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Got red and green M&Ms all over my counter right now. Whipping up these pretzel hugs for my kid's class party tomorrow - they're those irresistible sweet-salty bites that vanish instantly. Started throwing these together when I needed something fast last Christmas, and now we can't get through the holidays without them. Just three ingredients, a single baking sheet, and roughly 20 minutes total. The biggest challenge? Keeping the kids from grabbing them before they've set!
Reasons To Try These
These pretzel goodies totally saved me when I completely forgot the neighborhood cookie swap last week. They come together so fast, and everyone thinks you've spent ages on them. My kids love helping smash the M&Ms into the chocolate - we made like four batches for teacher presents last weekend. They're also way more affordable than store-bought holiday treats, and you can whip up small amounts whenever you need something sweet.
Ingredients List
- Hershey's Hugs: Those swirly white and milk chocolate ones. Don't worry, normal kisses work fine if that's all you've got
- Square pretzels: Grab the waffle-pattern ones - they really cradle the chocolate better
- Holiday M&Ms: Green and red for Christmas, but switch colors for any celebration
Step-By-Step Instructions
- Preheat your oven
- Set it at 200° - just enough heat to make the chocolate pliable
- Prepare your baking sheet
- Put parchment paper down so everything comes off easily
- Arrange pretzels
- Spread them across the pan - give each one a bit of breathing room
- Place your hugs
- Set one chocolate onto each pretzel, centered nicely
- Heat them briefly
- Stick them in for about 4 minutes - keep an eye out, they turn soft quickly
- Add M&Ms fast
- Press a candy into each softened chocolate - gotta move quick before they harden
- Let them set
- Wait until they're firm, or stick the pan in your fridge to speed things up
Custom Touches
Lately I've been switching M&M colors based on the occasion. The blue and white ones for Hanukkah came out really pretty last month. You've gotta nail that chocolate softness - learned that after my first batch turned into a melty mess. I sometimes mix standard kisses with hugs for variety in the same batch.
Prep Work
Make sure your countertop's clear before you start - you'll need room to work quickly once the chocolates get warm. Keep your candy stash nearby because some always mysteriously vanish during the process (usually into somebody's mouth). I tried making these in July once - had to blast the air conditioning or they wouldn't firm up right. Go for a cookie sheet with edges so your pretzels don't slide off.
Watch The Clock
Four minutes usually works perfectly, but stay alert - ovens can be unpredictable. You want the chocolates just soft enough to press down, not completely melted. I messed that up at first and ended up with chocolate everywhere. These days I set a timer and start peeking at 3 minutes just to be careful.
Storage Tips
They'll stay yummy for about a week in a container, assuming they don't get gobbled up first. I made three batches for yesterday's cookie swap - layered them between sheets of wax paper to keep them looking nice. They travel well in a sturdy container, just keep them cool or the chocolate gets sloppy.
Personal Variations
No two batches look exactly alike depending on how quickly you add the M&Ms. Sometimes I throw in extra pretzels knowing some will snap (or disappear while I'm working). Found out tiny kisses work too - just need less warming time. My neighbor used dark chocolate kisses last week - they tasted fantastic with the crunchy, salty pretzel base.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → How much time do they take?
About 10 minutes to prep, 4 minutes to bake, and 15 minutes to chill in the fridge.
- → Can I swap the chocolate?
Yes, absolutely - try using Hershey’s Kisses or any small chocolates that fit your pretzels.
- → Are these safe for gluten-free diets?
No, standard pretzels have gluten. Look for gluten-free pretzels if needed.
- → What's the best way to store them?
They’re fine at room temperature in a sealed container. If storing for a longer time, put them in the refrigerator.
- → Can I prepare them beforehand?
Sure! These can be made 1-2 days ahead and still taste fresh.
Conclusion
You might also like 3-ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies! Just mix sugar, peanut butter, and an egg. Both options save time during the festive rush and require almost no effort.