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My countertop's loaded with red and green M&Ms right now. Whipping up these pretzel hugs for my kid's class party tomorrow - they're those irresistible sweet-salty snacks that vanish instantly. First made them two Christmases ago when I was short on time, and now we can't imagine holidays without them. Just three ingredients, a single baking tray, and roughly 20 minutes does the trick. The toughest challenge? Keeping everyone from grabbing them before they've set!
Benefits of These Treats
These pretzel goodies rescued me last Tuesday when I completely blanked on our block's cookie swap. They're thrown together in minutes, yet folks think you've slaved away for hours. My children love smashing the M&Ms into the top - we cranked out four batches this past weekend for gifts to teachers. They're also much more budget-friendly than store-bought holiday sweets, and you can whip up small amounts whenever something's needed.
Required Ingredients
- Hershey's Hugs: Those swirly white and milk chocolate varieties. Plain kisses can fill in if that's what you've got handy
- Square pretzels: Grab the waffle-shaped ones - they cradle the chocolate better
- Holiday M&Ms: Green and red for Christmas, though any shades work for different celebrations
Assembly Steps
- Preheat your oven
- Set to 200° - barely warm to gently soften chocolates
- Prepare your sheet
- Put parchment on a baking tray to prevent sticking
- Arrange pretzels
- Place them across your sheet - allow small gaps between each
- Place chocolates
- Set one hug directly in the center of each pretzel
- Heat briefly
- Bake roughly 4 minutes - keep an eye out, they soften quickly
- Add M&Ms promptly
- Gently press candy into each soft chocolate - move quickly before hardening
- Allow to set
- Wait until completely firm, or use your fridge for faster results
Creative Variations
Recently tried using different M&M colors based on our celebrations. White and blue ones for Hanukkah a few weeks ago looked absolutely adorable. Getting the chocolate just right is crucial - learned after completely melting my first attempt. Combining standard kisses with hugs creates nice flavor variety in one batch.
Workspace Preparation
Make room on your counter before you start - you'll need plenty of space when working against time with warm chocolates. Keep your candy stash close since some always mysteriously vanish during assembly (usually into someone's mouth). Tried making these once in July - had to blast the air conditioning or they wouldn't harden properly. Trays with edges work better to stop pretzels from sliding around.
Watch The Clock
Four minutes generally works, but stay alert - ovens vary wildly. You want chocolates soft enough to flatten slightly, not totally melted. I goofed up initially and ended with chocolate everywhere. These days I use a timer and peek at the 3-minute mark just to be careful.
Storage Tips
They'll stay tasty about a week in a container, assuming they stick around that long. Whipped up three batches for yesterday's cookie swap - layered them between wax paper sheets to maintain their appearance. They transport nicely in sturdy containers, just keep them cool or the chocolate gets sloppy.
Personal Touches
Every batch looks slightly different depending on your working speed. Sometimes I throw in extra pretzels knowing some will snap (or disappear during prep). Found out tiny kisses also work well - just need less warming time. My friend across the street tried dark chocolate kisses recently - they paired wonderfully with the salty pretzel base.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → How much time do I need?
About 10 minutes to get them ready, 4 minutes to bake, and 15 minutes in the fridge for cooling.
- → Can I swap the chocolate?
Absolutely! Hershey's Kisses or any other chocolate that fits on the pretzel works fine.
- → Are these safe for gluten-free diets?
No, standard pretzels include gluten. Opt for gluten-free pretzels if needed.
- → What’s the best way to store them?
Keep them at room temperature in a sealed container. For longer storage, pop them in the fridge.
- → Can I make these ahead of time?
Sure! Prepare them 1–2 days ahead. They stay fresh without trouble.
Conclusion
Try another fast dessert like peanut butter cookies made with just three things: peanut butter, sugar, and one egg. Both are time-saving winners during hectic holiday schedules and barely need any effort.