Christmas Pretzels (M&M Hugs) | Kathleen's Cravings (2024)

Christmas Pretzels are the easiest holiday treat around! They use just 3 ingredients - pretzels, Hershey hugs, and M&Ms. They are super easy to make and they last for weeks so are the perfect make ahead holiday treat.

Christmas Pretzels are great to add to your cookie tray or Cookie Charcuterie Board. Also try making these Easy Christmas Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles or Brown Butter Sugar Cookies.

⭐Why I love them

• 3 Ingredients - Just pretzels, Hershey's Hugs, and M&Ms!
• Kid-Friendly - Not only do kids love to eat these, but they are great for them to help out making as well.
• Make Ahead Friendly - You can make a big batch and keep them for a couple of weeks to munch on all holiday season.

🥘Ingredients

• Bag of Pretzels - Either circles, squares, or holiday shapes. Just be sure to use regular pretzels and not the butter flavor.
• Hershey's Hugs - They're like regular chocolate Hershey's Kisses but swirled with white chocolate
• M&M's - I like to use the holiday colored ones.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

📖Variations

There are lots of ways to mix up this Christmas Pretzels recipe - see some of my favorite variations!

• Other Holidays - Try using different colored M&M's to adapt them for different holidays.
• Other Types of Hershey Kisses - Instead of Hugs, you can also use regular Hershey's Kisses or any other flavor of Hershey's Kisses.
• Sprinkles - If you want to make them extra festive, you can sprinkle on holiday sprinkles after you press in the M&Ms while the chocolate is still melty so they stick.

🔪Step by Step Instructions

Making Christmas Pretzels is about as easy as it gets! And it's a great recipe to get the kids involved. The really young ones can help unwrap the Hugs or place them on top of the pretzels.

Photo 1 - Start by unwrapping the Hershey's Hugs and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for make easier removal. Create an even layer of pretzels on the baking sheet and top each pretzel with a Hug.

Photo 2 - Bake in preheated oven for about 3-5 minutes until the Hug is starting to soften. You can use a spoon to gently press into the Hug to test them. Don't let them cook to the point where the chocolate is totally melted. Place baking sheet in refrigerator to allow Hugs to harden again.

🍽Leftovers and Storage

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks at room temperature or in the fridge. They can even be stored in the fridge for up to 3 months.

💭Recipe Tips

• Parchment Paper or Silicone Liner - Make sure to use one to line your baking sheet. If you just make the pretzels directly on the baking sheet, the chocolate will stick to the sheet and they will be hard to remove without breaking the pretzel.
• Don't melt the chocolates fully - You want the Kiss or Hug to still have some shape. I recommend removing from the oven, testing one with an M&M or the back of a spoon. If you can't smoosh the chocolate down enough, you can put the sheet back in the oven for a minute or two. If you bake too long the chocolate will fully melt into a puddle.

🎁Give them as gifts!

Because these treats last so long, they are great as gifts. You can wrap some in a cellophane bag with a holiday ribbon, fill a small mason jar or holiday tin. Perfect DIY holiday gift or hostess gift.

👩‍🍳Recipe FAQs

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