; allow excess to drip off. Place on well-buttered baking sheets; let stand until firm. (Rewarm caramel mixture and replenish as needed.)
  3. In a microwave, melt white candy coating; stir until smooth. Dip half of the caramel-dipped pretzels into the white coating; return to baking sheets. Melt milk chocolate coating; dip remaining pretzels; place on baking sheets.
  4. Drizzle white-dipped pretzels with milk chocolate coating; drizzle milk chocolate-dipped pretzels with white coating. If desired, sprinkle with walnuts. Store in airtight containers.

Nutrition Facts

1 coated pretzel stick: 132 calories, 5g fat (4g saturated fat), 5mg cholesterol, 224mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.