Chocolate-covered pretzels are always a favorite for any party, so why not step it up a notch!
These Farm Animal Pretzel Pops are fun to make and will make great party favors or treats for a farm-themed party or will look super cute in an Easter basket.
Did you know that April 10th is National Farm Animal Day?
I found this little-known holiday when I went searching for special occasions celebrated in April and I couldn't let this opportunity to make these decorated chocolate pretzel farm animals pass me by.
These sweet treats would be great to use when celebrating Earth Day, an animal-themed birthday, or just the arrival of spring.
The idea to make animals using chocolate-dipped pretzel rods has been rolling around in my head ever since I saw the barnyard full of animals that Amanda, from Crafts by Amanda, made out of craft sticks.
She painted and added googly eyes, felt, and buttons to ordinary wood sticks and turned them into adorable cows, horses, pigs, cats, and chickens.
When you look at these farm animal craft sticks, do you see pretzels, too?
I used Amanda's basic designs but made everything edible.
I first dipped each pretzel rod into melted chocolate then used modeling chocolate to make most of my decorations.
I find working with modeling chocolate to be easier than working with the candies and I prefer the flavor combination too, but you may not, so I will share ideas for using store-bought candies in the tutorial.
I used this same technique to make Jungle Animal Pretzel Pops too. If you are looking for lion, giraffe, hippo, elephant, or zebra treats, be sure to check out that tutorial.
Chocolate Pretzels Farm Animals
TIP to keep the chocolate from cracking on your pretzels:
Chocolate shrinks as it cools and when it shrinks onto something hard, it usually cracks.
If you take the pretzels out of the bag and allow them to sit at room temperature for several hours or overnight they will soften just enough to keep this from happening, but not enough to become stale.
You'll Need:
- melted and tempered white and milk chocolate
- OR melted white or light cocoa confectionery coating/candy melts
- Read my Chocolate Making Tips page for melting and tempering instructions.
- pretzel rods
- candy eyes
- modeling chocolate (click to see the 2-ingredient recipe)
- or candies like Tootsie Rolls, Laffy Taffy, Starburst, etc.
- food coloring
- black food coloring marker
Supplies:
- baking pans lined with parchment paper
- tweezers (used for food only)
- kitchen shears or knife
- optional: rolling pin, small metal cutters
Items used to create this project that are available on Amazon.com (commission earned for sales)
Wilton Light Cocoa and Brig...Shop on Amazon 
Belgian Milk Chocolate Baki...Shop on Amazon 
Callebaut W2 28% White Choc...Shop on Amazon 
Wilton Pink Candy Melts Can...Shop on Amazon 
Merckens Super Coatings, Wh...Shop on Amazon 
Americolor 2-Count Gourmet ...Shop on Amazon 
Makin's Clay Cutters 22/Pkg...Shop on Amazon
Nordic Ware Natural Aluminu...Shop on Amazon
ChefLand Parchment Paper Pa...Shop on Amazon
⅜" White And Black Icing ...Shop on Amazon
¼" White And Black Icing ...Shop on Amazon
White And Black ½-Inch Ca...Shop on Amazon
7/16" Blue And Black Icing ...Shop on Amazon
¼" Assorted Icing EyesShop on Amazon
Instructions:
Dip Pretzel Rods in Chocolate
- Dip your pretzels into melted and tempered pure chocolate (contains cocoa butter) or melted compound chocolate (also known as confectionery coating, candy melts, melting wafers, almond bark, etc. (contains vegetable fat like palm kernel oil).
- CHOCOLATE MAKING TIPS - be sure to read my detailed tutorial on melting and tempering chocolate.
- If using pure chocolate, one coat will probably be sufficient to cover the pretzel rods.
- If using confectionery coating/candy melts, you might want to put on two coats.
- If making cows, chickens and lambs dip pretzels in white, if making pigs use pink, and for horses use milk.
- Unless you want to melt enough of each color to actually dip your entire pretzel into the chocolate, just spoon it over the surface of the pretzel, leaving the tip you are holding, uncovered.
- Shake off excess chocolate before setting the dipped pretzels on your parchment paper-lined baking pans.
- Refrigerate if using pure chocolate, freeze if using candy melts just until set.
- If freezing, it will only take about 3-4 minutes. Don't leave them in too long or the candy coating will crack.
PRO TIP: If you are using compound chocolate (candy melts), dip a few pretzels then get them into the freezer. Compound chocolate will become spotty and streaky if left to air dry.
Decorate the pretzel pop animals.
- Decorate your pretzels using candy eyes and modeling chocolate or assorted candy.
- You can either pinch off pieces of the modeling chocolate or candy and shape them into ears, spots, snouts, beaks, feathers etc. or roll the modeling chocolate or candy out using a rolling pin then cut using small metal cutters or kitchen shears.
- I did a combination of the techniques.
- Then use melted chocolate as "glue" to attach the candy to the chocolate dipped pretzels.
