I’ll never forget the first time I lined up those little square pretzels on my baking sheet, a hopeful experiment on a chilly December afternoon. As the Hugs chocolates slowly melted in the oven, my kitchen filled with the warm, sweet scent of toasting sugar and melting cocoa butter. When I pressed a bright red M&M into the center of each one, it felt like I was creating edible jewelry. That first bite—the satisfying crunch of the pretzel, the creamy-soft chocolate, and the candy shell snap—was a perfect little symphony of sweet, salty, and festive. In that moment, I knew this wasn’t just a recipe; it was a holiday tradition waiting to happen.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
You will absolutely adore this recipe because it takes three incredibly simple ingredients and transforms them into the most charming, addictive, and foolproof holiday treat imaginable. They require zero baking skill, come together in under 30 minutes, and are the perfect project to do with little hands or for a last-minute party contribution. From the countless batches I’ve made, I can tell you that the magic is in that perfect ratio of salty to sweet, and the sheer joy of watching a sheet of them sparkle with colorful M&Ms is a gift in itself.
Ingredients
- 1 bag (about 11 oz) Hershey’s Hugs chocolates, unwrapped
- 1 bag (about 10 oz) small, square pretzels (like “Snaps” or “Classic Mini” style)
- 1 bag (about 10 oz) holiday M&M’s (I use the red and green mix, but any color works!)
Let’s talk about the holy trinity here. First, the pretzels: it has to be the small square waffle-style pretzels. I’ve tried it with the tiny knots and the classic twists, and it never works as well. The squares provide a stable, flat base that cradles the chocolate perfectly. For the Hugs, don’t substitute with regular Hershey’s Kisses. The white chocolate stripe in the Hugs melts to a uniquely creamy, dreamy texture that’s less prone to scorching than a solid milk chocolate kiss. Trust me, I’ve tried both, and the Hugs are superior for this. And for the M&Ms, while holiday colors are festive, feel free to use any color for any occasion—pastels for Easter, school colors for a game day.(See the next page below to continue…)