Tis the season for goodies and it seems like people are always looking for quick and easy ones. It recently came to my attention that not everyone in the world has been introduced to the pretzel turtle and that’s just a cryin’ shame! This is possibly the easiest little goodie you’ll come across. They can be made in about 10 minutes and with only 3 ingredients. However here I’ll show you my little twists to take them a notch up and make them cooler than everyone else’s pretzel turtles. Because at Christmas time it’s all about one-upping everyone else, right?? Kidding people, kidding. Really though, these are great for satisfying your own sweet tooth or for making to give away. Either way they’ll be gone in a flash!
Easy Pretzel Turtles
small pretzels
Rolo candies – one bag has about 55 candies
Pecan halves – or optionally peanuts, cashews, and m&m’s
Optional: almond bark or white chocolate for drizzling
This is easy as can be! Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place pretzels on a parchment lined baking sheet. I like to use parchment paper for easy handling, but you can also put them on foil, a silpat, or directly onto the cookie sheet.
Unwrap your Rolo candies and place one on top of each pretzel like a cute little hat.
Don’t they look like they’re just standing there waiting for an order? At least someone in my house stands at attention because heaven knows my children don’t!
Place pan in the oven for 3-4 minutes. Any longer is probably too long. You just want the chocolate on the outside to look glossy and melty, but they should still hold their shape.
Remove pan from oven and take a pecan and gently press it right into the center of the chocolate candy.
Keep going and be filled with joy each time you feel that gooey caramel squish out underneath your fingers. It’s one of life’s little pleasures.
Here’s where you can be creative. You don’t need to stick to pecan halves. I also love cashews and peanuts (I used honey roasted peanuts here). And for kiddos and those who can’t eat nuts or don’t like them, M&M’s make a great little topper, or those mini Hershey’s kissables are cute too. I always throw a few of those in for color and because the kids like them. And if it’s not Christmas time, use the colorful ones- they’re adorable!
If you want to get fancy you can give them a little drizzle of almond bark or white chocolate. Just melt some in a plastic baggie and nip the corner off to drizzle. A little goes a long way; I used a half a square of almond bark for half a batch and had plenty left over.
Now definitely do yourself a favor and eat a few of these babies warm off the pan. Mmmm… Wait for the rest to cool and harden before you pack or plate them up. I pop them in the fridge because I stink at the whole patience thing.
Also fun for parties to do them with all M&M’s on top. Kids love how colorful and fun these are:
These are so cute that I love to package them in little peep-window boxes. You can grab some off of Amazon, or craft stores like Michaels.
Or just pop them in a bowl or on a plate for a party. Either way they’ll be gone fast! And just look how fancy-schmancy they look. No one has to know you whipped them up so fast 🙂
Easy Pretzel Turtles
Description
These pretzel turtles are deliciously easy. Actually, more like dangerously easy…
Ingredients
- Small pretzels
- Rolo candies – one bag has about 55 candies
- Pecan halves – or optionally peanuts, cashews, Hershey’s kisses, M&Ms, or Reese’s Pieces
- Optional: almond bark or white chocolate for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place pretzels on lined baking sheet. (Works well with a silpat, tin foil, or parchment paper).
- Unwrap your Rolo candies and place one on top of each pretzel.
- Place pan in the oven for 3-4 minutes; until chocolate on the outside to looks glossy and melty.
- Remove pan from oven and take a pecan, peanut, chocolate candy, Hershey’s kiss, or whatever else you desire, and gently press it right into the center of the chocolate candy.
- Enjoy a few warm, then wait to cool and harden before you pack or plate them up.
Notes
- Great tip: To drizzle, just melt some almond bark in a plastic baggie and nip the corner off for a homemade piping bag. A little goes a long way; I used a half a square of almond bark for half a batch and had plenty left over.
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Questions & Reviews
That is the best idea EVER!!!!
I love it.
