Easy Mardi Gras Pretzel Turtles

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5 from 5 votes

Easy Mardi Gras Pretzel Turtles

Mardi Gras is nearly upon us, and what better way to celebrate than with these Easy Mardi Gras Pretzel Turtles!

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Course: Candy, Dessert, Mardi Gras, Snack

Cuisine: American

Servings: pieces

Calories: 49kcal

Author: Susan Ensley

Equipment

2 quarter sheet pans
Parchment paper
3 piping bags

Ingredients

50 pecan halves
50 Snyder's Snap Pretzels
50 Dove Milk Chocolate Caramels
2 oz green candy melts
2 oz purple candy melts
2 oz yellow candy melts

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Place the pecan halves in a single layer on a quarter sheet pan, then toast them in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
Reduce the oven temperature to 300°F.
Next, place the Snyder's Snap Pretzels in a single layer on a parchment-lined quarter sheet pan. Make sure the pretzels are touching. This is important for later on when you pipe the candy melts on top.
Then, unwrap the Dove Milk Chocolate Caramels and place one on top of each pretzel.
Place the pan in the 300°F oven for 5 minutes. You should keep an eye on the oven to make sure the chocolate does not melt too much.
Remove the pan from the oven and immediately press one toasted pecan halve onto the top of the chocolate. You should press hard enough that all three components stick together but not so hard that the caramel bursts out of the chocolate or the pretzel breaks.
Next, place the candy melts in piping bags. Place the piping bags in a microwave-proof glass or container so they are standing upright. Melt the candy melts in the microwave for 30-second intervals at 50% power until the candy has melted. This should take about three minutes for each color. Make sure you squeeze the melts in the bag after each heating. This will help break them down because they will retain their shape even when melted, and you run the risk of over-melting, which will cause them to thicken. If they do thicken, you will be unable to pipe the melted candy melts.
After the candy melts have melted, snip the tip off the green bag. Start in one corner of the pan and pipe in one continuous movement up the row vertically, in a straight line, until you reach the end of the row. Then, move down the next row vertically in the same movement. Continue this vertical movement up and down the rows until you reach the end, and every pretzel turtle has some green on it.
Next, snip the tip off the purple bag. Starting in same row as the green, but at the other end of the row, pipe in one continuous horizontal movement, in a straight line, until you reach the end of the row. Then, move up to the next row and continue horizontally in the opposite direction as the previous row, all in a continuous unbroken movement. Continue this horizontal movement back and forth across the rows until you reach the end, and every pretzel turtle has some purple on it.
Finally, snip the tip off the yellow bag and start in the same corner as you started the green. Pipe in one continuous movement diagonally, in a straight line, until you reach the end of the row. Then, move up to the next row and continue in a zig-zag movement across the pan, changing direction when you reach the end of each row. Continue until you have reached the end and every pretzel turtle has some yellow on it.
To make a second pass with the green, start on the same row that you pipped the first pass of green, but at the opposite end. Pipe in one continuous movement up the row vertically, in a straight line, until you reach the end of the row. Then, move down the next row vertically in the same movement. Continue this vertical movement up and down the rows until you reach the end, and every pretzel turtle has some more green on it.
To make a second pass with the purple, start in the same corner you piped the first pass with the green. Pipe in one continuous horizontal movement, in a straight line, until you reach the end of the row. Then, move up to the next row and continue horizontally in the opposite direction as the previous row, all in a continuous unbroken movement. Continue this horizontal movement back and forth across the rows until you reach the end, and every pretzel turtle has some more purple on it.
To make the second pass with yellow, start in the same corner as you started the first pass of the yellow. Pipe in one continuous movement diagonally, in a straight line, until you reach the end of the row. Then, move up to the next row and continue in a zig-zag movement across the pan, changing direction when you reach the end of each row. Continue until you have reached the end and every pretzel turtle has some more yellow on it.
If at any point while you're piping the candy melts they begin to get hard and you cannot pipe them anymore, simply place the bag back in the microwave and reheat for 30 seconds at 50% power.
Allow the chocolate to harden, then carefully break the pieces apart. Enjoy!
Yield 50 pieces

Nutrition