Your kids will love these cute Koala Pretzel Pops. Each chocolate dipped pretzel rod is easy to decorate using modeling chocolate to look like a sweet koala bear.
I've always wanted to visit Australia to see koalas. It's a dream that I hope to someday check off my bucket list.
I used to carry a stuffed koala bear around with me every where I went when I was a young girl. That bear is still sitting on a shelf in my closet. Every time I look at his faded fur, I'm reminded of the hours my sister and I spent playing with all of our dozens of stuffed animals. They were part of our family, in our imagination. I believe giving them names and unique personalities and interacting with them, spurred our creativity.
After making a set of Teddy Bear Pretzel Pops for Valentine's Day, I played around with a few more bear designs. These koala's turned out so cute and are really so simple to make. They would be a sweet addition to any animal themed party or would just make a fun after school treat.
Koala Pretzel Pops
TIP to keep the chocolate from cracking on your pretzels. Chocolate shrinks as it cools and when it shrinks onto something hard, it can crack. 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:
Dipped Pretzels -
pretzel rods
white confectionery coating/Candy Melts
black and brown candy coloring or Candy Melts
Modeling Chocolate Decorations -
white modeling chocolate
black and pink candy coloring
*You'll need black, grey and pink modeling chocolate to make your Koala Bears. Find the modeling chocolate recipe, coloring directions, and chocolate melting tips, here.
Supplies:
non-stick baking mat (like a Silpat)
fondant rolling pin
1 set of round plunger cutters (you'll need the small and large)
#7 or 8 and #9 or 10 pastry tips
Instructions:
Melt white confectionery coating and stir in some black and some brown coloring (or melt a few black and brown candy coating wafers and mix them in) until you get a nice brownish gray color. Pour into a tall glass.
Dip pretzel rods in gray candy coating. I usually dip them twice to get a nice thick coating. See my Polar Bear Pretzel Pop tutorial for step-by-step instructions.
Roll some grey, black, and pink modeling chocolate out on a non-stick mat using a fondant roller or on a cutting board that's been lightly dusted with powdered sugar.
For each bear:
- ears - cut out 2 grey circles using the large round plunger cutter
- inner Ears - cut 2 pink circles using the small round plunger cutter
- nose - cut 1 black circle using the #9 or 10 pastry tip and pinch it between your thumb and finger shaping it into a triangle with rounded edges
- eyes - cut 2 black circles using a #7 or 8 pastry tip
Attach the ear pieces together using a small amount of water. Cut off one edge. Use a knife to make slits all around the outer eat, to make them look furry. Attach to the pretzel using water.Attach the eyes and nose to the pretzel using water.
TIP: To attach modeling chocolate pieces using water, brush or rub a light coating of water on the side you want to stick to the pretzel. If you rub it in, it makes it nice and sticky.
TIP: To cut circles using the pastry tip, press the pointed end of the tip into the modeling chocolate, turn the tip upside down and tap on the counter. The circle will fall out. I usually cut several circles before turning the tip over and tapping the circles out.
Sorry, I forgot to add the cutters to the picture. You can see what I used in the Amazon.com links at the bottom of the post.
Items used to create this project that are available on Amazon.com (commission earned for sales)
Wilton White Candy Melts, 1...Shop on Amazon
PME Plunger Cutters, Miniat...Shop on Amazon
Nordic Ware Natural Aluminu...Shop on Amazon
ChefLand Parchment Paper Pa...Shop on Amazon
Wilton Large Fondant Rollin...Shop on Amazon
Choco-Pan Modelling Chocola...Shop on Amazon
Choco-Pan Modelling Chocola...Shop on Amazon
Ateco Plain #7P Decorating ...Shop on Amazon
Ateco Pastry Tube - Plain -...Shop on Amazon
Ateco 11/16" Plain #809 Pas...Shop on Amazon
Decorating Tip-#10 RoundShop on Amazon
More Pretzel Pops
from Hungry Happenings
Chocolate Pretzel Farm Animals
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Hazel says
Great ideas! Just thought I’d share though, the koala (marsupial), isn’t a bear. They’re two separate animals. Just for reference purposes😊 It would be like calling a cat dog. Thanks for the ideas and hope to try them.
Karen @ Sugartown Sweets says
The Koala pretzel pops are so cute!. Australia has long been on my bucket list too! I never thought much about koalas till I saw Oprah holding them on her show's visit a few years ago. They are quite adorable..much like all your pretzel pops! Hope your dream of visiting becomes a reality. Also hope you're feeling better!
beth says
Oh, I saw Oprah with the Koala too and I wanted so badly to be in her place. I hope you make it to Australia too!
Linda Vandermeer says
Your pretzel animals are completely awesome. These koala's are totally cute and I loved reading your story about playing with them 🙂
Karen @ Sugartown Sweets says
These are so sweet! I never had a koala bear..but when I was 5, my mom made me the sweetest doll to take to the hospital with me as I was getting my tonsils out. Oh how I loved my doll and I named her after my big sister!
I hope you get to make it to Australia. This was where I wanted to celebrate my 50th birthday. It doesn't seem to be in the cards for this year, but as you say, it's on the bucket list!
I love all your adorable pretzel pops!
Corinna Ashley [ForMyLoveOf blog] says
You're incredibly talented! I share your koala bear sentiment. I've still got a koala bear stuffed animal from when i was just a few months old. I'm especially fond of him because it's the only thing i have from my paternal grandfather who passed when i was 1. How lovely would it be to commemorate the memory with a sweet treat like this! I found your post in the Link Party Palooza. I've followed you through all your social media and am leaving an open invitation to follow back!
beth says
I can only imagine how special that koala bear is to you. What a lovely memory to have of your grandfather. I'm glad my pretzel pops appealed to you and appreciate you stopping by from the linky party. Thanks for following too. I'll stop by and check out your blog!
Aida@TheCraftingFoodie says
Beth,
I love all of your pretzel creations! I'm intimidated to try cake pops, so I think these might be a nice first step for me! Thanks for sharing all of your great tips and tricks as well!
Triple Crème Decadence says
So adorable! Nice contrast of sweet and salty flavors.
Brenda @ SweetSimpleStuff says
So simple and so adorable ... love, love, love him! I have panda bear and pink elephant in my closet 😉
beth says
LOL! I never had a pink elephant but I did have a panda bear. I also had this thing that was bright green with big pom pom ears, arms, and legs. It slightly resembled a bear, but it was very odd looking. I happened to love it! My sister had the same, only in pink. Oh, to be kid again:)
MissCandiquik says
These are TOO cute!
beth says
Thanks! I love that they are cute in their simplicity.