How Long Do Chocolate Covered Pretzels Last?
Considering how delicious chocolate-covered pretzels are, we doubt they would last more than a few minutes!
Chocolate-covered pretzels take an already perfect snack to the next level and because they are so irresistibly delicious people may buy more of this delicious snack than they actually need.
So, how long do chocolate-covered pretzels last? Store-bought chocolate-covered pretzels can last for about 2 weeks in an airtight container. They are best stored at room temperature in a cool and dry place. Make sure that you consume them within ten days for optimal freshness and crispiness!
Read below to learn more about chocolate-covered pretzels, how to store them, and a few great tips and tricks!
How Are Chocolate Covered Pretzels Made?
Pretzels are typically a very easy snack to make!
The main ingredients for any typical pretzel dough are water, sugar, yeast, flour, and shortening. These ingredients combined make an extremely soft yet crunchy treat in a matter of minutes!
All you need to do is knead the dough, roll it out into a thick noodle shape and then just “tie” a knot with each end of the noodle to give it its signature look.
Pretzels come in many shapes and sizes. For example, you can find larger pretzels that are doughier and chewier and even smaller, bite-sized pretzels that are crispier with just the right amount of softness on the inside.
Traditionally, pretzels are usually seasoned with coarse salt but the beauty of these delicious baked goodies is that you can customize them in any way.
One such customization is chocolate-covered pretzels!
These special pretzels are made from the same dough that makes regular pretzels but differs in an important step: they are dipped into melted chocolate!
Chocolate-covered pretzels can have a coating of virtually any type of chocolate.
Most people prefer a sweeter variety like milk chocolate or even semi-sweet chocolate, but you can adjust the bitterness and sweetness of the coating as per your choice!
These special pretzels can also be made using white chocolate and some are even double-coated for a more crunchy and satisfyingly chocolatey exterior.
Remember, store-bought and homemade pretzels have different storage times. Let’s first discuss how you can make and store homemade pretzels!
Here’s an excellent go-to recipe for chocolate-covered pretzels:
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups of warm water (around 100°F)
- 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon unsalted sugar
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (melted and cooled)
- 500g of all-purpose flour
- Coarse sea salt for garnish
Baking Soda Bath
- ½ cup baking soda
- 9 cups water
Instructions
- In a bowl, add the yeast along with warm water and wait for about a minute. Then, add the melted butter and salt. Give this mixture a gentle mix and let it sit for about 2-3 minutes.
- Gradually add flour to the wet mixture until a dough forms. Carefully take out the dough and place it over a clean surface. Knead it for about 2-3 minutes and then cover it with a towel and let it rest for about 10 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line 2 baking sheets over the baking tray. We recommend that you use a silicone baking mat for the best results. Also, this would be a great time to begin boiling the water in a large pot too!
- After 10 minutes, roughly divide the dough into multiple pieces. Ideally, you would want to divide the dough into 1/3rd pieces.
- Roll out each piece into a 20-inch-long noodle and then shape the pretzel by folding each end into the center of the pretzel and then tying a knot with both ends. If you have trouble shaping the pretzel then you can follow this video for a visual demonstration.
- Once the pretzels are shaped, set them aside for about 3-4 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add the baking soda to the boiling water and then, using a spatula, pick up each pretzel and dip it in the boiling soda-water bath for no more than 20 seconds. Do not boil the pretzel for more than 30 seconds or you might end up with metallic-tasting pretzels!
- Sprinkle sea salt over the pretzels and then bake them for about 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. You can also optionally season the pretzels after they have been baked.
- Once, the pretzels have been baked and have completely cooled down, you can now dunk them in chocolate! Use any type of milk or semi-sweet chocolate. Melt the chocolate in an appropriately sized bowl that can easily fit at least one pretzel at a time.
- Using a fork, carefully dip the pretzels in the liquid chocolate and cover it on every side. Lift the pretzel and let it drain. Then place the pretzel over the baking paper until the chocolate has solidified. You can also apply a second coat of chocolate by repeating this step!
