Chocolaty Pretzel Thingies

These Chocolaty Pretzel Thingies are so yummy and so super easy to make.  

We made these a few Christmases ago and gave them out at gifts to all our neighbors.  

I think I found the recipe in Family Fun Magazine, but I can't really recall.  

Nevertheless, I think whoever thought of it is brilliant.

You can make them too!

Here are the ingredients:

You'll need some those square waffle-looking pretzels.  This brand calls them Snaps.

And some M&Ms.  Get all festive and pick the red and green ones.

Some Kisses or Hugs.  We used both.

I even threw in some Caramel Kisses.  They all work, they're all good.

First off ... unwrap all the Kisses.  This is where kids come in handy.

Just don't try and keep score of how many they unwrap vs how many they eat.  Because they turn the tables on you and start counting how many you're eating.  They think they're so clever.

Next ... line some baking sheets with foil (just in case you have some chocolate leaks, you won't have to wash the baking sheets later).

Cover the foil-lined baking sheets with pretzels.

Heat your oven to 175 degrees.

Put one Kiss on top of each pretzel square.  

Then ... put in the oven for about 5 to 8 minutes.  You want the Kisses to get nice and soft.  You'll know they're ready when they get shiny looking.

Take them out of the oven and immediately start pressing one M&M down into the middle of each Kiss.  The Kiss will squish all nicely down into the cracks of the pretzel.

I forgot to take a photo of the squishing process.  But I'm sure you can visualize it.

Then let them cool completely until the Kiss firms back up nicely.  You can stick them in the fridge for several minutes if you want to speed up the process.

Then pack them up all nice and pretty.  That is, if you haven't eaten the majority of them already.  I got some Chinese take-out containers and lined them with silver tissue paper.

Now you have a practically instant homemade holiday gift that anyone would be thrilled to receive.  Yum!