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    Home » Recipes » Thanksgiving

    Thanksgiving Treats - Chocolate Pretzel Scarecrows

    Modified: Nov 6, '23 · Published: Nov 22, '20 · By: Beth Klosterboer · Commission earned on paid or sponsored links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Combine salty and sweet to make these whimsical Thanksgiving treats. Each peanut butter and Chocolate Pretzel Scarecrow is adorably decorated to brighten up your holiday dessert table.

    scarecrow pretzels dipped with chocolate and peanut butter coating.

    I'm going to bet that at some point in your life, you have made a craft project out of popsicle sticks. Am I right?

    Back in the day, I made quite a few and had to eat a lot of popsicles to get the sticks I needed for my crafts. We couldn't just go to the store and buy them as you can now.

    Well, it's been a very long time since I played with popsicle sticks, now I just play with food, but I have been inspired by several scarecrow craft stick projects I've seen online to create these cute fall treats.

    scarecrow pretzels decorated with modeling chocolate.

    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.

    Pair some Chocolate Pretzel Scarecrows with some Chocolate Pretzel Crows for a fun fall treat. See how to make them at HungryHappenings.com.

    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

     Wilton Peanut Butter Candy ...Shop on Amazon Wilton White Candy Melts, 1...Shop on Amazon White And Black ½-Inch Ca...Shop on Amazon  JEM Cutters Strip Cutter - ...Shop on Amazon Wilton Candy Melts Candy Di...Shop on Amazon Wilton Easy Flex Silicone 1...Shop on Amazon ChefLand Quilon Parchment P...Shop on Amazon Fox Run Brands 4-Piece Dais...Shop on Amazon

    Instructions

    Use Snyder's of Hanover Pretzel Dipping Sticks to make cute Chocolate Pretzel Scarecrows. See how at HungryHappenings.com.

    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.

    Dip pretzels in peanut butter candy melts to create scarecrow pretzels for Thanksgiving. See the tutorial at HungryHappenings.com.

    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.
    Dip pretzels in chocolate to use for the brim of a scarecrows hat.

    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.
    How to make modeling chocolate decorations to add to a Chocolate Pretzel Scarecrow. See the instructions at HungryHappenings.com.

    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.
    Learn how to make and decorate peanut butter and chocolate dipped pretzel scarecrows at HungryHappenings.com. These whimsical sweets make fun Thanksgiving treats.

    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.

    Turn dipping pretzels into adorably cute Candy Coated Pretzel Scarecrows this fall. They will make a fun Thanksgiving Day dessert.

    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.

    dark chocolate pretzel crows

    CHOCOLATE PRETZEL CROWS

    Ingredients

    (makes 20-24)

    1 - 2 bags Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzel Dipping Sticks (some will be broken, so you may need 2 bags)
    16 ounces melted and tempered pure dark chocolate or melted dark cocoa candy melts*
    8 ounces melted and tempered pure milk chocolate or melted Light Cocoa Candy Melts*
    8-12 ounces white modeling chocolate*
    orange, red, and black food coloring
    40-48 jumbo candy eyes

    *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

    tall glass
    parchment paper
    baking sheets
    rolling pin or fondant roller
    small teardrop, round, and flower cutters

    You can find some of the ingredients and supplies on Amazon. I earn a small commission when you make a purchase using the links in this post at no extra cost to you.

    Snyder's of Hanover Pretzel...Shop on Amazon Wilton Candy EyeballsShop on Amazon Ateco Plain Edge Tear Drop ...Shop on Amazon Mini Cookie Cutter Set 12 M...Shop on Amazon 

    Wilton Light Cocoa Candy Me...Shop on Amazon Callebaut 811 53.8% Dark Se...Shop on Amazon Callebaut 823 33% Milk Choc...Shop on Amazon

    Instructions

     Pretzel Dipping Sticks

    Choose the pretzels.

    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. You could use the smaller, thinner pretzel sticks, but you'll need much less chocolate to dip them in.

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

    how to make chocolate pretzel sculptures

    Dip pretzel sticks in chocolate.

