Halloween Frankenstein Pretzels

I love making fun and simple desserts for all the holidays, and these Halloween Frankenstein Pretzels are a perfect example. They don’t take long to make at all, and being no bake makes them even simpler.

They’re easy enough to make with your kids if you choose – just be sure to watch them around the melted chocolate so no one gets burned. I’m not great at piping designs, and these chocolate-coated pretzels are aimed at those of you who are in the same boat.

This design is EASY. And the best part is that none of it has to be perfect because coating pretzels in chocolate is pretty forgiving.

These are perfect for class parties, Halloween celebrations, and just for fun, too. They use the same chocolate as several of my other Halloween desserts, so you can make several of them to give even more variety to your festivities.

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What kind of pretzels should I use?

Frankenstein has a rather square head, so the square “snaps” pretzels are ideal for this recipe. Snyder’s of Hanover is the only brand I’ve found that makes them in this shape, but they’ve been available at every grocery store I’ve visited.

I did recently see waffle-shaped pretzels, but they are much more circular. The other interesting thing I noticed is that a much higher percentage of them were broken in the bags than what I see with the square snaps, so I would skip those.

What chocolate do I need?

I use dark green chocolate melting discs for the base of the pretzel. This is the same color that works for my Christmas tree presents, so save that one for the next set of holidays!

His hair is nearly black, so for this I use dark chocolate. You can also use semi-sweet chocolate if you have it on hand.

My one caveat is that you want to use a high-quality chocolate, as it will melt more smoothly and easily. Chocolate chips and other low-quality chocolate contain additional ingredients that help them hold their shape, so they get dry and crumbly.

If you use chocolate chips and not a higher quality chocolate, you will need to add a teaspoon or so of vegetable oil to help it melt smoothly. Add just a bit at a time to ensure it doesn’t get too runny.

What’s the best way to melt chocolate?

I like to melt chocolate over low heat on my stove in a heavy saucepan, as I can see how it’s melting real time to ensure I don’t burn the chocolate. Scorched chocolate is no good, and heating it too much loses the temper of the chocolate, so it has a dull finish.

You can also melt chocolate in the microwave, but again, you have to be careful not to scorch it. Heat it in 20 second bursts, and stir between each round.

Regardless of how you melt your chocolate, melt it only most of the way, then remove it from the heat and stir until it melts completely. This helps to retain the temper and prevents you from burning your chocolate.

When I’m dipping a lot at once, I like to use this chocolate melting tool that helps not only melt the chocolate but keep it at the right temperature as I continue to dip items. This means I don’t have to return my chocolate to the heat as it starts to cool and thicken a bit.

PS that melting tool works really well for homemade chocolate fondue, too. Ask me how I know!

What tools do I need to make Halloween Frankenstein Pretzels?

You don’t need many fancy tools to make these chocolate dipped pretzels. However, there are a couple tools that will make your life much easier if you have them and use them.

You do need a nonstick surface for your Frankenstein pretzels to harden on. I prefer a silpat, but parchment paper works well, too.

I also love my chocolate dipping tools, which make getting the pretzels into and out of the chocolate much easier. I also use the spear tool to make more realistic hair, and it works great in addition to being way easier than piping the chocolate.

If you don’t have chocolate dipping tools, you can use a fork to dip the pretzel, but know that it isn’t as easy to get off the excess chocolate and it’s harder to place the dippsed pretzel on the silpat. In place of the spear, you can use a fondue fork or even try the side of a single tine of a fork.

While candy eyes aren’t technically a tool, they are something you may need to purchase for these chocolate-dipped pretzels. I purchase the 1cm eyes for this, and they are the perfect size.

What else can I make with this melted chocolate?

When you melt chocolate to dip items, you always need to melt more than you will actually use so that you can adequately coat whatever you’re dipping. Needless to say, that means you have “extra” chocolate you can use for other goodies.

• Fun and Easy Witch Hat OreosThese witch hat oreo cookies use the same chocolate as these Frankensteins do, so it’s a perfect pairing to make both
• You also use the colored chocolate melts to make monster cake pops, too, which are probably my all time favorite Halloween treat
• When you have just a bit of the colored melting discs left, that’s perfect to make my marshmallow monsters, as the dipping process for those is far less of a science
• And of course, make chocolate bark with anything you have left. You can do something fun like s’mores chocolate bark or keep it seasonal with a Halloween chocolate bark, but this is my favorite way to use leftover melted chocolate

How to Make Halloween Frankenstein Pretzels

These Frankenstein pretzels are so fun and easy. You just need to be a bit patient to let the chocolate harden between the steps.

Set out your silpat or parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Decide how many of the little creatures you want to make, as this recipe scales up and down really easily, and set out your pretzels and the candy eyes you need.

Gently melt the green melting discs until they are mostly melted, then stir until they finish melting. Use your chocolate dipping tools to completely submerge one pretzel, and shake off the excess chocolate.

Be sure to remove enough chocolate that it won’t spread, but you want to leave enough that it will push up through the square holes as it rests. Place the dipped pretzel gently onto your prepared sheet.

Immediately add candy eyes to the top third or so of the pretzel and press them in. Repeat with each pretzel, being sure to leave a bit of space between them.

Let the chocolate harden completely before you move to the next step. I let it harden on my counter for 15 to 20 minutes, but you can also place the tray in your fridge if you prefer.

Melt the dark chocolate, adding a bit of vegetable oil if needed. Again, melt it most of the way, then stir until it’s completely melted.

Gently remove a pretzel from the tray, and dip the tip into the chocolate above the eyes. Just be careful to leave a gap between the eyes and the dark chocolate.

Pull it out, and immediately dip your spear tool into the chocolate and use it to “pull” strands of hair down into his forehead to make it look more natural.

Return the pretzel to the tray, and repeat for each pretzel. Using the same spear tool, dip it into the chocolate again, and draw a mouth across the bottom third of the pretzel.

Let the chocolate harden completely, then remove them from your silpat or parchment paper. Serve them immediately, or store them in a tightly sealed container on your counter for up to two weeks.

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