Cow Pretzel:
- 2 candy eyes
- dark modeling chocolate or Tootsie Rolls for the spots and ears
- pink colored modeling chocolate, pink taffy or Starburst Fruit Chews for the snout
- draw on the nose and mouth using a black food coloring marker
Pig Pretzel:
- 2 candy eyes
- pink colored modeling chocolate, pink taffy or Starburst Fruit Chews for the snout and ears
- draw on the nose using a black food coloring marker
Chicken Pretzel:
- 2 candy eyes
- red modeling chocolate, or Watermelon Air Heads, Starburst, or red taffy for the head feathers
- orange modeling chocolate, or Orange Air Heads, Starburst, or orange taffy for the beak
Horse Pretzel:
- 2 candy eyes
- light brown/milk modeling chocolate or chocolate taffy for snout and ears
- dark chocolate or black modeling chocolate or Tootsie Rolls for the main
Lamb Pretzel:
- 2 candy eyes
- white and pink modeling chocolate or Strawberry & Vanilla Tootsie Rolls or taffy for ears and snout
- black food coloring marker to draw on nose and mouth
- optional - Make the lamb look furry by spreading white chocolate over the white chocolate dipped pretzel, as the chocolate begins to set use a fork to press down on the chocolate then quickly pull up creating spikes of fur all over.
How to store pretzel animals.
- Store your Chocolate Pretzel Farm Animals at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
- To keep them fresh, I recommend storing them in an airtight container.
- Wrap in clear plastic cellophane bags and tie with a bow to use as party favors for an animal-themed birthday party, to celebrate Farm Animal Day or Earth Day, or just for fun.
The cow pretzel is my favorite. I love the spots! Which do you like best?
Check out all of my cute Kid's Recipes, here.
Decorate chocolate-dipped pretzels using modeling chocolate to create cute farm animals including a sheep, pig, cow, chicken, and horse.
- 6-16 ounces melted and tempered pure chocolate or melted candy melts *(see notes)
- 15 pretzel rods
- 30 candy eyes
- 3 ounces white modeling chocolate
- oil-based candy coloring
-
Dip the pretzel rods in the chocolate. Use milk chocolate for the horses, pink-colored white chocolate for the pigs, white chocolate for the sheep, cow, and chicken.
-
Freeze if using candy melts (or other compound chocolate like almond bark or melting wafers) until hardened 3-5 minutes. Refrigerate if using pure chocolate until hardened, about 5 minutes.
-
Use melted chocolate to attach two candy eyes to each chocolate-dipped pretzel.
-
Color white modeling chocolate using oil-based candy coloring. You'll need pink, orange, black, and brown.
-
Cut, shape, or mold two ears and a snout out of pink-colored modeling chocolate for each pig. Attach to the pretzel using melted chocolate.
-
Cut, shape, and mold two ears using white and pink modeling chocolate, and 1 snout using pink modeling chocolate for each sheep. Attach to the pretzel using melted chocolate.
-
Cut spots out of black-colored modeling chocolate and attach to the white pretzel to create a cow. Cut out two black ears and some hair along with a pink snout and attach using chocolate.
-
Create red head feathers and an orange beak for each chicken.
-
And a mane out of black modeling chocolate and a snout out of light brown modeling chocolate.
- You will use about 0.3 ounce of chocolate to cover each pretzel rod and you'll use a small amount more to attach the modeling chocolate decorations, but you'll want to melt more if you plan to dip the pretzels.
- Store the pretzel animals at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Originally published April 10, 2013.
You might also like these other fun pretzel animals...
Peanut Butter Bunny Butt Pretzels
Hippo Pretzel Pops, Zebra Pretzel, and Elephant Pretzels
Milk Chocolate Pretzel Teddy Bears
Baby Chick Pretzels for Easter
Did you make this recipe or do you just think it is super cute? Let me know by leaving a comment and rating the recipe below. If you love the recipe, please give it a 5-star rating.
I love making fun food for parties and special occasions and sharing my creative ideas with you.
If you make this recipe and share it online be sure to link back to this post and use #hungryhappenings.
Thanks and have a sweet day! -
Beth
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Kathryn
So adorable! These would be perfect for a kid's party or classroom treat. I am pinning a blogging these (and linking to your page). Thanks for sharing this awesome idea with us!
Amanda
OH MY GOODNESS! These are adorable!! I'm planning a farm birthday party for my son's 1st birthday and I HAVE to make these as favors! You are amazing..Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
I'm happy you have found my farm animals and hope they are a big hit at your party.
Amanda
Thank you Beth! Where did you find the small candy eyes? I can only find the larger ones..Thanks so much! 🙂
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Hi Amanda,
I buy most of my decorating supplies wholesale, but in a pinch have been able to find what I need from Amazon.com. I totally forgot to add links to the candy eyes in the post. I just added them now. So, scroll down the post and at the very end you'll see links to several different size candy eyes. I use the 3/8, 7/16, and 1/4 inch eyes a lot.
Beth Gorden
These are truly amazing! You are so creative I am in awe!
