These Christmas pretzels hugs are an easy festive treat to make for holiday gifting and snacking! All you need are 3 ingredients including pretzels, Hershey’s Hugs and M&Ms.
Easy Pretzel M&M Hugs
These pretzel hugs (also known as Christmas hugs, Christmas pretzels, M&M pretzel hugs or pretzel kisses) are one of my favorite holiday desserts! I found the pretzel kisses recipe on the back of the candy bag years ago and have been making them ever since.
They’re perfect if you want to make a homemade holiday treat but need something super easy that the kids can help make just like these rolo pretzels and rolo pretzels turtles!
These pretzel M&M hugs make great gifts for the holidays, too! Wrap with cellophane and a bow or stick in a glass jar and add one of my adorable Christmas hugs tags (free download below). They are so delicious and seriously addicting!
Ingredient Notes
- Hershey’s hugs candies: These are basically like Hershey kisses, but with white and milk chocolate.
- Pretzels: Snap pretzels work better than pretzel twists, because the chocolate won’t melt through the holes of the square pretzels.
- M&M’s: Use the festive red and green Christmas M&M’s for a fun pop of color.
How to Make Christmas Pretzel Hugs
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil. Place 50 pretzels on baking sheet. Top each pretzel with one unwrapped Hershey’s hug.
- Bake at 320°F for 2 to 4 minutes or until chocolate begins to soften, but not melted. Remove from oven and top each pretzel hug with an M&M.
- Allow to cool several hours then store in an airtight container at room temperature.
M&M Pretzel Hugs Tips and Variations
- Rolo candies. If you’d rather use Rolo’s instead of Hershey’s hugs, you can definitely swap the candies. Or use chocolate kisses if preferred.
- Pretzel sandwich. You can also stack another butter snaps pretzel on top, similar to a rolo pretzel sandwich.
- More festive. For a more festive Christmas flare, try using the candy cane Hershey’s kisses. You can top with Christmas sprinkles, too!
- Pecans. Sometimes I’ll top mine with a pecan half if I don’t have M&M’s on hand.
- Make year round. These can be made any time of the year. Just use different colored M&M’s based on the occasion.
Free Printable Tag
If giving these Christmas hugs as a holiday gift, don’t forget to print out these FREE adorable Christmas tags!
Instructions: Print on cardstock paper and cut out the tags. Then tie some bakers twine around a jar filled with Christmas hugs and you’ve got yourself a pretty cute and inexpensive gift! :)
Other Easy Holiday Treats
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Christmas Pretzel Hugs
Video
Ingredients
- 50 Hershey’s hugs candies
- 50 pretzels
- 50 M&M’s
Instructions
- Heat oven to 320°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil. Place 50 pretzels on baking sheet. Top each pretzel with one unwrapped Hershey's hug.
- Bake 2 to 4 minutes or until chocolate begins to soften, but not melted. Remove from oven and top each pretzel hug with an M&M. Allow to cool a few minutes if they're too hot.
- Allow to cool several hours and then store in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Candy + Fudge, Chocolate, Christmas, Desserts
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Hello! I was curious what size these jars are? I’m trying to buy some online and don’t want to go too big or too small haha
Hi! I got this jar from Hobby Lobby a few years ago, so I don’t totally remember what size it was. If I had to guess, I think you should be able to fill about two eight ounce jars with 50 hugs – possibly more jars than that. I hope this helps!
Where do I find the downloadable tag?
Hi Carolyn! There is a box under the “free printable tag” section where you can enter your name and email to receive the free printable :)
Where did you find those cute jars??
Hi Jennie! I found it at Hobby Lobby years ago. :)
going to try this year.
Hope you enjoy!
Can’t get to the downloadable tag. Where is it?
Hi Talitha! This printable is only available for subscribers. If you enter your name and email it will be emailed to you!
Haven’t made it yet, but I will. I have had this treat before from one of my friends. It’s really good. Love the sweet and salty together.
Hope you enjoy! :)
So delicious and fun to make with kids!! My kids really enjoyed doing this with me!!
I’m so glad you had fun making it with your kids! :)
I don’t have an oven. Can these be melted in the microwave?
Hi Lisa! I think that should work the same. :)
This is a very easy gift for coworkers and neighbors.
So cute! I can’t wait to try them!
Hope you enjoy! :)
Giving these Christmas Pretzel Hugs for a gift is perfect and easy too! For some of the treats, I left off the M M chocolate candy and instead add a pretzel to the top of the chocolate kiss.
I made these for my art teacher and she absolutely loved them! They were very easy to make and very cheap. I wanted it to look exactly like the picture, so I found the perfect little glass flip top jar at Hobby Lobby! I even ate a few so I had to make a few more. They are very addicting!
I’m so glad she enjoyed them! Easy desserts are the best!!
I am looking for the exact jar in this picture. Where can you find this?
I found it at Hobby Lobby :)
I love how easy this recipe is to make! It’s the perfect festive treat for the holiday season!
Definitely my go to for a quick holiday treat! :)
These are so cute! I bet kids are going to love them!
These are SO EASY and the perfect simple holiday treat! Always a go-to of mine!
I LOVE YOUR CREATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are the best DIY person to look up to when I need it! THANK YOU GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How long will these keep if made in advance?
These will definitely be good for a few days – or even a week or two – if kept cool. Not necessarily in the fridge, but also not in a warm kitchen. :)