Party snacks, gifts for friends and co-workers, impromptu gatherings: homemade treats are in high demand during the holiday season. But who has time to prepare complicated desserts or large batches of cookies? What is required is a treat that is unusual and festive, but also easy to make. Consider the pretzel.

These crunchy snacks can be so much more than an afternoon munchie. Snyder’s of Hanover makes a pretzel rod (seven inches long) that is ideal for creating unusual holiday treats. All you need to do is add your own ingredients. Everything from chocolate morsels, nuts, coconut, sprinkles or candies can be used to dress up these pretzels for a holiday performance.

Here’s how to create your own holiday pretzel rods:

Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Melt chocolate, white chocolate, butterscotch morsels or caramels according to package directions. Dip Snyder’s of Hanover pretzel rods into melted liquid, covering at least half of the rod. Allow excess coating to drip off.

Sprinkle dipped pretzels with assorted toppings such as chopped candies or nuts, flaked coconut or crushed candy canes. Drizzle with additional melted coating if desired. Place onto prepared baking sheet; let stand until coating is firm. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.

There are all kinds of other decorations you can try. How about crushing up your family’s favorite cookie to use as a topping or adding sprinkles, colored sugar or festive silver nonpareil balls?

Your kids will have a great time dipping and decorating their own pretzel creations. You’ll not only be prepared for all those holiday parties, but you’ll have a fun way to spend time with your family during the busy holiday season.

FMI, visit www.snydersofhanover.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content