What’s your go-to for quick gifts, last minute party snacks, and surprise lunchbox treats? Mine is dairy-free chocolate covered pretzels. Store-bought versions contain dairy and other top allergens, which makes this simple recipe so very special. It can be customized for almost any free-from need, and there are several flavor and decorating options. Yes, you can even make dairy-free white chocolate covered pretzels! It’s all about the ingredients and ratios, which I will guide you through.
The photos and video were created by Hannah Kaminsky.
Dairy-Free Chocolate Covered Pretzels to Share some Lunchbox Love
This simple recipe for dairy-free chocolate covered pretzels really centers on the baking chips. So I’ve included more details about the Enjoy Life White Baking Chips and Enjoy Life Ricemilk Baking Morsels that I use in the FAQs below. That information is followed by a few more tips, snack options, and the allergy-friendly recipe!
Dairy-Free White Chocolate Chip FAQs
- How Do They Taste? Honestly, Enjoy Life White Baking Chips are the best dairy-free version I’ve tasted. They’re sweet, creamy, and have that perfect hint of vanilla. I’ve used them in dozens of recipes, and they really do make spot on dairy-free white chocolate covered pretzels.
- Where Can I Buy Them? See the Enjoy Life store locator or Instacart to find their white baking chips in your area. You can also order them online from Amazon, Thrive Market, Walmart, and Vitacost.
- Do They Melt Well? Enjoy Life White Baking Chips melt extremely well. In fact, they melt much faster than their semisweet chocolate chips. If using the microwave, start with just 20 seconds, then whisk. If not melted, heat in 10 second intervals, whisking vigorously in between, until just melted. How fast the white baking chips melt really depends on the heat transfer of your bowl. If you overheat them, they will clump. I prefer using my easy countertop boiler method, particularly for dipping recipes. It’s foolproof!
- Do They Hold Up in Baking? I was astonished by how well Enjoy Life White Baking Chips hold up in baking. They aren’t overly firm when you bite into them, but in things like cookies, they hold their shape. You can see a good example in the photos for my Dairy-Free Triple Chocolate Cookies Recipe.
- Are They Allergen Safe? It’s one of the reasons I love Enjoy Life! Their entire product line is free from 14 allergens, including milk, soy, and nuts. The baking chips are even made in a nut-free and gluten-free facility on a dedicated line. And Enjoy Life is very transparent about their allergen protocols.
Dairy-Free Ricemilk Chocolate Chip FAQs
- How Do They Taste? To me, Enjoy Life Ricemilk Baking Morsels taste exactly like the coating on classic candy bars. I actually use them to make Dairy-Free Heath Bars.
- Where Can I Buy Them? These alternative milk chocolate chips are readily available in stores. Visit the Enjoy Life store locator or Instacart to find them in your area. You can also order Enjoy Life Ricemilk Baking Morsels online via Amazon, Thrive Market, Walmart, and Vitacost.
- Do They Melt Well? They do melt well, but the Ricemilk Morsels melt a little faster than Enjoy Life’s semisweet chocolate chips. If using the microwave, start with just 40 seconds, then whisk. At this point they are usually perfectly melted, but if your bowl doesn’t readily transfer heat, you might need to heat the chocolate in one or two more 10 second intervals. Be careful not to overheat the chocolate, or it will scorch and clump. When melting chocolate for dipping, I typically use my easy countertop broiler method instead of the microwave.
- Do They Hold Up in Baking? They get just a little melty, but still hold their shape in cookies and bars. You can see the ricemilk morsels fresh from the oven in the photos for my Dairy-Free Triple Chocolate Cookies Recipe.
- Are They Allergen Safe? As mentioned, Enjoy Life’s whole product line is school safe and free from 14 allergens. All of their baking chips are also certified gluten free and made on a dedicated line, without milk, nuts, soy, etc. See their allergen protocols for more details.
