Thanksgiving Treats - Chocolate Pretzel Scarecrows

Last winter I created snowmen, penguins, and even Olaf out of chocolate-dipped pretzels and had drawn up designs for all the other holidays throughout the year. I can't believe it is now November and I'm just getting around to sharing another one with you.

I had my drawings tucked away and they were gathering dust, sadly forgotten, until two weeks ago, when I was reminded just how much you all liked my Chocolate Snowman Pretzel Craft. That post went nuts so I got back in the kitchen to make more pretzel treats.

I pulled out my sketches yesterday and got to work creating more festive pretzel crafts. I couldn't stop. I had so much fun making these scarecrows that I just had to make some crows to go along with them. I'll show you how to make them both.

Let's make Scarecrow Pretzels

Ingredients

You can find the tools needed to make this project on Amazon.com. I earn a small commission when you make a purchase using any of the Amazon affiliate links to make a purchase at no extra cost to you.

• 1 - 2 bags Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzel Dipping Sticks (some will be broken, so you may need 2 bags)
• Peanut Butter Candy Melts (confectionery coating)
• White Candy Melts (confectionery coating)
• melted and tempered pure milk chocolate or melted Light Cocoa Candy Melts*
• white modeling chocolate*
• yellow, orange, dark brown (or black) food coloring
• large (½ inch) candy eyes
• black food coloring marker

*See the modeling chocolate recipe and tutorial along with detailed information regarding using Candy Melts/Confectionery Coating and Pure Chocolate on my Chocolate Making Tips page.

Supplies

parchment paper-lined baking sheets
glass, mug, or measuring cup
dipping fork or kitchen fork
daisy plunger cutters
small triangle cutter or knife
fondant strip cutter or knife or pizza wheel

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Snyder's of Hanover Pretzel Dipping Sticks

To create this food craft you are going to need pretzel dipping sticks. They are about 3 ½ inches long and about ⅜ inches in diameter. These are not your standard pretzel sticks which are much thinner and shorter.

I found that the pretzel dipping sticks are not all the same size, so it's best to line them up and group them according to size.

Get 6 pretzels that are reasonably close in size for each scarecrow. Then you'll need an additional pretzel to create the brim of each hat.

Peanut Butter Coated Pretzels

• Combine the peanut butter and white candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat the wafers on high for 20-30 second increments, stirring after each until melted.
  • You can use Reese's Peanut Butter Chips in place of the peanut butter candy melts. You can find the chips at most grocery stores.
  • You can also use Nestle Premier White Morsels or white almond bark in place of the white candy melts.
• Pour your melted peanut butter candy coating into a tall glass or jar.
• Dip about 80% of a pretzel stick into the candy, remove, and allow the excess to drip off.
• Then set 6 of them next to each other on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
• Pop in the refrigerator for 3-5 minutes just until the candy coating sets.

Milk Chocolate Dipped Pretzels

• Drop a pretzel dipping stick into a bowl of melted and tempered pure milk chocolate or melted light cocoa candy melts.
• Use a dipping fork or kitchen fork to remove the pretzel.
• Set it on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Refrigerate for 3 minutes until the chocolate sets.

Modeling Chocolate Decorations

I used modeling chocolate to make my decorations. You could use store-bought candies, like taffy or fruit rolls, or even fondant if you prefer. I think the modeling chocolate tastes the best and is the easiest to work with.

• To make the modeling chocolate decorations, you'll need to color some white modeling chocolate orange for the noses, yellow for the sunflowers, a yellow-orange for the hair, and some dark brown or black for the centers of the sunflowers.
• Roll out some of the yellow-orange modeling chocolate and cut thin strips for the hair. I pressed a JEM Strip Cutter, dusted with corn starch, into the modeling chocolate to get perfect little strips, but a pizza cutter or knife would work fine.
• Roll out the orange and cut small triangles for the noses.
• To create the sunflowers, use a daisy plunger cutter to cut two yellow daisies, set one on top of another, press into the center using a wood dowel, then brush a dab of water on a small ball of dark brown modeling chocolate and insert it into the center.
  • You can also just use any small flower cutter if you don't want to get that fancy.

Decorate your scarecrow pretzels.

• Attach some hair to the uncoated pretzels. Use small dabs of chocolate to make them stick if needed.
• Dip the top of the pretzel in milk chocolate.
• Set on a non-stick mat or a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
• Set one chocolate-dipped pretzel across the bottom edge of the wet chocolate.
• Set one sunflower in a corner of the chocolate hat.
• Use chocolate to attach two candy eyes to the peanut butter pretzels.
• Attach one orange triangle nose using a dab of chocolate.
• Use a black food coloring marker to draw on a smile.**

**If you are having trouble getting your black food coloring marker to work properly, check out my Food Coloring Marker Tips tutorial.

Storage

Store your pretzels in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

The modeling chocolate will firm up as it dries, making it easy to package them in clear cellophane bags to give as gifts, if you'd like.

You can also just set them on a serving platter and add them to your Thanksgiving dessert table.

Related Recipes

Here are a few more chocolate-dipped pretzel ideas that you may enjoy.

Chocolate Pretzel Turkeys

Chocolate Pretzel Pumpkins

Frankenstein Pretzels