Why melting chocolate wafers versus chocolate chips?

I find melting chocolate wafers are easier to work with because they stay velvety much longer and the chocolate hardens quickly onto the pretzels. Chocolate chips will seize up faster when melted and also take longer to dry.

How to use as toppers:

Simply press the stems into cakes or cupcakes and push down. They are actually really sturdy and make the cutest, and most delicious topping for the holidays.

Allow them to harden completely, then store in sealed containers or bags for up to 3 days at room temperature.

Chocolate Christmas Tree Pretzels

Description

These Chocolate Christmas Tree Pretzels are so much fun to make over the holiday season. They're so easy and only require 3 ingredients. These Christmas Tree Pretzels sticks are fantastic for snacking on by themselves, or use them to top cakes and cupcakes.

Ingredients

Scale

20 pretzel sticks (small ones, not rods)
10 ounce bag white chocolate melting wafers, (prefer Ghirardelli brand)
1 tablespoon of holiday sprinkles (preference for nonpareils or sanding sugar sprinkles)
Optional: few drops of green food dye

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Instructions

Lay a large sheet of parchment paper out on the countertop, a bit longer than a cookie sheet would be. Spread about 20 pretzels on the parchment paper and space them out.
In a double boiler, or pot with glass bowl on top, add 2 cups of water into the bottom portion and pour the melting chocolate into the top. Note: Do not get any water in with the chocolate.
Turn the stovetop heat on low and melt the chocolate, stirring often.
Transfer the white chocolate into a piping bag and cut a small piece of the tip off. Let it cool for a minute if needed.
Leave the bottom 1/4 of the pretzel without chocolate for the stem. Then, drizzle the chocolate back and forth into a tree shape with wide strokes at the bottom and get skinnier until the tippy top. Immediately add the sprinkles.
Allow the chocolate to harden. It usually takes about 10 minutes. Then, gently pull them off the parchment paper. Serve and enjoy or use them to top cakes and cupcakes.

Equipment

double boiler

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parchment paper

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Notes

Parchment paper is a must for this recipe to avoid the chocolate from sticking to the surface.
Be careful when handling the piping bag because the chocolate gets really hot.
When melting the chocolate, don't allow any water to get into the bowl. This will cause the chocolate to seize up and harden.
Cut a really small slit in the piping bag, which will make the chocolate come out thin and slowly. This will make it easier to make the trees nice and neat.
Make sure the trees are still really wet when applying the sprinkles or they won't stick.
Don't pull the trees up before the chocolate hardens. It only takes about 10 minutes.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooling Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: dessert
Method: no bake
Cuisine: American