Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Chocolate Covered Pretzels 

Chocolate covered pretzels have become my favorite go-to treat for parties and special events.  These tasty little treats are pretty simple to make and are always a hit! This weekend I co-hosted a baby shower for my friend.  Last minute the party favors we ordered fell through so I was convinced to make some chocolate covered pretzels and package them up as a thank you treat for our guests.  

I like to decorate my pretzels using chocolate and sprinkles to compliment the holiday or theme of the event. I prefer to use Almond Bark in vanilla or chocolate flavors because it is easy to melt, tastes delicious, and sets smoothly. Wilton Candy Melts are also great because they too are easy to melt and the wafers are available in a variety of vibrant colors.  

Chocolate Covered Pretzel Supplies

Supplies:

• pretzel rods (be careful not to crack the pretzels in transit)
• almond bark melting chocolate or candy melts
• sprinkles (sugar or candy) 
• wax paper
• microwave safe glass mug or cylinder shape container
• spoon 

Step One & Step Two 

Step One: Begin by covering your work surface with a few sheets of wax paper.  In the meantime, fill your glass mug with melting chocolate and heat in the microwave on high for approximately 60 seconds, remove and stir.  The chocolate will begin to soften and as you stir it with a spoon it should become creamy.  You may need to pop it back into the microwave for 15 second increments until it is not only creamy but thin but be careful not to over heat! If overheated, the chocolate will become chunky and will not set properly.  

Step Two: Place pretzel rods vertical into the mug and use your spoon to gently work the chocolate up the pretzel.  Once the pretzel is covered with chocolate pull it out of the mug, shake off excess chocolate and place onto the wax paper.  As the pretzels are being covered with chocolate, line them up vertically on the wax paper and shake on the sprinkles or candy pieces before chocolate starts to set.  Make sure to leave the pretzels on the wax paper until the chocolate is fully set and hardened.  

Step Three 

Step Three: Once the chocolate is fully set, I usually melt a small amount of chocolate in a ramekin dish (following heating directions in step one) and I use a spoon to drizzle the chocolate in a sweeping motion across the pretzel rods.  Do not remove the pretzels from the wax paper until the chocolate is fully set (allow about 20 to 30 minutes).  

Step Four: Store the chocolate covered pretzels in an air tight container with a piece of wax paper between the layers of pretzels to prevent them from sticking together.  I usually serve the pretzels on long white porcelain serving plate or arrange the pretzels in a heart or cylinder shape glass vase lined with tissue paper.  

Chocolate Covered Pretzel Favors 

A finishing touch...

Since we were giving the chocolate covered pretzels as a shower favor, we purchased Wilton Pretzel Bags to package them.  We placed two pretzels in each bag and tied a pink tulle bow on top.  The pretzels were delicious and a tasteful way to say thank you to each of our guests:) 

Lauren 

Fabric Flower Tutorial

Fabric Flower Headbands

My darling cousins are about to turn 6 and 3 years old and with their birthday party fast approaching I decided to make them both something handmade to add to their gifts.  Rachel and Courtney are very girlie and they rarely leave home without being decked out from head-to-toe! My little dollies are always well accessorized so I decided I would try to make some headbands that would coordinate with their Fall wardrobes:)

I recently learned how to make rolled fabric flowers which are simple to make and can be used to dress-up just about anything! I made an adorable wreath earlier this year using a grape vine wreath and fabric flowers in shades of green (my favorite color). The wreath is packed away in the attic but I will be sure to post a photo when I pull it out in the Spring.  These flowers are also cute glued on ribbons, clips or pins to embellish gifts, clothing, hairdos, etc....these flowers are a crafty gem and the possibilities are endless!  Since I was making the headbands for little ladies I decided to make 3 flowers per headband.

Rolled Fabric Flowers 

Supplies: 

• Fabric (I used 3 different patterns, 1/4 yard of each to make approximately 18 fabric flowers) 
• Fabric glue 
• Scissors or rotary cutter 
• Ruler or rotary cutting mat with ruler
• Headbands (I purchased 6 fabric covered headbands but an alternative could be hair clips or pins) 

Supplies 

Step One 

Step One: Cut the fabric pieces into 2" wide by 22" inch long strips.  With these measurements,  I was able to cut approximately 10 strips per 1/4 yard of fabric.  The length of the fabric strip determines the width of the flower, a 22'' strip makes a flower approximately 1" wide (small).  To make a larger flower I usually use 2 to 3 strips.

I used my rotary set to more accurately cut the strips however it's okay to eyeball the measurements if you are using scissors.

Step Two

Step Two: Once the fabric strips are cut, begin by folding your strip in half (lengthwise) and applying about a  line of fabric glue top to bottom.  

Step Three

Step Three: Begin rolling your fabric strip about 7 or 8 times.  This will be the center of the flower.  

Step Four 

Step Four: Keep a tight hold on the center with one hand and with your other hand start twisting the fabric around the center in a counter clock-wise direction, placing a small dot of glue every other twist to secure. I usually place a good amount of glue on a piece of cardboard ahead of time and use my finger tip to apply the glue while twisting. The more you twist the fabric, the tighter rolled the flower will be.  

Step Five 

Step Five: Keep twisting your fabric strip around the center and when you get to the end of the strip, glue the end down to the side of the flower.  If you want to make a larger flower, take an additional strip of fabric, fold in half (lengthwise), apply a dot of glue and continue twisting. The more strips added on, the larger the flower.

The flower in this picture was made using two 22" strips of fabric.

Step Six 

Step Six: After the glue on your flowers are dry, use fabric glue or a hot glue gun to attach as desired.  I used my hot glue gun to attach the fabric flowers, one at a time to the headbands.  I glued three flowers per headband.

Rolled Fabric Flowers 

It took me a few evenings to make enough flowers for the headbands. Once you get into the groove of twisting and gluing, you will be surprised just how simple and fun these flowers are to make:)

Headbands:) 

 As a finishing touch, I placed the flower headbands in clear cello bags tied with white tulle.  I wanted to be sure the headbands didn't get smashed when wrapped with the matching pink ruffle tops and comfy boot cut jeans I purchased for the girls. The headbands are darling and  I will try to snap a photo of the girls wearing them at their birthday party.








I am kind of on a roll with making the rolled fabric flowers and like I said before, once you get moving and grooving with making them the possibilities are endless!   My cousin Taylor's birthday party is also coming up and I had some extra fabric quarters in my craft box so I decided to make her a headband to match the outfit I bought her.  Taylor is going into the second grade so I decided to get a little thicker headband and I discovered that is much easier to mount the rolled flowers onto a thicker surface.  

Pink fabric flowers on a thicker headband

Rolled Fabric Flowers 

By the way, I forgot to mention before that the color of the fabric is much more important than the pattern.  Once the flowers are rolled the pattern isn't really visible, just the colors.  The fabric that I used to create the flowers for this headband had a bright pink background with large green, yellow and orange flowers. 

Flower Headband:) 

All of the flower headbands I made are adorably cute, but I do think the bright pink flowers on the thicker pink headband is my favorite! I am excited  to see what else I can beautify with these crafty treasures! 

Fabric Flower Hair Pins

Lauren