    Pour your melted and tempered pure dark chocolate or melted dark cocoa candy melts into a tall glass or jar. Dip a pretzel stick into the chocolate, remove it, and allow the excess to drip off. Set a total of 6 chocolate-dipped pretzels 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. If you leave it for too long the chocolate may crack.

    How to dip pretzels into chocolate

    Dip pretzels in milk chocolate.

    Pour the milk chocolate into a bowl that is long enough to fit the length of your pretzels.

    Drop a pretzel into a bowl, then using a dipping fork or kitchen fork, remove the pretzel, and allow the excess to drip off. Set it on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat. Refrigerate for about 3 minutes until the chocolate sets.

    Then dip the dark chocolate-coated pretzel cluster into the chocolate, coating just the uncovered pretzels at the top. Set one of the single-dipped pretzels over the line where the dark and milk chocolate meet, creating the brim of the hat.

    Pop them in the refrigerator for about 3 minutes until the chocolate is set.

    how to decorate Chocolate Pretzel Crows

    Create modeling chocolate decorations

    To decorate, color some of your modeling chocolate orange, red, and black.

    Roll out and cut the orange using a 1 ¾-inch long teardrop cutter. Cut the red using a small (¾ inch - 1 inch) flower cutter and cut the black using a round plunger cutter (¼ -½ inch.) Brush a very small amount of water on the backside of each black dot and press it into the center of each red flower.

    Attach two jumbo candy eyes, an orange beak, and a red flower to each chocolate pretzel crow using melted chocolate.

    Related Recipes

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

    Chocolate-dipped turkey pretzels with colorful modeling chocolate features.

    Chocolate Pretzel Turkeys

    pumpkin pretzels decorated with Jack-O-Lantern faces.

    Chocolate Pretzel Pumpkins

    Frankenstein Pretzels

    Frankenstein Pretzels

    Recipe

    The recipe to make these chocolate-dipped pretzel scarecrows was originally published here on Hungry Happenings on November 10, 2015.

    peanut butter and milk chocolate dipped pretzel sticks decorated with modeling chocolate to look like scarecrows
    Print
    Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Scarecrows
    Prep Time
    1 hr 30 mins
    Cook Time
    2 mins
     

    Coat dipping pretzels in peanut butter and milk chocolate then decorate them using modeling chocolate to create cute Scarecrow Pretzels for Thanksgiving.

    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: chocolate, pretzel sticks, thanksgiving dessert
    Servings: 20
    Author: Beth Klosterboer
    Ingredients
    • 140 Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzel Dipping Sticks
    • 4 ounces Peanut Butter Candy Melts or Reese's Peanut Butter Chips
    • 12 ounces White Candy Melts (confectionery coating)
    • 8 ounces melted and tempered pure milk chocolate or melted Light Cocoa Candy Melts
    • 12 ounces white modeling chocolate
    • yellow, orange, dark brown (or black) food coloring
    • 40 large (½-inch) candy eyes
    • black food coloring marker
    Instructions
    1. Combine the peanut butter candy melts or chips and the white candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl.

    2. Heat the wafers on high for 20-30 second increments, stirring after each until melted.
    3. Pour the melted peanut butter candy coating into a tall glass or jar.

    4. Hold onto one end of a pretzel stick and dip it into the candy coating, covering about 80% of the pretzel.
    5. Lift the pretzel out of the peanut butter candy coating and shake it allowing the excess to drip off.
    6. Set on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet.
    7. Continue dipping 5 more pretzels, setting them next to each other.
    8. Pop in the refrigerator for 3-5 minutes just until the candy coating sets.
    9. Repeat creating a total of 20 groupings of 6 peanut butter candy-coated pretzels.

