Pretzels make a great creative base for all your Valentine’s Day treats, from brownie and pretzel rod princess wands to chocolate pretzel kisses.
“I’ve always seen baking as a way to show love to those around you, and that is never more valued than at Valentine’s Day,” says Torie Reynolds, foodservice director at The Hockaday School and a Culinary Institute of America graduate. “Pretzels are great because they are pre-made and really easy to handle, whether you simply dip them in colorful chocolate or use pretzel rods as the base for a creative treat. The saltiness pairs great with chocolate and they offer a lot of versatility.”
Since pretzels are easy to work with, it’s a great opportunity to get the kids involved. “Grab pretzels, colored white chocolate, mini chocolate chips, and sprinkles and then let the kids’ minds run wild!” Reynolds urges.
This creative chef has a few sweet and salty concoctions up her sleeve for Valentine’s Day, and a few of her favorite creations include:
Five-layer bars. Crushed pretzels instead of nuts make this treat great for a kid’s party where there may be a nut allergy.
Brownie and pretzel rod princess wands. “Simply cut star shapes out of a brownie sheet, dip them in white chocolate, add sprinkles and stick on the end of a pretzel rod,” Reynolds instructs.
Sweetie bark. Instead of peppermint bark, use chopped pretzels and Valentine’s-colored candies to update this favorite.
Pretzel lollipops. “When using chocolate candy molds, use a pretzel rod in place of the paper stick and the whole treat is edible!” she says.
Pretzel kisses. A chocolate drop squeezed between two square pretzels.
“I love the fact that Valentine’s Day allows you to be as cute and silly as possible,” Reynolds remarks. “Pinks and reds are welcomed, and kids get an opportunity to be really creative in how they express their love.”
A twist on pretzel treats
Pretzels make a great creative base for all your Valentine’s Day treats, from brownie and pretzel rod princess wands to chocolate pretzel kisses.
“I’ve always seen baking as a way to show love to those around you, and that is never more valued than at Valentine’s Day,” says Torie Reynolds, foodservice director at The Hockaday School and a Culinary Institute of America graduate. “Pretzels are great because they are pre-made and really easy to handle, whether you simply dip them in colorful chocolate or use pretzel rods as the base for a creative treat. The saltiness pairs great with chocolate and they offer a lot of versatility.”
Since pretzels are easy to work with, it’s a great opportunity to get the kids involved. “Grab pretzels, colored white chocolate, mini chocolate chips, and sprinkles and then let the kids’ minds run wild!” Reynolds urges.
This creative chef has a few sweet and salty concoctions up her sleeve for Valentine’s Day, and a few of her favorite creations include:
“I love the fact that Valentine’s Day allows you to be as cute and silly as possible,” Reynolds remarks. “Pinks and reds are welcomed, and kids get an opportunity to be really creative in how they express their love.”