No-Bake Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Cookies for St. Patrick’s Day
Pretzel cookies were a go-to staple for holidays in my house growing up. I think my mom got her zen on filling circle pretzels with white chocolate and placing an M&M in the middle. I’ll say she was really good at it … and those little cookies were always a hit at parties. Probably because you could pop 10 of them into your mouth for a salty-sweet snack without thinking anything of it.
This holiday recipe is a twist on that classic, an inspired idea for a cute St. Patrick’s Day party snack: Dip pretzel twists in colored candy melts and arrange them in threes to form a shamrock. Accent with an M&M and some sprinkles, and you have the cutest bite-size St. Patrick’s Day treats without even having to turn on your oven.
There are four variations to play around with: green candy melts and white candy melts, chocolate-covered pretzels and filled pretzels. I found the chocolate-covered variation to be easier than the filled pretzels because it requires less precision, but chocolate dipping isn’t everyone’s favorite. Either way, have green sugar sprinkles on hand to camouflage your mistake, and you’re golden. 😉
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure policy for all the boring details.
Lucky Shamrock Chocolate Pretzel M&M Cookies
Ingredients:
- Snyder’s Itty-Bitty Mini Pretzel Twists (this teeny size works best for bite-size shamrocks, but if you can’t find it, regular mini pretzel twists will work too. You’ll just need more candy melts.)
- Wilton Bright Green Candy melts
- Wilton White Candy melts
- Green M&Ms
- Green sugar sprinkles
- Wax or parchment paper
How-To Tutorial:
1. Cover your work surface with parchment or wax paper and secure corners with tape.
2. Divide pretzels into threes. Discard any broken pretzels.
3. Melt your candy melts (in two separate bowls) according to package directions.
4. Arrange the three pretzels into a triangular shape that forms a shamrock.
5. Dip pretzels one by one and coat in candy melt. (Use a fork to dip and then shake gently side to side to remove excess candy melt.)
6. Slide pretzel off fork onto wax paper to harden.
7. Repeat with second pretzel. Slide pretzel off fork and arrange so that two chocolate-covered pretzels touch as shown:
8. Repeat with third pretzel. Arrange so that sides of all three pretzels are touching.
9. Use quarter-teaspoon or other small spoon to add dollop of candy melt to center of pretzel “shamrock”, where the three pretzels meet.
10. Add green M&M in center.
11. Sprinkle with festive sugar sprinkles.
12. Allow to dry without jostling so that pretzel “shamrocks” harden into one piece.
13. For filled pretzels, begin by filling each pretzel separately.
14. Then add dollop of candy melt to center of pretzel and spread outward to three pretzels to connect the “leaves” of the shamrock.
15. Add M&M to center and sprinkle. Allow to dry completely before stacking into storage container.
These will last for at least a week in an airtight container, but I doubt they’ll last that long around your house!
Every time I work with candy melts, I’m reminded that it usually takes me about halfway through the project to really perfect my technique. Not all of my shamrocks are Pinterest-perfect — but they all taste good.
If you’re looking for other kid-friendly St. Patrick’s Day treats, check out leprechaun bait trail mix made with edible leprechaun gold coins. For a decidedly un-kid-friendly Irish dessert, boozy Bailey’s buttercream frosting is to die for on pretty much anything. And if you’d rather celebrate the holiday healthily, a mint shamrock smoothie is a great place to start.
There’s still more St. Paddy’s Day fun ahead of us. While you wait to see what I’m bringing you next (it’s a good one), share your shamrocks with #NeverDoneWithFun on social media and follow along on Instagram and Pinterest for the latest ideas and inspiration!
