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Right now I've got red and green M&Ms scattered all across my counter. I'm whipping up these pretzel hugs for the school's party tomorrow. These sweet and salty bites always disappear fast. I started making them last year during the holidays when I needed something super quick. It’s our family’s go-to now. All you need is three things, a baking tray, and about twenty minutes. Honestly, it's hardest just keeping the kids from sneaking them while they cool!
Reasons You’ll Love This
Last week, I totally blanked on the neighborhood cookie swap and these treats totally bailed me out. They come together in a flash, but everyone acts like you spent hours. My kids can't wait to add the M&Ms on top—I put together four rounds of them last weekend as teacher gifts. It's also way less money than grabbing a bunch of fancy candies from the store. You can always make just a handful if that's all you need.
Stuff You'll Need
- Holiday M&Ms: Green and red work for Christmas, or grab any colors for another celebration
- Waffle pretzels: The square kind with grid lines, they're perfect for holding the chocolate
- Hershey's Hugs: The ones with stripes (white and milk chocolate). If you've got regular kisses, those work too
Easy-Peasy Treat Making
- Chill the chocolate
- After adding the M&Ms, let them hang out until the chocolate firms up, or toss the tray in the fridge if you're rushing
- Press in the M&Ms
- Once the chocolate's soft, squish an M&M in the middle of each—move quick, before they set
- Soften the chocolate
- Bake them for around 4 minutes, but keep an eye on them—they go soft fast
- Set the Hugs
- Drop a Hug in the center of every pretzel square
- Arrange the pretzels
- Line up your pretzels on a pan, leaving space between so they’re not touching
- Prep the pan
- Lay down parchment on a baking sheet—makes cleanup a breeze and keeps sticking away
- Warm the oven
- Turn your oven to 200°—that’s warm enough to get the chocolate soft, not melted
Add a Personal Touch
I love swapping out M&M colors for different holidays. Last time, I did blue and white for Hanukkah and they looked awesome. The key is softening the chocolate, but not letting it melt into a puddle—I learned that the first time when everything just blended together. Mixing in some kisses with the hugs makes the batch taste even better.
Getting Ready
Wipe off your kitchen counter before you start—you’ll want all the space you can get once the chocolates are melty. Have extra M&Ms right there because half of them seem to vanish (mysteriously, usually into mouths). I had to blast the air conditioner once in summer so they'd actually firm up. A cookie sheet with tall sides helps stop pretzels from flying everywhere, too.
Stay on Track
Usually four minutes in the oven is spot on, but ovens can be weird, so watch closely. You want chocolate just soft enough to poke, not melted all over. I learned the hard way with a gooey mess at first. Now, I always set a timer for three minutes and check after that just in case.
Serving and Storing
These are good in a sealed container for about a week—if you can keep them around that long! I knocked out three different batches for a cookie swap yesterday and kept them neat by layering with wax paper. They travel great in a hard container—you just want to keep them cool so the chocolate stays put.
Switching It Up
No two batches come out exactly the same, especially if you work at different speeds. I usually toss in a few extra pretzels just in case some crack or disappear (they always do). Little kisses work great too; just give them a slightly shorter stint in the oven. My neighbor used dark chocolate kisses once—it was awesome with the salty crunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → How much time do they need?
Set them up in 10 minutes, bake for 4 minutes, and cool in the fridge for 15 minutes.
- → Can I swap out the chocolate?
Of course - Hershey's Kisses or other chocolate pieces that fit the pretzel work just as well.
- → Are they gluten-free?
Nope - typical pretzels contain gluten.
- → What's the best way to store them?
Keep them in a container at room temperature, or stick them in the fridge if you'll need them to last over a few days.
- → Can I prepare them earlier?
Yes, they're great to make a day or two before your event. They'll stay fresh just fine.
Conclusion
Another simple option? Whip up 3-ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies by combining peanut butter, sugar, and 1 egg. These treats are both great for saving time and energy during busy holidays, with almost no prep needed.