White Chocolate Haystacks With Pretzels
You’ll love these White Chocolate Haystacks because they they’re the perfect balance of salt and sweet. Plus they’re super easy to make with no baking required.Â
I make these white chocolate pretzel haystacks every holiday season. They’re great to put out for company or to bring to a friend’s house. There used to be a cookie exchange at work and I was happy to trade these very easy to make treats for a whole variety of fancy cookies.
Seriously, you only need two inexpensive ingredients (plus one more for decoration but that’s optional). There’s no baking involved, just need a stovetop or a microwave.
So to recap, they’re inexpensive, easy to make, and delicious. That’s make them a no brainer in my book!
Step By Step
Make sure you get everything prepped and ready because once you get started the process goes very quickly. Start by lining a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
If you’re going to use crushed candy canes as garnish do that first. I like to use a food processor to crush them into a fine powder. You can also put a few candy canes in a freezer bag and crush them with a hammer or a rolling pin.
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Next you need to melt the chocolate in the microwave or a double boiler. If microwaving you’ll want to heat it for about a minute and then stir until creamy. If it isn’t quite warm enough continue heating in short 10 second bursts until it reaches the right texture. But be careful, if you heat it to much the chocolate will seize up and become thick, lumpy, and hard. If that happens you’ll have to start all over with a fresh batch of chocolate.
The microwave method failed for me a few times so I much prefer using a double boiler (see instructions below). It’s a slower and more gentle process where you can keep your eye on the chocolate the whole time and keep it from seizing up.
Using A Double Boiler
To make a double boiler, place a heatproof bowl (glass or metal) over a saucepan with an inch or two of simmering water, ensuring the bowl doesn’t touch the water. The steam gently heats the chocolate in the bowl without scorching it.
- Use a bowl that sits on the pot without touching the bottom
- Add 1–2 inches of water to the saucepan
- Heat water to a gentle simmer
- Add chocolate to the bowl and place over the saucepan
- Stir slowly as it melts
- Remove from heat when smooth
Once the chocolate is creamy and melted, stir in the pretzels until fully coated. Then spoon onto the baking sheet so they look like mini haystacks. Sprinkle on the crushed candy canes and set the baking sheet aside to cool. You can pop it in the refrigerator for a few minutes to speed up the cooling process.
Variations
- Instead of white chocolate, use melted milk, semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
- Use chow mein noodles instead of pretzel sticks
- Sprinkle the haystacks with sliced almonds, nonpareils, colored sugar, or sprinkles (jimmies)
White Chocolate Haystacks
You’ll love these White Chocolate Haystacks because they they’re the perfect balance of salt and sweet. Plus they’re super easy to make with no baking required.
- Prep Time: 10
- Additional Time: 20
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 11 ounces white chocolate chips
- 4 cups pretzel sticks
- candy canes (crushed for garnish) optional
Instructions
- Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or microwave until its smooth and creamy.
- Add the pretzels and stir until fully coated.
- Spoon onto a baking sheet with parchment paper, sprinkle with crushed candy canes, and allow to cool.
Notes
- Swap out the pretzels for chow mein noodles, or add in some peanuts or sliced almonds
- You can let the haystacks cool at room temperature or pop them in the fridge to speed it up