    10. Drop a pretzel into a bowl of melted and tempered pure milk chocolate or melted light cocoa candy melts.
    11. Use a dipping fork or kitchen fork to remove the pretzel, then set it on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

    12. Refrigerate for 3 minutes until the chocolate sets.

    13. Color some white modeling chocolate orange, yellow, yellow-orange, and dark brown or black.
    14. Roll out some of the yellow-orange modeling chocolate and cut thin strips for the hair.
    15. Roll out the orange and cut small triangles for the noses.
    16. 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.
    17. Attach some modeling chocolate hair to the un-coated part of the pretzels so that the hair falls down over the peanut butter coated portion of the pretzels (the scarecrow's face).

    18. Use small dabs of chocolate to make them stick if needed.

    19. Dip the top of pretzel scarecrow milk chocolate to create his hat.

    20. Set on a non-stick mat or a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

    21. Set one chocolate dipped pretzel across the bottom edge of the wet chocolate so that it covers the tips of the modeling chocolate hair and it creates the hat's brim.

    22. Set one sunflower in one corner of the chocolate hat.

    23. Use chocolate to attach two candy eyes to the peanut butter pretzels.

    24. Attach one orange triangle nose using a dab of chocolate.

    25. Use a black food coloring marker to draw on a smile.

    Recipe Notes

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

    Buy a copy of Candy Clay Creations

    If you’d like to have the ultimate guide to working with Candy Clay (modeling chocolate) be sure to get your printed or e-book copy of Candy Clay Creations. This 102 page book is filled with tips and tricks for making and working with candy clay along with 17 step-by-step tutorials for decorating cupcakes, cookies, and more using candy clay. It’s a fantastic resource for anyone who wants to make festively decorated treats.

     

    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Beth Klosterboer
    Beth Klosterboer
    Hi, I'm Beth Klosterboer, a professional chocolatier & baker, cookbook author, and event planner. I love sharing recipes for happy occasions here on Hungry Happenings. I also create easy fudge recipes to share at HowToMakeEasyFudge.com, rice krispie treat recipes at HowToMakeCerealTreats.com, and easy cookie recipes at HowToMakeEasyCookies.com
    Beth Klosterboer
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    1. Trish says

      August 29, 2024 at 9:45 pm

      I have had a HUGE Halloween house every year fir the last 26 years! I make all the goodies.. hard candy suckers, cookies, cupcakes, cake pops, Witches fingers, candy apples, pretzel sticks, and MORE! These are sooooo cute I'm going to add all of them to my tables! I usually have about 150-200 people (kids AND adults) with Hot Apple Cider and Hot pumpkin spice Hot Chocolate! Thank you SO much for your really cute idea! No scary stuff...I just love seeing all the kids and their parent's creativity!

      Reply
      • Beth Klosterboer says

        September 01, 2024 at 9:01 am

        Hi Trish,

        That sounds like so much fun! I miss hosting our Halloween parties. It was always a lot of work but a lot of fun too. I hope you find lots of new treats here on Hungry Happenings to make this year and that you have a wonderful party.

        Reply
    2. The Bearfoot Baker says

      November 11, 2015 at 1:36 pm

      These are so darn cute! I love all the cute things you make but I think this guy is one of my favs!

      Reply
      • Beth says

        November 12, 2015 at 8:10 am

        Oh, I'm so happy to hear that:) Thanks, Lisa.

        Reply
    3. The Partiologist says

      November 11, 2015 at 1:30 pm

      Again, absolutely darling dipped pretzels!

      Reply
      • Beth says

        November 12, 2015 at 8:10 am

        Thanks, Kim. There's more to come:)

        Reply
    4. Karen @ Sugartown Sweets says

      November 10, 2015 at 3:07 pm

      Super-cute scarecrow treats! I can see why your site crashed! Love all your pretzel crafts Beth! 🙂

      Reply
      • Beth says

        November 10, 2015 at 4:15 pm

        I've never had so much traffic as I did when the Snowman Pretzel Craft went viral. It was exciting and nerve wracking all at the same time. It sure motivated me to make some more of these fun treats, though, and I'm happy you like them:)

        Reply
    Beth Jackson Klosterboer

    Welcome to Hungry Happenings!

    I'm Beth. I've been a professional chocolatier & baker for over 30 years, have written 5 cookbooks, and love creating fun food for holidays and special occasions.

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