If you love the combination of sweet and salty, this Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites recipe will be your new favorite treat! These bite-sized snacks are the perfect combination of creamy peanut butter, rich dark chocolate, and crunchy pretzels, making them an irresistible option for any occasion. The best part? There's no baking involved! Perfect for the holiday season, an after-school snack, or a fun treat to share!
Want an easy, no-bake dessert that you can whip out for Halloween parties, Thanksgiving, and Christmas? These salty treats are the answer! Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites are super easy to make and completely addictive. The first time I made these for a party, they disappeared in minutes. I dare you to eat just one! (Try also my Dirt Cake recipe and Chocolate Peppermint Icebox Cake for more easy no-bake desserts!
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Why This Recipe Works
This recipe is super easy and makes the perfect snack. Here's why I love it so much:
- That peanut butter filling! Adding powdered sugar, light brown sugar, and butter to the peanut butter mixture creates a "peanut butter cup" like consistency, which is irresistible. It achieves the perfect balance of sweetness with a hint of caramel flavor. Ugh - I want to eat it by the spoonful! (Don't want to use peanut butter here? Make these ultra-indulgent by using this nut butter instead!)
- Sweet and salty. I love the sweet flavor of the peanut butter filling combined with the crunch of the salty pretzel.
- The perfect texture. The salty crunch of the crispy pretzels pairs perfectly with the sweet peanut butter filling, while the smooth coating of melted chocolate ties everything together. These are fantastic served alongside a mug of Mexican Hot Chocolate.
- No-bake recipe! Maybe one of my favorite things about this recipe? You don't even need to turn your oven on! (See also my no-bake peanut butter protein balls recipe for a similar snack!)
Key Ingredients
Just a few simple ingredients are needed for this easy no-bake dessert.
- Peanut butter. Creamy peanut butter works best for this recipe. You can also use natural peanut butter, but keep in mind that it might make the mixture a little softer.
- Butter. This adds just a little richness to the creamy peanut butter filling and helps hold everything together.
- Powdered sugar and light brown sugar. These sugars provide sweetness and a smooth texture to the filling. The light brown sugar adds a slight caramel flavor that complements the salty pretzels and helps make the peanut butter dough almost like a peanut butter cup filling. Delicious!
- Pretzels. Crunchy pretzels form the base and top of each sandwich, providing a satisfying salty crunch.
- Dark chocolate chips. I love dark chocolate paired with peanut butter and pretzels here for a next-level treat. You can also use milk chocolate or white chocolate chips for a different flavor.
- Sea salt. Totally optional, but I like just a small touch of sea salt on these pretzels to really amplify the flavors.
How To Make Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites
Making these little peanut butter snacks is easy. Here's what you'll do.
- Prepare the peanut butter mixture. Combine the peanut butter and butter in a medium bowl. Use an electric hand mixer (or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment if you prefer) to mix until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar and the light brown sugar, mixing until well incorporated. The mixture should resemble the texture of a peanut butter cup filling.
- Form the pretzel sandwiches. Scoop a small portion of the peanut butter mixture and shape it into small peanut butter balls using your hands. Sandwich each ball between two pretzels, gently pressing them together to form a pretzel sandwich.
- Chill the pretzel sandwiches. Place the pretzel sandwiches on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper. Refrigerate for 1 hour (or freeze for 30 minutes if you're in a hurry!). This step helps firm up the peanut butter mixture, making it much easier to dip in chocolate.
- Melt the chocolate. Once your peanut butter pretzel sandwiches have chilled, melt the chocolate. Add the dark chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl. Melt in 10-second intervals, stirring after each interval to ensure a smooth, even consistency.
- Dip the pretzel sandwiches in chocolate. Remove the chilled pretzel sandwiches from the refrigerator. Dip each one in the melted chocolate, coating it evenly. (I like to just coat the corners to make this process easy.) Return the chocolate-covered pretzel bites to the baking sheet. Sprinkle a little sea salt on top for an extra flavor boost.
- Chill Until Set: Return the baking sheet to the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, or until the chocolate hardens.
Variations and Substitutions
While this is a simple and straightforward recipe, there are a few ways you can mix it up based on your preferences.
- Change up the chocolate. I absolutely LOVE dark chocolate here, but you can easily substitute it with milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate chips, or even white chocolate chips for a sweeter or creamier coating. (And a different look!)
- Try a different nut butter. Try using almond butter or cashew butter for a nutty twist. (Just make sure they are well-mixed to prevent a runny consistency since these tend to have a bit more natural oils.)
- Add some color! For a fun and festive look, add some fun and colorful sprinkles to the chocolate before it sets. This is especially great for holidays.
- Make them vegan. If you'd like to make these vegan, you can omit the butter and substitute it with a bit of coconut oil. Also, make sure the chocolate you're using is pure dark chocolate and contains no milk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! These bites are perfect for making ahead. Simply prepare and refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to a week.
Yep! While rich, dark chocolate is my absolute favorite, milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and white chocolate chips work great too. I like mixing white and dark chocolate for a pretty presentation (especially when using sprinkles!)
A silicone baking mat works as a great alternative to parchment paper or wax paper for lining the baking sheet.
Using a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips in 10-second intervals, stirring between each interval. You want to stir every time so the chocolate doesn't burn and become too hard on the bottom of the bowl. You could also slowly heat the chocolate chips in a pot over low heat on the stove, stirring often until melted.
Yes, you can freeze them! Store the little guys in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
These Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites are the perfect salty snack and I can't wait for you to try them! If you make them, please let me know what you think in the comments below! And don't forget to tag me with a pic @frontrangefed on Instagram so I can see your masterpiece!
More Easy Desserts
- Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies
- Easy Homemade Dark Chocolate Almond Bark Recipe
- Easy Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars
- No Bake Mini Pumpkin Pie In A Cup
- Dark Chocolate Covered Cranberries
- Chocolate And Peppermint Icebox Cake
- Halloween Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- Chocolate-Covered Halloween Pretzel Rods
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls
Recipe
Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites (No Bake!)
Ingredients
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 2 tablespoon butter
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar firmly packed
- 80 small pretzels square shaped or twist shaped
- 10 oz dark chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoon sea salt
Instructions
- Add the peanut butter and the butter to a medium-sized bowl and mix until smooth. You can use an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment for this. Slowly add the brown sugar, followed by the powdered sugar, and mix until well incorporated. This should produce a "peanut butter cup" type filling".
- Scoop out small portions of the peanut butter mixture and, using your hands, shape it into small balls.
- Sandwich each ball between 2 pretzels and gently press together.
- Place all sandwiches on a parchment-lined baking sheet. (You can alternatively use a silicone mat instead of parchment if you prefer.) Refrigerate the peanut butter pretzel sandwiches for 1 hour, or freeze for 30 minutes. This will help firm up the peanut butter mixture.
- Once the peanut butter sandwiches have chilled, remove them from the refrigerator or freezer. Add the dark chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl and melt in 10-second intervals, taking care to stir the mixture after each interval.
- Dip each pretzel sandwich into the melted dark chocolate and return it to the parchment-lined baking sheet. Add a small sprinkle of sea salt to the chocolate portions of each bite. Return the sandwiches to the refrigerator and allow them to chill for about 30 minutes, or until the chocolate hardens.
Notes
- I was able to make about 40 peanut butter pretzel bites with this recipe, but depending on how thick you make your sandwiches, you may have more or less than that.
- Chilling the peanut butter pretzel sandwiches before dipping them in the chocolate helps to keep them together and makes them easier to dip.
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Sarah says
These are really good! The perfect no bake dessert, and great for little hands.