Chocolate Drizzled Pretzels

I have been wanting to make simple homemade gifts that I can mass produce (30-50 pieces) and give out to anyone I see during the holidays.  One year I baked a cake in a jar but I could not produce enough to give to everyone.  I thought about baking cookies but that does not keep for very long.  After much pondering, I decided to make chocolate covered pretzels.  I like the pretzels drizzled for a more subtle chocolate taste.  This is a matter of preference.  It's something I have seen and always wanted to try.  

For variety, I used, milk chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, caramel chips, and peppermint candy cane.  I also put a few drops of peppermint extract to flavor the white chocolate.

About 1/2 cup of chocolate chips was placed in a ramekin and microwaved for 30 seconds.  You do not need to be exact on measurements.  After the first 30 seconds, I stirred and then repeated to microwave for 10 seconds, stirring after each heating,  until a nice smooth consistency was achieved.  The chocolate should flow off the utensil in a nice continuous ribbon.

Working quickly, drizzle the chocolate over the pretzel.  You can also choose to dip the pretzel into the chocolate, in which case, you will need a larger container.  Or you can use a spoon or spatula to spread the chocolate evenly over the pretzel, leaving a small section at one end uncovered for mess-free eating.

To add a little seasonal taste, I crushed a candy cane for sprinkling over the pretzels.
 

The white chocolate was melted in the same way  as the milk chocolate.  A few drops of peppermint was added, to taste, to brighten up the flavor.  As for the caramel, I had to add 1 Tbsp of butter to about 1/2 cup of caramel for a soft consistency.  The caramel came with recipe ideas which called for adding of water when melting but I did not give that a try.

That's it!  All there is now is to wrap them and tie with ribbons.  Leave them in a pretty basket by the door and give them to neighbors, friends, or unexpected guests that show up at your door during the holidays.