I have been lamenting the fact that I don't have the time this year to bake like i usually do. These will be PERFECT treats for friends & neighbors!!
What a fantastic idea! I'm going to give these a try for sure!
I love making these! If Rolos are a bit hard to find you can also use Caramel Hershey kisses, though you don't leave them in the oven as long because they melt faster than Rolos.
Thanks for the reminder about these! I've only ever made them with pecans on top, so now I have a few more ideas to try!
I made these a few weeks ago, and yours are so much lovelier than mine. I am going to pout now. You always make such beautiful things!
OH MY! i just made these and they are WONDERFUL! the perfect mix of salty, crunchy, and all that good stuff. Thanks!
Laura and Stephanie- We found out about making PW's list when everyone else did, and we were totally surprised! Thanks to everyone who mentioned us!
Oooh, I love making these! I never get to use nuts because my hubbie is allergic, but maybe I'll just make a batch for myself! By the way, did you gals notice you were one of the top 20 most referenced recipe sites on one of Pioneer Woman's giveaway the other day? I'm not surprised. I'm glad so many people are finding your site because it's fantastic!
Oh Sara!
You have GOT to be kidding me!
Those look so YUMMMMY!
Love the salt with the chocolate! And you make those look so easy to make in your pictures!
Oh! Just lovely!
XXOOXX
I LOVE these! So simple, and so brilliant, like most things you girls do. I totally want to do these for neighbor gifts. THANK YOU! 🙂
I practically ran to the kitchen to make these with my daughter after seeing the recipe this morning. Why have I never heard of these before?! Could there be a better use for Rolos? I doubt it!
I just finished making these…boy are they good! I used cashews.
I would just tweek the recipe just a tad and DOUBLE THE RECIPE!!!
you guys have the best ideas. I made the pizza bites last week and I have been trying to figure out what to make for teachers/ neighbors this year. I always make linzer cookies (which I still will) but I like to try easy new ideas too that I have not seen before to add to the linzers. This sound great-yet addictive!
Wow! These look delicious and I love how easy they are to make.
oooo, dangerously easy! And definitely yummy! Will give this one a shot! Thanks ever so much!!
I've got a gazillion of your ideas and recipes I want to try. But these will probably be the grand prize winner since I can make them [hopefully] with the kiddos for their teachers. I love the m&m's idea, since half my family is allergic to nuts! Thanks for sharing, and making everything look delicious in the process.
I'm going to make these this weekend. Thanks!
I love these!! I have the pretzels and rolos waiting to be made. These will go into our peanut brittle bowls! 🙂
LOVE IT! we do these with hershey kisses and m&m's but never thought to do them with rolo's and pecans!! YUMMMMMMMY! will be doing these this weekend!
thanks!
I've made these for two years now using the waffle pretzels and the microwave rather than the oven. I'm so happy to know how to one up everyone else with these these Christmas!!! THanks! (good chuckle). Boring me would not have thought to try to change up the recipe any…dah!
These are great and my son will love to help!!!! YEAY! You have done it again!
These look great! I am definitely going to have to try this one out!
Made these a couple weeks ago, with every intention of sharing with friends and neighbors. Yeah, that didn't happen! Made a second batch and delivered them as soon as they were cool, because my hips can't afford to eat even one more!
That is the greatest idea ever! Thanks for sharing!
Jennie 🙂
Wow… another great recipe! Did you see you made the Pioneer Woman's top 20 referenced websites for favorite recipes?
Pretty amazing since she received over 19K comments asking for favorite online recipes.
Congratulations! One of your recipes was one of my favorites.
i love this idea! thanks and they look amazing.
Thank you–I was just thinking of googling this little treat earlier today. Perfect timing!
Yes, announcement announcement, our Print Friendly button is working properly now!!
I used your printer friendly button for the first time today. WOW, am I impressed. It formats the recipe perfectly, allows me to modify and remove if I desire, and even offers PDF format so that I can save it to my hard drive. AWESOME! Thanks SO much.