Valentine Pretzel Hugs
These cute, festive and delicious Valentine Pretzel Hugs only require 3 ingredients and are so easy to make! The kids love helping to assemble them and they make the perfect Valentine’s Day treat to share!
I have to say I’m in love with these pretzel hugs! First, because they’re perfect for Valentine’s day, and, second, they’re a super easy pretzel snack to make with the kiddos.
Pretzel snacks are one of my favorite things to make with the kids. At Christmas, we love reindeer pretzels, but we’re all about these adorable pretzel hugs for Valentine’s day!
For this project, kids can help unwrap the candy and assist with placing it on the pretzels. Then I take care of the baking and supervise!
We love to package these sweet treats in Valentine bags with a cute bow and give them out to family and friends. We always keep a few for ourselves, too!
Why You’ll Love Easy Valentine Pretzels
- They only have three ingredients!
- They’re great for gifting, Valentine parties, or just because.
- The kids can help with them making it the perfect activity at home or for a party!
These pretzel M&M hugs will be such a fun project for you to make with your little loves. They’re easy and the salty-sweet combo is always a hit!
Ingredients for Pretzel Hugs
- Hershey’s Hugs Candy – these are chocolate and white creme Hershey Kisses that have cute stripes! If you can’t find them, you can use plain chocolate Hershey Kisses to make all chocolate pretzel hugs.
- M&Ms – Use the pink and red Valentine M&Ms or, for other holidays, you can switch the colors to customize your pretzel hugs.
- Square pretzels – the square ones work perfect for this recipe because they are big enough for the candy to melt without spilling over the edge.
Helpful Tools
How to Make Valentine’s Pretzel Hugs!
Preheat the oven to 200°F. While the oven heats, unwrap the Hershey hugs and place them in a bowl.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the pretzel squares on it in a single layer.
Place one Hershey hug in the center of each hug and bake them for three to four minutes or until the candy is softened.
Take the pan out of the oven. At this point, the candy will be slightly melted and soft, so insert a toothpick in the center of the candy and gently jiggle it. This will cause the candy to spread and fill the pretzel. Do this with all of the candy pretzels.
While the candy is warm, place one M&M in the center of each hug. Don’t press down, otherwise the melted candy will spill over the edge. Just lightly place it.
Place the baking sheet with the pretzel hugs on a wire rack to set. You can also place the baking sheet in the refrigerator or freezer to speed up the cooling process.
Once they’ve set, store them in an airtight container or package them in cute bags for gifting!
Pretzel Hug Variations
You don’t have to wait until Valentine’s Day to make these! It’s so easy to switch up the candy to match any holiday or event.
- You can make these anytime with regular M&Ms – choose your favorite! Peanut M&Ms, caramel ones, or the classic ones all work great.
- If you can’t find Hershey Hugs, you can use any Hershey Kiss that doesn’t have nuts. You need them to melt down, so ones with almonds aren’t great for this recipe.
- Christmas Pretzel Hugs: Make holiday hugs with either the Hershey hugs or try peppermint Hershey Kisses! Pair them with holiday M&Ms for a cute Christmas treat.
- Halloween Hugs: Use the same Hugs candy, but place mini peanut butter cups on top instead of M&Ms. Or try Reese’s pieces or Rolos!
- Get creative for other holidays – green M&Ms for St. Patrick’s Day, pastels for Easter, and red, white, and blue for the 4th of July!
FAQ
Mini pretzel twists or round pretzels will work, too!
Keep them in an airtight container and they will keep well for up to week at room temperature. You can also keep them in the refrigerator and they will last longer.
Yes, they freeze great! Store them in a freezer-safe bag or container and they will keep for up to three months. Let them thaw before serving.
If you want new Valentine’s day snacks to try this year, these pretzel treats are a must make! They’re so adorable and a hit with kids and adults. I hope you love them!
More Valentine’s Day Projects
- Valentine’s Pom Pom Painting is a fun and easy painting project for kids!
- Have the kiddos make cute Heart Suncatchers to decorate your windows!
- Get more ideas in my Valentine’s Day Activities Packet! There’s lots of ideas to keep the littles busy.
- Need another Valentine’s themed sweet treat? Check out these Valentine’s Rice Krispies!
Valentine Pretzel Hugs
Ingredients
- 35 Hershey’s Hugs Candy
- 35 M & M candies
- 35 square pretzels
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
- While the oven is heating, unwrap all of the Hershey hugs and set them aside.
- Prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Arrange the desired amount of pretzels on the parchment-lined baking sheet. We did 35 pretzels on our baking sheet.
- Top each square pretzel with one Hershey’s hug. Ensure the hug is in the center of the pretzel to avoid spill over. Once
all of the hugs are in place, put the baking sheet in the oven for 3 minutes 30 seconds or until the hugs are slightly melted. - Remove from the oven. Using a toothpick, gently jiggle the center of each hug to flood the chocolate on the pretzel.
- Then gently set in place one M & M in the center of each hug. Ensure you do not press down or the chocolate may run
over the edge of the pretzel. Repeat this step until all the hugs have an M & M. - Place on a cooling rack to cool at room temperature or you can also place them in the refrigerator or freezer for an
expedited cooling. - Package in your favorite airtight jar or tin for a cute gift or serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Mini pretzel twists or round pretzels will work, too! How do you store them?
Keep them in an airtight container and they will keep well for up to week at room temperature. You can also keep them in the refrigerator and they will last longer. Can you freeze pretzel hugs?
Yes, they freeze great! Store them in a freezer-safe bag or container and they will keep for up to three months. Let them thaw before serving.