More Recipe FAQs
- Are these Dairy-Free Chocolate Covered Pretzels Truly Packable? Yes, they’re great for backpacks, lunchboxes, and gift giving! They’re actually sturdier than regular pretzels and resist crushing. You can pack them into individual zip-top baggies (regular or holiday print!) at the beginning of the week, and stash them with lunchbox supplies to quickly grab in the morning. But if the temperatures are hot, it might be a good idea to toss a cool pack in with your food.
- How Long Do Dairy-Free Chocolate Covered Pretzels Keep? At room temperature, they’ll keep as long as your pretzels typically do once open. Store them in an airtight container to preserve freshness. In more humid climates, they might go stale more quickly, but in dry climates they could easily last a month. However, we always finish these dairy-free chocolate covered pretzels within a week! They also freeze very well, and can be stored for a few months in the freezer without losing their crunch.
- Do You Use Salted Pretzels? You bet I do! Perfectly sweet chocolate with specks of salt is a match made in taste heaven. It’s an addictive contrast.
- What About Gluten-Free Pretzels? These dairy-free chocolate covered pretzels work great with gluten-free pretzels! I’ve made them a few times this way for gluten-free friends. Most recently, I used Quinn Classic Twist Pretzels. Everyone loved them!
- What Other Chocolate Covered Treats Do You Recommend? My personal favorites are raisins, but I also love dried cranberries, apricots, or mango covered in the white baking chips. Dried cherries and bananas, figs, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, and plain salted potato chips are wonderful with the ricemilk morsels and semi-sweet chips. Of course, you can mix and match based on your personal taste.
Special Diet Notes: Chocolate Covered Pretzels
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, optionally gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, and vegetarian. Just be sure to choose pretzels that suit your dietary needs.
Dairy-Free Chocolate Covered Pretzels
I like to use a combination of dairy-free chocolate chip varieties for flavor variation, and to add contrasting chocolate drizzles. I've even made dairy-free strawberry white chocolate covered pretzels! You can also use different sprinkles based on a favorite theme, school colors, or holidays for an easy lunchbox or party treat that’s relevant year round.
Ingredients
Method
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Melt the white chocolate and "milk" chocolate in separate bowls. I highly recommend my easy countertop method, which is ideal for dipping. If microwaving, start with just 20 seconds for the white baking chips, 40 seconds for the ricemilk morsels, and 60 seconds for semisweet chocolate. Whisk vigorously and heat for another 10 seconds if not fully melted. Do not overheat any variety.
- Drop a pretzel in one of the chocolate bowls, and cover it with the chocolate. Using a fork, remove the pretzel from the chocolate. Tap the fork on the edge of the bowl several times to help excess chocolate fall from the pretzel. Place the pretzel on the parchment paper. Repeat this step with the remaining pretzels and chocolate, but use a different fork for each chocolate to prevent mixing the two together. Leave enough chocolate for drizzling, if desired.
- If toppings are desired, use your fork to drizzle the dairy-free "milk" chocolate over the white chocolate pretzels and vice versa. Or top the pretzels with sprinkles.
- Let the chocolate set up at room temperature, or pop the pretzels in the freezer for a few minutes to quickly set the chocolate.
- Store the dairy-free chocolate covered pretzels in an airtight container at room temperature, or in a freezer bag in the freezer.
Nutrition
Notes
Pretzel Note: The quantity you use might vary by the size of your pretzels. With standard mini pretzels, I make 72 dairy-free chocolate covered pretzels and have enough leftover chocolate for generous drizzling. If you aren't drizzling and really scrape the bowls, you can get 96 dairy-free chocolate-covered pretzels (6 ounces of mini pretzels).
Semi-sweet Option: You can also use allergy-friendly semi-sweet chocolate chips for a trio of chocolate covered pretzel varieties. One 10-ounce bag will cover 40 mini pretzels with leftover for drizzling, or up to 52 pretzels if using all of the chocolate for coating.