Storing Pretzels
Now that you know how to make chocolate-covered pretzels at home, you would naturally also want to store them for later use!
Chocolate-covered pretzels can be stored at room temperature but there are a few things that you need to keep in mind.
For example, the pretzels must be stored in an airtight container (such as this one) to maintain their freshness and softness.
Smaller pretzels can lose their crispiness over time and may even become stale. This is why you must remove two elements to lengthen their storage time: air and water.
Commercially made pretzels are stored in either airtight packaging or nitrogen-sealed bags. These pretzels can easily outlast open-air stored pretzels and can even help maintain their freshness for longer.
Store-bought milk chocolate-covered pretzels contain multiple stabilizers and preservatives that help extend the product’s life, even at room temperature.
Always check the back of the packaging for more detailed instructions on how to store these pretzels.
Freezing And Thawing Pretzels
If you want to store homemade pretzels for the long term then we recommend that you freeze them! Yes, you can freeze pretzels too!
To freeze a batch of pretzels, simply move the larger pretzels into separate, individual freezer-safe bags. For smaller pretzels, you can group them in one bag.
Put the pretzels at the back of the freezer (or the coldest spot in the freezer). Store them at 0°F for the best results. Frozen pretzels will remain fresh for about a month.
To reheat, simply place the pretzels in the oven for 10-12 minutes or microwave them for a few minutes until thawed and properly heated.
We do not recommend that you thaw the pretzels in the fridge since that will add a lot of moisture to the pretzels which may ruin their texture and flavor.
Here is a quick summary of the storage time for pretzels:
| Variety Of Pretzels | Room Temperature | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homemade Chocolate Covered Pretzels | 2-3 days (stored in an airtight container) | 3-4 days (stored in an airtight container at 40°F) | 3-4 Weeks (stored in an airtight container at 0°F) |
| Commercial Chocolate Covered Pretzels | 2 weeks (stored in an airtight container) | 7-10 days (stored in an airtight container at 40°F) | 2-3 months (stored in an airtight container at 0°F) |
Signs Of Spoilage
Even though pretzels can be stored at room temperature for 2-3 days, it is advised that you always check them before consumption.
Like every other baking good, pretzels can grow mold as well. While the mold may not be apparent over the surface, especially with chocolate-covered pretzels, you can inspect the pretzels by slicing them in half.
If the pretzel has visible signs of green, gray, or yellow mold, then just toss the entire batch.
If the pretzels do not show signs of bacterial growth, then you can move ahead with the taste test. Simply taste a piece of the pretzel and see if it tastes fresh or stale.
Fresh pretzels will have a completely different mouthfeel than stale ones and this quality is even more noticeable with smaller pretzels.
If the pretzels are stale then they might be beyond saving. So long as they are free from signs of spoilage, you can either just consume them as it is or discard them entirely.
Remember, pretzels are prone to spoiling, and depending on the ambient heat and humidity, you may have to be a bit more careful before serving them!
Related Questions
Chocolate-covered pretzels can last about 1-2 weeks but if you have a sweet tooth, then they might not last more than a day!
Now that you know how to make homemade pretzels, how to store them, and how to know when they have gone bad, here are some related questions!
How long can pretzel dough last?
Freshly prepared pretzel dough should only be stored for up to 24 hours. If you do not plan to make the pretzels the same day then we recommend that you freeze the dough in an airtight container.
The frozen dough will last about 2-3 months at 0°F.
Simply thaw the frozen dough in the fridge overnight and use it the very next day for fresh and tasty pretzels!
Can pretzels be covered in white chocolate?
Yes! Pretzels can be covered in any type of chocolate! The best way to coat them with white chocolate is to melt a few pieces of baking white chocolate along with shortening.
Dip the pretzels into the white chocolate mixture and let them rest for about 3-4 minutes.
You can also repeat this step to double coat the pretzels! Always store white chocolate pretzels the same way as regular chocolate pretzels.
If you’re a fan of chocolate and pretzels, here are a few more great recipe ideas to incorporate these two ingredients!
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