I am featuring this on TGIF today here: http://www.123homeschool4me.com/2013/04/tgif-linky-party-72.html - feel free to grab an I was featured button if you like.
Thanks for linking up and I hope to see you linked up again soon!!
Have a great weekend,
Beth =)
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Thanks so much for the feature!
Trish - Mom On Timeout
So these are ridiculously cute Beth! Just adorable! Pinning 🙂 Thanks for sharing at Mom On Timeout!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Thanks for the Pin!
Rachel Harwood
My gosh, Beth, these are TOO cute!!!! I am featuring you again this week over at Sun Scholars! Thanks for sharing your fun ideas with us yet again. You've been pinned, and I'm off to share you with my Facebook friends now! Awesome!!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Wow, thanks so much for sharing these with everyone. I do appreciate it!
Sue Boyer
Oh my! You are creative. What will you think of next? They are so cute. I want to make them with my grands...well probably the tongue depressor animals. Thank you for sharing.
Consider yourself hugged,
http://simpleesue.com/try-one-new-recipe-a-week-bed-and-breakfast-cherry-crumb-coffee-cake/
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Thanks, Sue. These are definitely a project that kids can do with you. They'll have fun creating their own designs too.
Amanda
Hi Beth! I ADORE these!! Thanks so much for the link love and I've added a link and photo to my post of your creations as well. I just showed these to my son, and like another commenter said, he thought the lamb was made with coconut. I love your idea with the fork. 🙂
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Thanks so much for the inspiration! Your craft sticks are so much fun.
Dave Kulcsar
They are really very wonderful!perhaps kids will be very happy to eat it.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Thanks, Dave.
Sue
What a fantastic idea to turn the craft sticks into pretzel sticks! This summer I am throwing a joint birthday party for all of my eight grandchildren (8 and under)since the three families live in different states and the cousins never get to attend each other's parties. I picked a farm theme and these will be perfect! Thanks Beth(and Amanda too)!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
We lived 4 hours away from all our cousins and never spent birthdays together. Having one big party would have been so much fun. I hope you and the kids enjoy the farm animal pretzels and the party!
DesignedByBH
Oh, my goodness! These are beyond adorable!! Pretty sure I could never actually eat them!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
My exchange student has pestered me every day to eat them, but I feel the same way. I just can't let her take a bite of them, not just yet:)
Erin
So, so cute!
The Partiologist
Beth, these have to be the cutest pretzels sticks ever in the history of pretzel sticks! I am still smiling at all the "adorableness". I had to create a new word to describe just how cute I think they are! 🙂
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
I love the new word. Call Webster!
Diana - FreeStyleMama
These are amazing!!!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Thanks, Diana.
Kalamity Kelli
I love the cow! And the horse too because he looks a little like Pokey of Gumby and Pokey fame. Thanks for always doing tutorials - I need pictures! 🙂
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
He does look a little like Pokey:)
Anonymous
Who needs an occasion? - make em now. 🙂 With all your great ideas we'll be busy for years. You asked for a favorite - think it's gotta be the lamb (the lamb/lion theme, Easter, Christmas - lots of uses for him0. I would have thought coconut for his wool, but dabbing the white chocolate with a fork is much better as not everyone likes coconut.
Your photos are always so detail oriented which is great. The photo of you laying out the body parts ahead of time reminds us to be organized so we can work quickly & have enough cut-outs on hand.
You make opening e-mails the best part of the day. Wild animals coming next - wow. Thanks.
Tavette
Tavette
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
I'm glad you like the photos with the animal parts. I wasn't sure just how detailed I needed to be in the tutorial. I could have showed how to make each and every detailed piece, but figured the shapes were simple enough.
It's so nice to hear that you enjoy my e-mails! I'm happy to be a positive part of your day:)
Lisa@hooplapalooza
there's no way to pick a favorite! bring on the whole zoo-can't wait to see more 🙂
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
I'm having so much fun making these pretzels. I just made some wild animals and they are so cute. I'll share later this week!
Melissa in NJ
Oh my GOSH Beth these made me smile! Love them! Can't wait for an occasion to make them!!! Thanks for sharing your talent!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
So happy they made you smile. I love that!
Anonymous
When I think you can't wow me again, you do. When I looked at those sticks, I thought how cute for an herb garden, but you see fun foods for all ages. You are amazing. Love these.
Trish Butler
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
I'm glad I can still wow you!
Jill @ KitchenFunWithMy3Sons.com
These are all so cute! Really love the horse...very creative!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Thanks, Jill:)
Jo and Sue
It popped up on my blog feed that you had made "chocolate dipped pretzel sticks decorated to look like farm animals" but there was no picture so, in my head, I kind of pictured what I thought they might look like. So, yeah....my imagination is clearly nowhere near as amazing as yours. When I clicked over to see your creation I was like "Whaaaaaaaaaat?!? How does she do that?" Anway...the point of my story is that you have, once again, proven you are a super genius! *standing ovation*
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
I can't take total credit for the cuteness of these designs, as Amanda made truly adorable craft sticks. I am often inspired by other bloggers, like you two!