Tasty S'mores Pretzel Bites

Got a sweet tooth? These salty-sweet s'mores bites take your favorite campfire snack and turn them into mini treats that work for any occasion. You'll love how the crunchy pretzels mix with soft chocolate and fluffy marshmallows, giving you that classic taste without needing to start a fire.

I came up with these when rain spoiled our outdoor s'mores plan at my niece's party. The kids went crazy for these little treats and totally forgot about the canceled bonfire. Now they don't want regular s'mores anymore – they ask for these at every family get-together.

Ingredients

• Round pretzels: They make a fantastic salty foundation instead of graham crackers. Try to find ones with broad, flat centers to hold your chocolate better
• Hershey's Hot Cocoa Kisses or regular chocolate kisses: They form that must-have chocolate component. Hot Cocoa ones add something special, but normal kisses work just fine too
• Mini marshmallows: They create that puffy top that makes everyone think of s'mores. Go for new ones since older marshmallows tend to get stiff

Step-by-Step Instructions

Get Your Oven Ready:

Turn your oven on to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. This cooler temp is important because it just softens the chocolate without totally melting it or burning your pretzels.

Get Everything Ready:

Put parchment paper all over a baking sheet so nothing sticks. Make sure it covers every bit of the pan for super easy cleanup after.

Lay Out Your Pretzels:

Put 48 round pretzels in tidy lines on your paper-covered baking sheet with space between each one. Pick whole, unbroken pretzels for the best looking treats.

Put On The Chocolate:

Unwrap all 48 kisses first so you can work quickly. Put one kiss right in the middle of each pretzel, making sure it sits on the flattest part for better balance.

Soften The Chocolate:

Put the baking sheet in your warm oven for just 4 minutes. This timing is key – it makes the chocolate soft but not runny. Keep an eye on them during the final minute.

Top With Marshmallows:

Take the sheet out and right away push a mini marshmallow into each soft chocolate kiss. Press enough to stick it in the chocolate but not so hard that you squish the chocolate through the pretzel holes.

Let Them Set:

Let your treats sit at room temp until the chocolate firms up again, about 30 minutes. Don't put them in the fridge to speed things up – it can make the texture weird.

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When I first tried making these, I accidentally set the oven too hot and ended up with chocolate melted everywhere. That mistake taught me something valuable – the secret to these treats is just warming the chocolate enough to hold the marshmallow without creating a sticky situation.

Make-Ahead Magic

You can make these s'mores bites five days before you need them, which helps a ton with party prep. Keep them in one layer in a sealed container at room temp, with parchment between layers if you need to stack them. The pretzels might get a bit less crunchy after a day or two, but they'll still taste amazing.

Kid-Friendly Kitchen Project

Kids love helping make these treats. Younger ones can lay out pretzels on the tray while older kids can unwrap chocolates and place them. Everybody enjoys pushing marshmallows into warm chocolate, and waiting for them to cool teaches kids patience. I've found this simple recipe is a great way to introduce my smallest helpers to cooking.

Seasonal Variations

Switch things up throughout the year by changing your chocolate flavors. Go for pumpkin kisses in autumn, festive colors at Christmas, or white chocolate in springtime. You can also add fun sprinkles by gently pressing them into the warm marshmallow for holidays like Halloween or Valentine's Day. My family can't get enough of the mint version during the winter.

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Recipe FAQs

→ Can I use different types of chocolate for these S'mores Pretzel Bites?

You bet! Feel free to swap out the Hershey's Hot Cocoa or chocolate kisses with milk chocolate chips, dark chocolate kisses, or even white chocolate if you want. Just remember that each type of chocolate melts at different speeds, so you might need to tweak your baking time a little.

→ How should I store leftover S'mores Pretzel Bites?

Keep your cooled treats in a sealed container at room temperature and they'll stay good for about 5 days. To keep them from sticking together, put parchment paper between layers. Don't put them in the fridge though, as your pretzels will get soggy instead of staying crunchy.

→ Can I make these S'mores Pretzel Bites ahead of time for a party?

For sure! These snacks work great when made early. You can make them a couple days before your get-together and keep them in an airtight box at room temp. The chocolate will harden completely, making them super easy to hand out and less sticky for your guests to eat.

→ What can I do if my chocolate isn't melting properly in the oven?

When your chocolate won't melt evenly after 4 minutes, just pop the tray back in for another 30-60 seconds. Watch it closely since chocolate burns fast. You might also want to check if your oven runs at the right temperature with a thermometer to make sure it's not too cool.

→ Are there any variations I can try with these pretzel bites?

Loads! Go for flavored kisses like caramel or peanut butter. You can also use colorful marshmallows for holiday themes, stick a tiny bit of graham cracker under the chocolate for real s'mores taste, or add a drizzle of caramel or white chocolate once they've cooled down.

→ Why did my marshmallows slide off the chocolate?

This usually happens when the chocolate gets too firm before you add the marshmallows. Always put your marshmallows on right after taking the pretzels out of the oven while the chocolate's still soft. Push them down gently but firmly into the chocolate so they'll stick as everything cools off.