Rolo Pretzel Recipe

These easy 4-ingredient rolo pretzel sandwiches combine salty pretzels, chewy caramel Rolos, dipped in sweet milk chocolate, and vanilla wafers. Perfect snack that can be customized for any occasion, especially Christmas.

If it’s beginning to look (or feel) a lot like Christmas, it is time to look for easy desserts and snacks we can make to feed all the family members and guests, and we know all too well, that the holiday thrill makes everyone extra hungry.

I love simple recipes that don’t require much of my time in the kitchen and this is my take on the classic Rolo pretzel recipe that will make 40 delightful, sweet, and salty rolo pretzel bites in about 15 minutes tops.

Why This Recipe Works

• Delicious salty-sweet combo that makes taste buds dance. The salty crunch comes from pretzels and the sweetness comes from softened caramel candy covered in chocolate.
• An easy dessert with minimal effort for holidays with family and friends, a true crowd-pleaser that takes only minutes to prepare.
• Kids love making them, and, of course, eating them! Unwrapping rolo pretzel candies is a great task for children and in general, making these is a fun activity for the whole family. 
• Handmade crunchy, sweet, and salty holiday gift covered in chocolate for this holiday season. Great option if you do cookie exchange with neighbors or you need to prep something for kids to take to school.

Ingredients Notes

Rolo pretzels are made with simple ingredients you can find at grocery stores: pretzels, chocolate Rolo candies, and melting wafers.

• Pretzel snaps (or mini twists or waffle rounds). You can easily use square pretzels (they look like lattice pretzels), circle pretzels, and gluten-free pretzels if you (or some of your guests) suffer from celiac disease. In short – your favorite pretzels. 
• Milk chocolate Rolos. Rolos are classic chocolate and caramel candies you can find pretty much anywhere. We will need unwrapped rolo candies. One rolo candy per two pretzels so this recipe is easy to adjust in quantities.
• Ghirardelli white vanilla melting wafers. Classic recipe calls for M&Ms but I added a twist and used these wafers.
• Christmas sprinkles mix

Kitchen Equipment

• Baking tray or cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or silicone mat.

How To Make Rolo Pretzels Sandwiches

1: Lay Out The Pretzels On The Baking Sheet

1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread half of the pretzels on the parchment in a single layer.

2: Add One Rolo On Each Pretzel

Add one of the unwrapped Rolos to the center of each pretzel.

3: Soften Rolos In The Oven

1.  Bake for 2-3 minutes in the preheated oven – just enough to soften the Rolo (specifically its gooey caramel piece inside), you don’t want it to melt or flatten. The pretzel treats will start to look glossy as well.
2. Max, it takes 3-5 minutes depending on the oven.

4: Top With Another Pretzel To Make Sandwiches

1. Remove and immediately top each with another pretzel, gently pushing down to flatten the Rolo to make a sandwich. 
2. Don’t flatten too much, you just want them to stick and hold together. Refrigerate to firm the sandwiches faster.

5: Dip In The Chocolate

1. Melt the candy melts according to the package directions – usually by placing them in a microwave-safe bowl and heating them in the microwave at 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each interval until melted.
2. Stirring is super important so we can achieve smooth chocolate coverage. 
3. Once melted, dip half of the cooled pretzel sandwiches in the chocolate to coat.

6: Decorate & Cool

1. Place pretzels on the parchment-lined baking sheet and immediately top with sprinkles to decorate.
2. Let it set at room temperature for at least 20 minutes before serving or storing. The waiting is the hardest part of making these rolo pretzel bites.

How To Store Pretzels Rolo Bites

Store Rolo pretzels in an airtight container on the counter for up to a week or 2 weeks once completely cooled. You may also refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks. Cool completely before storing.

You can freeze rolo pretzels for 2 months. First, freeze them on a sheet pan for 30 minutes, then transfer them to a bag and store them in a freezer.

Thaw on the counter to make sure the frozen caramel center softens otherwise you are risking hurting your teeth.

This salty treat is perfect for making ahead days and even weeks before the party.

Rolo Pretzel Variations & Substitutions

Rolo pretzels have endless add-ons instead of rolo candies.

• You can use any variety of Rolo – the salted caramel is a perfect addition!
• Hershey kisses chocolate candies. Hershey’s Kiss also comes in a variety of flavors from classic chocolate to festive Hershey’s Kiss.
• Colorful M&M candies. Green and red ones are the most popular ones for Christmas but with different colors, you can customize the snack for any occasion.
• Crunchy Pecans. With pecan halves, we usually call these candies Rolo pretzel “turtles”. You place a pecan half on top of pretzel rolo instead of M&Ms or candy. For better flavor, you should quickly toast pecans (it is easy and it takes only a few minutes).
• Interesting flavors and textures: peppermint candies and marshmallows as a topper work nice too.
• Peanut butter. Change Rolo up by using a mini peanut butter cup or Reese’s pieces, caramel squares, peanut butter balls, or other gooey candy.
• Instead of pretzel snaps, you can use mini twists, pretzel waffles (rounds), pretzel crisps, or pretzel flats. You can even use Ritz cracker cookies.
• For St Valentine’s Day, you can use sliced berries or fruit and a dollop of whipped cream.
• Instead of sprinkles, you can dust the mini pretzels with ground cinnamon.
• Using pretzel rings. Crunchy pretzels will serve as a rim for melted rolo candy and you place M&Ms or decorations on top.

Tips & Recipe Notes

• This recipe halves, or doubles easily – depending on your needs.
• Change up the toppings to whatever you desire based on the type of celebration or holiday. For St. Patrick’s Day, you can use green M&M, for baby shower you can make them colored based on the gender of the future baby – different variations are almost endless. 
• You can make rolos soften in a microwave-safe plate and then assemble the easy treats. Note that we don’t need melted chocolate, we only need it to soften a bit.
• Use your favorite chocolate to make a light drizzle (white chocolate is a perfect choice for Christmas).
• Make sure to have some additional pretzel twists (or whichever type you use) because some of them can be broken. 

You can technically make these pretzel rolo treats in a microwave. Line a microwave-safe plate with parchment paper and follow the same steps. 

If you love this easy treat recipe, you’re going to love these other holiday favorites too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

More Great Pretzel Treats

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

White Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels

Grinch Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods

Rolo Pretzel Turtles

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